Indiana counties are a little richer today. In July 2014, Lilly Endowment Inc. announced a statewide challenge grant to community foundations, totaling $66 million, with incentives that include a $1-for-$1 dollar match.
The Endowment crafted the Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow (GIFT) grant opportunity to allow community foundations to have flexibility in how the charitable funds can be used in each community, and offer meaningful incentives that encourage community members to get involved.
The local community foundation, Marshall County Community Foundation (MCCF), is eligible for $500,000 if it meets its match challenge by March 31, 2016. In Marshall County contributions to restricted funds (for specific purposes) were matched fifty cents on the dollar and the goal for this portion of the match has been reached. The Marshall County Community Foundation has an additional $157,000 to raise in unrestricted funds (such as MCCF’s Community Fund); these gifts may be matched $1 for $1 to complete the match goal.
“The Marshall County Community Foundation is excited to be a part of this opportunity,” says Linda Yoder, MCCF Executive Director. “Once we meet the challenge, we will have $1,250,000 to invest in our community.”
Funds are invested to grow over time, creating a greater impact year after year. This matching opportunity is the sixth phase of the Endowment’s GIFT initiative for Indiana community foundations. The GIFT initiative was designed to help local Indiana communities develop the philanthropic capacity to address their own needs and challenges. Since 1990, the value of Indiana’s community foundations that have regularly participated in GIFT grew from $30 million to almost $2 billion, and more than $915 million went back into the communities through local grants.
The Marshall County Community Foundation is a public charity with local roots that helps great ideas take flight through endowment philanthropy. Since 1991, donors to the Marshall County Community Foundation have built the community’s assets currently valued at more than $32 million and have returned over $12 million to Marshall County communities in grants and scholarships. For more information about the Foundation, call 574.935.9159 or visit www.marshallcountycf.org.
