Communityworks Endowment Fund

Communities in Illinois, Missouri, and across the country face challenges in early childhood education, workforce development, and land use and protection. However, many lack the resources to address and advance them. In 2003, the Grand Victoria Foundation (GVF) launched the Communityworks initiative to strengthen Illinois Community Foundations’ ability to do so.

After securing three rounds of support from GVF and leading a two-year effort to identify challenges and opportunities in these three target areas, your Community Foundation established its Communityworks Endowment Fund, which is open to 501(c)(3) organizations or units of government that advances workforce development, childcare, and early childhood education in Adams, Brown, Hancock, and Pike Counties, IL.

In 2007, the fund’s first grant was distributed to West Central Child Care Connection to assist with improving the quality and quantity of childcare through an evaluation and mentoring program for family home child care providers.

The fund’s grants have also helped to connect adults to programs to build essential skills and prepare them for the workforce, supported programs to expose youth to local career opportunities and taught child care workers how to introduce brain-building activities into their programs. Because the Communityworks Endowment Fund is permanent, its impact will continue for years to come.

Meanwhile, the Community Foundation continues to evaluate changing needs and opportunities in these critical focus areas in order to make strategic, meaningful grants.

Information about Communityworks grants can be found in the grant schedule .