When I started working for the LaGrange County Community Foundation, I heard a familiar question: “What is a Community Foundation?”
In my many years in the workforce, I have had a variety of jobs. Many that I do today as the Marketing & Community Engagement Manager. But working for a nonprofit in this capacity was new for me. So, this was a great question to answer for myself as well.
A community foundation is a tax-exempt, nonprofit organization composed, primarily, of permanent funds created by many separate donors for the long-term benefit of the residents of a specific geographic area. Our geographic focus is LaGrange County, Indiana.
Three things set us apart from other charities:
Permanent Endowment Building
Broad, Flexible Grantmaking; and
Community Leadership.
Through Permanent Endowment Building we develop and maintain relationships with our donors, investing and protecting the principal of our donor’s gifts, and distributing the earnings from these gifts based on the charitable intent of the donor.
Broad and Flexible Grantmaking is understanding our community’s needs, re-directing charitable dollars over time and as community needs change. We offer grant opportunities to local nonprofits and make investments in community needs.
Community Leadership can encompass many things. Our organization seeks to be proactive, connecting people and ideas for the purpose of solving problems, to educate, and to find ways to better serve our community.
We are led by a volunteer Board of Directors, who represent the communities of LaGrange County. They direct our strategic vision and make decisions regarding investment of assets, charitable distributions, donor relationships, new donor funds and growing assets.
The LaGrange County Community Foundation manages more than 140 unique funds, each created for a specific charitable purpose. The Community Foundation works with each donor to identify the purpose and goal of their fund and manages the fund long-term on behalf of the donor. Some funds provide annual grant support to local nonprofits, while others provide scholarships for graduating seniors.
There are several ways to give and support community needs through the Community Foundation. You can add money to an existing fund or create a new fund, your choice! You can donate to an organization or give to a specific cause or interest.
Click here to see a list of the Foundation’s charitable funds.
I hope this helps clarify things a little more! If you have ANY questions about the Community Foundation, how to give, about grants or scholarships, or even how you can volunteer, contact us HERE. We would love to assist you!
The writer of this post, Sarah Hostetler, starting working for the LaGrange County Community Foundation at the end of March 2023.
This week (April 16th- 22nd) is National Volunteer Week, and we thought it would be interesting to share some Volunteer statistics with you. These are from an article on Volunteer Hub.
One out of four American’s volunteer, two out of three American’s help their neighbor.
Individuals between the ages of 35 and 54 are the most likely to volunteer their time.
Volunteers are worth on average $28.54 an hour.
Volunteerism has a value of over $184 billion dollars.
Volunteerism improves health by strengthening the body, improving mood, and lessening stress.
Those who volunteer regularly have a 27% better chance of gaining employment.
60% of hiring managers see the act of volunteerism as a valuable asset when making recruiting decisions.
Volunteers under the age of 24 accounts for 22.6% of all volunteers.
Volunteers, on average, spend 50 hours per year donating their time to the greater good.
67% of people found volunteer opportunities online in 2014 vs 34% in 2006.
There are more than 1.8 billion active nonprofits in the United States alone.
66% of volunteers give their time to improve their community, 83% do so to contribute to a cause they care about.
People who volunteer over 100 hours a year are some of the healthiest people in the US.
28.2% of Millennials volunteer each year.
30.7% of Baby Boomers volunteer each year.
24.8% of Silent Generation Americans volunteer each year.
39.9% of parents volunteer each each.
Utah has the highest rate of volunteers in America (51%).
Volunteering decreases the likelihood of high blood pressure development by 40%.
96% of volunteers reported the action enriched their sense of purpose in life.
Every person who has helped another, with no expectation or payment in return, is a volunteer. We, in LaGrange County, count these volunteers as blessings. And it’s one of the many reasons our county is such a special place to live.
“Volunteering is at the very core of being a human. No one has made it through life without someone else’s help.” – Heather French Henry
Don’t forget, now through May 1st, we at LCCF are accepting applications of this county’s exemplary volunteers for the Heart of Gold Award. For more details and the application, go HERE.
Nonprofit Assistance Grants help LaGrange County nonprofits with needs in technology, training, operations, emergency, and awareness events. Last year (2023) was our first year of opening this grant program.
Nonprofit Assistance Grants are available to LaGrange County nonprofit organizations. These grants are made possible through the generosity of donors who have supported the unrestricted and field of interest charitable funds at the Foundation.
