New Charitable Resource Announced for Monroe County

The Monroe County Endowment Fund, held at the Community Foundation Serving West Central Illinois & Northeast Missouri, will serve as a permanent source of support for local needs and opportunities. 

“We have formed a fund council made up of Monroe County residents,” explained Monroe County Fund Council Chair Loree Quinn. “If we raise $15,000 in three years, the Community Foundation will provide a $15,000 match to root this Fund as a resource that will grow and support Monroe County for generations to come.” 

Once the fundraising goal is met, the Monroe County Endowment Fund will benefit local charitable and public projects, programs, and organizations. As an endowment, it will continue to grow and generate new funds in perpetuity. Each year, the fund council will make recommendations for grants from the fund to strengthen communities in Monroe County.

"The Monroe County Endowment Fund is a way to ‘keep local money working for local causes,’” said Community Foundation CEO Catherine Meckes. “It’s a vehicle to preserve wealth in and for Monroe County. If everyone in Monroe County contributed just 5% of their wealth through their will to the Monroe County Endowment Fund, in 10 years it would generate grants totaling more than $300,000 each and every year. Imagine what that could achieve in Monroe County!”

In addition to Quinn, fund council members include Barb McCall, of Paris, and Allie Bennett, of Monroe City. The fund council is seeking additional members to help with fundraising and future grant making. Residents interested in joining the fund council are encouraged to contact any of the current council members.

“If Monroe County has been good to you, why not pay it forward for future generations?” said Quinn. “The Monroe County Endowment Fund will help us keep our communities a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family.”

To date, six of the twelve counties that the Community Foundation serves have established their own County Endowment Funds. Those funds are currently growing and granting to nonprofits doing good work within their own communities. 

Anyone can make a gift of any amount to help the Fund reach its $15,000 fundraising goal and receive the $15,000 match.

To-date, more than $2,000 has been raised thanks to gifts from Benson Financial Group, Chariton Valley Communications Corporation, Macon Electric Cooperative, Missouri Rural Electric Cooperative, and F&M Bank and Trust Company.

Gifts to the Community Foundation for the Monroe County Endowment Fund are tax-deductible as allowed by law. The Community Foundation Serving West Central Illinois & Northeast Missouri, is a not-for-profit organization with 501(c)(3) status. 

To make gifts to support future grantmaking in Monroe County, or to learn more about the fund, contact:

Local Contact: 

Loree Quinn

loree.quinn@alliantbank.com

573-406-8097

Community Foundation Contact:

Kaylee McFarland, Development Officer

Community Foundation Serving West Central Illinois & Northeast Missouri

Phone: (217) 222-1237

Email: kmcfarland@mycommunityfoundation.org

Web: www.mycommunityfoundation.org 

4531 Maine Suite A, Quincy, IL 62305

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The Community Foundation Serving West Central Illinois & Northeast Missouri builds permanent charitable funds to assist area nonprofits and communities. 

The Community Foundation launched the County Endowment Match in November 2012 as part of its initiative to develop endowment funds in the 12 counties it serves. Once a participating county’s initial fundraising goals are met, a permanent County Endowment Fund supports local charitable needs and opportunities in the county and helps to retain local assets forever.

Since 1997, the Community Foundation has made more than $15 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 info@mycommunityfoundation.org or go to mycommunityfoundation.org or www.facebook.com/mycommunityfoundation.