New Charitable Resource Announced for Ralls County

The Ralls 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 Ralls County residents,” explained Ralls County Fund Council Member Connie Ketsenburg. “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 Ralls County for generations to come.” 

Once the fundraising goal is met, the Ralls 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 Ralls County.

"The Ralls 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 Ralls County. If everyone in Ralls County contributed just 5% of their wealth through their will to the Ralls County Endowment Fund, in 10 years it would generate grants totaling more than $520,000 each and every year. Imagine what that could achieve in Ralls County!”

In addition to Ketsenburg, fund council members include Allie Bennett and Daren Dowell, both from 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 Ralls County has been good to you, why not pay it forward for future generations?” said Ketsenburg. “The Ralls County Endowment Fund will help us keep our communities a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family.”

To date, eight 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.

Gifts to the Community Foundation for the Ralls 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.