LaGrange County nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply for up to $2,500 in assistance in the following categories, but not limited to:
awareness events
emergency needs
operations
technology (includes software)
training/development
Fundraising projects, utilities, general operating expenses, or your organization’s regular programing are NOT eligible for Nonprofit Assistance Grants. Government agencies, public schools, and churches are not eligible for Nonprofit Assistance grants.
If you are unsure if your assistance project qualifies, please contact Program Director, Leanna Martin at lmartin@lccf.net or by calling 260-463-4363.
Grant Deadlines: Applications accepted on a rolling basis
Award notification will be made within 30 days of the application submission. Grants are awarded as funds are available. One grant award per organization. Applications will be accepted until October 31, 2023.
Want to Find Out More?
Go HERE to the Nonprofit Assistance Grants Page, for more information. To apply, scroll to the bottom of the page, and click “APPLY NOW“.
The importance of volunteerism cannot be overestimated. Volunteers are what keeps non-profits ticking. They are the hands, feet and hearts.
Starting April 1st through May 1st, 2023, we are accepting nominations for outstanding volunteers in our community. The Heart of Gold award was created to recognize these outstanding volunteers whose unselfish and dedicated service has made significant contributions to LaGrange County.
2022 Heart of Gold Nominees: Carolyn Hostetler, Allisa Brown and Kailie Snyder-Farnsworth (Not pictured: Chad Miller)
Some of the hard work and service in our county may go unnoticed, but we would love to encourage you to look around and see what others are doing around you!
If you know of anyone who deserves to be recognized, please let us know by filling out the nomination form on our website. It’s an easy form, and not only will the volunteers be recognized, but they also have a chance at getting a donation to the non-profit of their choice! Well worth it!
LCCF presents members of the LaGrange County Trails, Inc. board with a $25,000 check at the site of the trail bed that is proposed for development in Topeka. From Left, LaGrange County Community Foundation Executive Director Octavia Yoder, LaGrange County Trails President Jeff Wingstrom, LaGrange County Trails Vice President Sherryl Rhinesmith and LaGrange County Trails Treasurer Beth Sherman.
The LaGrange County Community Foundation awarded Community
Impact Grants totaling $126,836 in 2019 to 18 projects and programs benefiting LaGrange
County.
Through Community Impact Grants, the foundation aims to
support nonprofit needs and provide innovative programs and services in
LaGrange County.
LaGrange County Trails, Inc., of Topeka was among the 18 organizations who received funding. The Community Foundation awarded LaGrange County Trails $25,000 for The Hawpatch Trail, a proposed 17-mile trail that will stretch from Millersburg to Wolcottville, connecting three counties. The grant will support the early stages of developing the Hawpatch Trail in Topeka through legal fees, title research, surveying and appraisals.
Founded in 2019, LaGrange County Trails, Inc. is committed
to creating hiking and biking trails for LaGrange County and to encourage safe,
active, outdoor experiences.
The Town of LaGrange received $20,000 to support an inclusive park and splash pad in the heart of downtown LaGrange. The grant will support phase one of the new park, a splash pad accessible for all ages and abilities. The next phase will consist of an inclusive play area and a pavilion. Phase one will break ground spring of 2020. The Town of LaGrange Park Committee will fundraise to complete all phases. Located near the existing bathrooms this inclusive park and splash pad will serve all families of LaGrange County.
“I am so excited that the new town park is coming to
fruition. We really want a space that provides play opportunities for all kids
and is unique enough to bring in visitors from surrounding towns,” said
Brittany Cowley, Town of LaGrange Park Committee Member.
Each year, the Community Foundation accepts proposals for
charitable projects and programs that help local nonprofit organizations
provide services to LaGrange County families and individuals. The Grants
Advisory Committee reviewed the submitted grant applications and made
recommendations to the Board of the Directors who approved the grant awards.
The grants are made possible through the generosity of donors who have
supported the unrestricted and field of interest charitable funds at the
Foundation.
The 2019 Community Impact Grant awards include:
LaGrange County, Courthouse Restoration & Historical Project, $5,225
In 2020, applications for Community Impact Grants will be accepted on April 1 and Sept. 3. To learn more, visit lccf.net/grants.
LaGrange County Park employees replace the boardwalk at Pine Knob County Park. LCCF grant will support the continuation of the boardwalk at Duff Lake Fen.
The LaGrange County Community Foundation’s mission is to inspire and sustain generosity, leadership and service. Founded in 1991, the Community Foundation connects people to charitable causes and provides resources to nonprofits to make a lasting and sustainable impact.
