Community Foundation Year-End Grants Bring 2017 Grantmaking to $1 Million

More than $150,000 was distributed today to 47 not-for-profit organizations from the Community Foundation Serving West Central Illinois & Northeast Missouri during a designated fund distribution open house hosted at the Community Foundation. The year-end grants bring the Community Foundation’s 2017 grantmaking total to more than $1 million.

Grants in 2017 ranged from $150 to $300,000 and were awarded to 146 not-for-profits in west central Illinois, northeast Missouri, and beyond. The grants come from the more than 175 funds, primarily endowments, established by individuals, families, and businesses to support arts and culture, community betterment, education, health, and human services. Grants are distributed through a variety of programs throughout the year, depending on each fund’s charitable purpose and focus.

“Seeing the amount that we distribute each year is exciting – it illustrates the power of endowment, the generosity of our region, and the legacies of our donors. We are especially pleased to see our annual grantmaking total surpass $1 million for the first time as we’re celebrating our 20th anniversary,” said Jill Arnold Blickhan, Community Foundation President & CEO.

Grants distributed during the open house come from designated funds, which support one or more specific organizations. The funds have been established by the organizations themselves or by donors to provide a permanent source of support for organizations they care about. This year’s designated fund grants range from $150 to more than $40,000.

“Making sure their gift dollars stay and work locally is important to our donors. We also have donors who want to make major gifts for their favorite organization but do not want anyone to know the gift amount or their identity. We honor that, making a designated endowment fund an effective way to support an organization close to our donors’ hearts,” said Blickhan.

Earnings provide an additional source of annual income for the not-for-profit organizations. Each year, a portion of each organization’s fund growth is distributed and a portion is retained in each organization’s fund for continued growth.

“Whether the fund was established by the organization itself or a generous individual, the grants represent a vision. These funds are permanent and will help the benefitting organizations fulfill their mission not just now, but for generations to come,” said Blickhan.

These endowments serve as another steady resource for support, as an avenue for accepting complex gifts, and to provide protection of assets. Anyone may make a gift of any amount to a fund at any time. Gifts to the Community Foundation are also tax deductible at the highest levels allowed.

“Regardless of the amount donated to a fund, in time, the sum of the grant distributions will exceed the original gift. That’s the power of endowment,” Blickhan added.

The following organizations received grants from designated endowment funds:

• Alzheimer's Association - Illinois Chapter received a grant from the Alzheimer’s Association Endowment for use at the Quincy chapter.
• American Red Cross, Serving the Quad Cities and West Central Illinois received grants from the Herbert C. & Dorothy E. Everly Memorial Fund to be used in Adams County.
• Boy Scouts of America, Mississippi Valley Council #141 received a grant from the Henry and Betty Brooks & Omer and Doris Walton Saukenauk Scout Reservation Fund
• Brain Trauma Awareness Organization received a grant from the Brain Trauma Awareness Organization Quality of Life Fund
• Cheerful Home Child Care & Early Learning Center received a grant from the Cheerful Home Children’s Fund
• Cornerstone: Foundations for Families received a grant from the Cornerstone: Foundations For Families Fund
• Culver-Stockton College received a grant from the James T. Riley Fund
• Family Planning, Inc. received a grant from the Family Planning Fund
• Friends of Dr. Richard Eells House received grants from the Dr. Richard Eells House Fund and the Dorothy J. Plank Memorial Fund
• Friends of the Castle received grants from the Friends of the Castle Fund and the Dorothy J. Plank Memorial Fund
• Friends of the Performing Arts received a grant from the Brink/Shih Fund for the Quincy Public Schools' Friends of the Performing Arts
• Great River Recovery Resources received a grant from the Recovery Resources Fund
• Habitat for Humanity received grants from the Habitat for Humanity Housing Ministry Fund and the Donald P.W. Voth Fund
• Historical Society of Quincy and Adams County received grants from the Historical Society Fund and the Dorothy J. Plank Memorial Fund.
• Horizons Social Services received a grant from the Horizons Social Services Fund.
• Illinois 4-H Foundation received a grant from the Andrew Tenhouse Memorial Fund.
• Jackson-Lincoln Swimming Complex, Inc. received a grant from the Jackson - Lincoln Swimming Complex, Inc. Fund.
• John Wood Community College Foundation received a grant from the John Wood Community College Foundation Development Fund.
• Lewis County Historical Society received a grant from The Plank Memorial Fund.
• Luther Memorial Church received a grant from the Jeffrey G. & Theresa L. Spear Fund.
• Mt. Sterling Community Center YMCA received a grant from the Mt. Sterling Community Center Fund.
• Quincy Art Center received grants from the Quincy Art Center Fund and the Jack W. Boge Fund.

• Quincy Civic Music Association received a grant from the Quincy Civic Music Association Fund.
• Quincy Community Theatre received grants from the BeeJay Adams Fund and the Dorothy J. Plank Memorial Fund.
• Quincy Humane Society received grants from the Quincy Humane Society Fund, the Bette J. Starnes Fund for Quincy Humane Society, and the Clifford H. Taylor Fund for the Quincy Humane Society.
• Quincy Museum, Inc. received grants from the Quincy Museum Fund and the Dorothy J. Plank Memorial Fund.
• Quincy Notre Dame Foundation received a grant from the Quincy Notre Dame Foundation Capital and Improvement Fund.
• Quincy Park Band, Inc. received grants from the H. Dennis Everly Fund and the Dorothy J. Plank Memorial Fund.
• Quincy Preserves received a grant from the Dorothy J. Plank Memorial Fund.
• Quincy Public Library received a grant from the Mary Weems Barton Foundation Fund for the Quincy Public Library.
• Quincy Public Schools Foundation received a grant from the Quincy Public Schools Foundation Fund.
• Quincy Service League received a grant from the Amelia E. Bauner, Frances A. Hall, and Walter J. Hall Charitable Fund.
• Quincy Society of Fine Arts/Arts Quincy received grants from the George M. Irwin ARTS Fund, the Jack W. Boge Fund, and the Dorothy J. Plank Memorial Fund.
• Quincy Symphony Orchestra Association received a grant from the Quincy Symphony Fund.
• Quincy University received a grant from the Quincy University Endowment.
• Salvation Army of Quincy received a grant from the Herbert C. & Dorothy E. Everly Memorial Fund.
• St. Francis Solanus Church received grants from the Edward C. Hinkamper Fund for St. Francis Solanus School Students, the Lucille Hollender Memorial Fund, and the Mike Mason Fund for St. Francis School.
• St. James Evangelical Lutheran School received a grant from the George & Charlotte Spear Charitable Fund.
• Sunset Home received a grant from the Sunset Home Fund.
• The Arc of Adams County received a grant from The Arc Fund.
• The Well House received a grant from the Kaufmann Family Fund for Well House, Inc.
• Transitions of Western Illinois Foundation received a grant from the Transitions of Western Illinois Fund.
• United Way of Adams County, Inc. received a grant from the United Way of Adams County, Inc. Fund.
• West Central Illinois Agency on Aging received a grant from the Quincy Senior Citizens' Center Fund.
• West Central Illinois Case Coordination Unit received a grant from the Meals on Wheels Fund.
• YMCA of Quincy received grants from the 2nd Lt. Albert C. Warford, Jr. Fund and the Quincy Family YMCA Fund.
• YWCA of Quincy received grants from the Dorothy J. Plank Memorial Fund and the YWCA – Quincy Fund.