Hancock County Endowment Exceeds its $10,000 Match Challenge
Last August, the Hancock County Fund Council accepted a challenge from an anonymous donor to grow the Hancock County Endowment by $10,000. The Council had until December 31 to secure donations from multiple donors. Once obtained the donor promised to match up to $10,000.
Today, the Fund Council gathered at the Hancock County Courthouse to announce that it met the challenge conditions with more than $15,000 invested in the endowment. The $10,000 matching donation is on its way to the Community Foundation Serving West Central Illinois & Northeast Missouri for the endowment. In total, the Hancock County Endowment will grow by more than $25,000.
"We are elated that the challenge goal has been reached. We hope that this campaign has made more people aware of the Hancock County Endowment Fund,” wrote the anonymous donors who issued the challenge. “It is a valuable asset for the county and we hope the fund continues to grow."
“We are extremely grateful to the anonymous donor who offered this generous challenge,” said David Fox, a Hancock County Fund Council and Community Foundation Board member. “What the fine supporters of Hancock County are doing now will affect those who live or work here long after we are gone. Please accept my sincere thanks and appreciation for your support and thinking of Hancock County both now, and in the future.”
A total of 25 donors contributed to the effort, 21 of them are first-time donors to the fund. These gifts from individuals, businesses, and civic organizations have been pooled and invested to build the fund’s grantmaking capacity.
“A huge thank you to those that invested in the Hancock County Endowment the past few months. Seeing the county come together to help us reach our goal is invigorating,” said JR Parn, Hancock County Fund Council Chair. “The best part is that it will allow us to give more back through grants to Hancock County nonprofits.”
The Hancock County Endowment was created in April 2013 in response to the Community Foundation’s invitation to the 12 counties it serves to establish charitable endowments. When county citizens, known as the Hancock County Fund Council, raised $15,000, the Community Foundation matched it with $15,000. Hancock is one of five counties that have established such endowments.
In all, approximately 40 individuals, businesses, and civic organizations have contributed to the endowment since it was created.
The Hancock County Endowment made its first grants in 2016 and will continue to grant to local nonprofit organizations through the Community Foundation’s Competitive Grant Program.
Gifts of any amount can be made at any time to continue growing the Hancock County Endowment Fund. Gifts should be made to the Community Foundation, noting that they are for the Hancock County Endowment. The Community Foundation accepts a variety of gifts including cash, stocks, grain, livestock, IRA distributions, and other assets.
For more information, contact Parn at ( 217) 242-6369 or jrparn@hotmail.com or the Community Foundation at (217) 222-1237, ceo@mycommunityfoundation.org or outreach@mycommunityfoundation.org .
The Community Foundation Serving West Central Illinois & Northeast Missouri builds permanent charitable funds to assist area nonprofits and communities. Its mission, “connecting people who care with causes that matter,” is achieved by gathering funds, growing them through investments, then granting to nonprofit organizations, causes or communities that mean the most to its donors.
Since 1997, the Community Foundation has made more than $5 million in grants. It serves 12- counties: Adams, Brown, Hancock and Pike in Illinois and Clark, Lewis, Marion, Ralls, Pike, Knox, Shelby and Monroe in Missouri.
The Community Foundation has IRS 501(c)(3) status, and contributions made to the Community Foundation generally qualify for the maximum allowable deductions for income and estate tax purposes.
For more information, call 217-222-1237, email ceo@mycommunityfoundation.org , or go to www.mycommunityfoundation.org .
