Eighteen local nonprofits participated in an initiative to create or grow endowments at the Community Foundation.
Each participating nonprofit reached its fundraising goal by June 30, 2025, and received a dollar-for-dollar match to grow an existing endowment or establish a new endowed fund.
- Beacon
- BCT Management, Inc. (Buskirk Chumley Theater)
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Bloomington
- Cancer Support Community South Central Indiana
- Community Kitchen
- Conservation Law Center
- Constellation Stage & Screen
- Lake Monroe Water Fund
- Meals on Wheels
- Monroe County Humane Association
- Pathways (formerly Monroe County United Ministries)
- Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard “The Hub”
- New Hope for Families
- Sycamore Land Trust
- United Way of South Central Indiana
- USA International Harp Competition
- WFHB Community Radio
- WonderLab
Key Program Details
- This Community Foundation initiative aims to strengthen local nonprofits by fostering permanent endowments, ensuring their vital work can thrive both now and in the future.
- Gifts eligible for matching were received between January 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025.
What is an Endowment?
An endowment uses charitable gifts to build a permanent pool of funding resources intended to grow over time through investing. The earnings from this investment provide income for the nonprofit organization. Endowment funds are also called permanent funds because they are designed to grow and grant charitable dollars forever. Unlike contributions an organization receives from donors earmarked for special projects or to be spent immediately, endowment funds are designed to produce many times their original value as the years go on.
- Endowments provide a permanent source of revenue for nonprofits, ensuring sustainable funds in perpetuity.
- The principal is not spent but retained to grow the fund.
- Investment earnings are used for annual agency distributions that can be used immediately or reinvested into the endowment for future use.
- Endowments offer stability and security, even in times of economic uncertainty, providing a solid foundation for long-term planning and growth.
- Endowments reduce pressure on annual fundraising efforts over time, allowing organizations to focus on fulfilling their mission and serving the community.
- Endowments serve as a valuable vehicle for planned or estate gifts. Donors can leave a legacy gift to an endowment that will continue in perpetuity.
About the Community Foundation
The Community Foundation was established in 1990 to encourage and manage philanthropic support for the long-term benefit of the community and all those who call it home. Today, we have more than 300 funds – defined by individuals, families, and businesses that provided the resources to create the funds. Distributions from these funds are returned to the community each year through charitable grants.
Some funds focus on specific nonprofit organizations, while others, such as our unrestricted and field of interest funds, are flexible and deliver powerful support that allows us to respond to our community in the most relevant and beneficial ways. The Community Foundation combines its deep understanding of the community and its pressing needs and compelling opportunities to deploy proactive and responsive grants, education scholarships, and funding to support leadership initiatives.
Over the years, the Community Foundation has granted over $30 million to more than 400 local nonprofit organizations, fueled by a growing $49 million endowment.
Learn More:
If you have questions, contact Program Director Marcus Whited at marcus@cfbmc.org or Development Director and COO Meagan Niese at meaganniese@cfbmc.org.