Area Not-for-Profits Awarded More Than $124,000 Through Community Foundation's Competitive Grant Program

Thirty-nine area not-for-profits received a record $124,062 in competitive grant funding from the Community Foundation Serving West Central Illinois & Northeast Missouri. A total of 46 grants, awarded from 39 endowment funds held at the Community Foundation, will support a wide range of local, charitable interests. The checks were awarded during a presentation at The Legacy Theater in Carthage, IL.

The Community Foundation has made more than 3,500 grants totaling more than $6 million since 1999, providing local support for various programs and projects in the region.

“To say that our recent decision to support 39 outstanding organizations was anything less than competitive would be an understatement,” said Philip Krupps, Community Foundation Board Chair. “The program is competitive in the sense of the tremendous impact and service they provide to our community. We are more than honored to share and support those who make our community truly home.”

Several of the grants will contribute to matching efforts of nonprofits. A total of $21,839.47 distributed from Community Foundation endowment funds through the competitive grant program will be used to leverage $244,971.04 of additional dollars impacting our community. This includes a match effort of The Legacy Theater, hosts of the grant presentation, in which a group of donors will match up to $50,000 towards lighting equipment.

“Every dollar awarded during the competitive grant process makes a difference. But, when those dollars are amplified by matching gifts, it make the impact of the Community Foundation’s efforts so much more important,” said Heath Richmond, Community Foundation Chief Community Officer.

The Community Foundation annually accepts competitive grant applications from not-for-profit organizations in its 12-county region. A grant committee, comprised of volunteers and board members from the region, evaluates each application to determine awards. Grants are awarded for needs and opportunities in the areas of arts and culture, community betterment, education, health and human services.

Earnings from endowment funds make today’s grants possible. The funds include:

• Unrestricted Endowments, which enable the Community Foundation to make awards throughout the region,
• Field of Interest Endowments, which have specific geographic or interest requirements,
• Donor Advised Endowments, which consider recommendations made by a fund’s advisor, and
• County Endowments, which benefit a specific county, advised by a council of county residents. Grants from County Endowment Funds will be presented at county-specific presentations.

The following funds supported the 2019 competitive grant program:

Unrestricted Endowment Funds , support grants for arts and culture, community betterment, education, health and human services in the Community Foundation’s 12-county service area:

• Anonymous Funds (2)
• Karl H. & Bobbi Bowles Family and Quincy Farm & Home Supply Company Fund
• Dr. & Mrs. Merle F. Crossland Family Fund
• Harry Channon Eaton Family Endowment Fund
• Angie (Fusselman) Mayes & Evelyn J. Fusselman Fund
• Harry J. & Bernice M. Wissman Heidbreder Fund
• Kirk Family Fund – Houston, Carolyn & Carson
• Mrs. Arthur O. Lindsay Fund
• Robert A. & Anne M. Mays Fund
• Robert G. and Melva Campbell Riley Fund
• Charles A. & Nancy Scholz Charitable Fund
• Margaret J. Sinnock Fund
• Bette J. Starnes Endowment
• Grant L. and K. Georgann Sturhahn Fund
• Dorothy L. Swallow Fund
• Community Endowment Fund
• Carl, Althea & Cathy Wiskirchen Endowment

Field of Interest Funds, support grants for specific interest or geographic areas:

• Blessing Hospital Community Health Fund
• Katherine Broemmel Endowment for the Arts
• Noma Meyers Eaton Fund
• Paul H. & Anne B. Gardner Memorial Fund
• Grace United Methodist Church of Quincy Fund
• HOMEBANK Fund
• HOMEBANK of Quincy Fund
• Jane's Kids' Fund
• G. Arthur (Art) Keller, Jr. Fund
• William & Sheila Menke Endowment
• Quincy Recycle Fund
• James L. & Dorothy W. Rouner Fund
• Alan L. Stiegemeier and Mary Ellen Stiegemeier Charitable Fund
• United States Founding Fathers Fund

County Endowment Funds, support not-for-profit organizations in a specific county:

• Brown County Endowment Fund (IL)
• Hancock County Endowment Fund (IL)
• Lewis County Endowment Fund (MO)
• Marion County Endowment Fund (MO)
• Pike County Endowment Fund (IL)

Donor Advised Funds, allow a fund advisor to suggest grant recipients:

• Betty Schmidt Endowment
• Quincy Breakfast Optimist Club Friend of Youth Fund

These are among the more than 190 funds that support arts and culture, community betterment, education, health or human services.

This year’s grant recipients include:

In addition to today’s presentations, County Endowment Fund Councils will present grants from County Endowment Funds. Fund councils in Brown, Hancock and Pike County, IL and Lewis and Marion County, MO reviewed applications from local, eligible organizations and made recommendations on grants to be awarded to best serve each county’s needs and opportunities. Grants from County Endowment Funds will be presented at County Endowment awards ceremonies in each county in August and September.