Gift from Judith Feldpausch estate to benefit seven Monroe County nonprofit organizations
The Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County announced today that it has received its largest single donation to date from an individual or family – an estate gift worth more than $800,000 – from the late Judith “Judy” Feldpausch.
Part of the gift was funded by Judy’s designation of the Community Foundation to receive a share of her IRA account, and the rest came as a gift of the residue of her estate under the terms of her will and her trust.
“This is the largest planned gift our Community Foundation has received in our 27-year history,” said President and CEO Tina Peterson. “We are humbled by the opportunity to honor Judy, her generosity, and her thoughtful philanthropic work through this endowment. With this gift, Judy leaves a legacy of caring, compassion, and generosity.”
Feldpausch moved to Bloomington with her husband, Richard K. “Dick” Feldpausch, in 1999. Dick retired from Felpausch Food Centers, a Michigan-based grocery chain, in 1996 following 45 years of service in the family business. After he passed away in 2003, Judy stayed in Bloomington. Judy was passionate about animals, especially horses, and helping families in need. She moved to North Carolina to be near family in 2013. Judy was survived by three children, four step-children, one brother, 14 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.
“We are grateful to Judy for her passion for making Monroe County a better place,” added Peterson. “At the Community Foundation, our mission is to create positive impact to improve the quality of life in our community. Judy’s estate gift is an example of the power of giving exponentially, advancing the Foundation’s capacity to meet the community’s most pressing needs and compelling opportunities, year after year, forever.”
The Community Foundation will invest the estate gift from Judy Feldpausch so that it will grow over time, while also distributing funds annually to each of the seven organizations to support their charitable work.
The Judith B. Feldpausch Fund will exist in perpetuity at the Community Foundation and is the newest of more than 215 funds that make up the Foundation’s $32 million+ in assets. “This is one of many gifts that have advanced the Community Foundation toward a goal set in 2012 to double our endowment to $40 million by 2022,” said Peterson. “Through careful stewardship, wise financial management, and informed grantmaking strategies, the Foundation is well equipped to honor the intentions of the growing number of donors, like Judy, who have entrusted us with many planned gifts. We have the expertise and capabilities to serve in this trusted role for the benefit of our community.”
For more information on planned giving to the Community Foundation, please contact Meagan Niese, Development Director, at [email protected] or (812) 333-9016.
About Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County: Created by individuals, families, and businesses who share a passion for Monroe County and a vision for its future, the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County has granted $25 million to more than 400 local nonprofit organizations since its incorporation in 1990. With a growing $32 million endowment, the Foundation makes a difference by connecting caring people, important causes, and community resources.
The Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe Country has announced Monroe County’s 2018 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship recipients. Mr. Aaron Nunes and Ms. Greta Stephenson will each receive a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to an Indiana public or private college of their choosing. In addition to the cost of tuition, they will receive a $900 annual stipend for books and other required materials.
Aaron Nunes of Bloomington High School South is the son of Clayton and Sunita Nunes. He is vice president of the National Honor Society and member of the Student Council, French Club, School Band, Habitat for Humanity Club, and Solar Racing Team. Nunes has participated in a number of athletic programs, including cross country running, taekwondo and weightlifting. His community activities include Boy Scouts of America, serving as a team leader with Monroe County Youth Council, volunteering at WonderLab and participating in the St. Charles Youth Group.
Through his extracurricular activities, Nunes has traveled overseas to Le Mans, France as part of the Bloomington High School French Exchange Program, to Japan with the Solar Racing Team, and to Uganda on a mission trip with St. Charles Youth Group. He is planning to attend Purdue University next fall.
“I am honored to be chosen as a Lilly Scholar,” said Aaron Nunes. “I would like to thank the Lilly Endowment, my family, friends, teachers, and mentors who have helped me and continue to support me.”
Greta Stephenson of Bloomington High School North is the daughter of Bruce Stephenson and Maria Schmidt. She is a team captain of the Science Olympiad team and recipient of the Butler Science Olympiad Scholarship. She is also a member of the Orchestra, Tri-M Music Honor Society, National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, and Leadership Opportunities Through Service. Her community activities include Girl Scouts, volunteering with the Interfaith Winder Shelter and Salvation Army Community Backpack Program, tutoring and working as a child care provider at First United Methodist Church and St. Marks United Methodist Church. Greta plans to attend Indiana University in the fall and major in secondary math education.
“I am honored to receive this scholarship, and it is wonderful to be recognized in the community,” said Stephenson. ” I am very thankful to the Community Foundation and to my family and friends for their endless support and encouragement.”
“I want to congratulate Aaron and Greta on this incredible achievement, and also thank all of Monroe County’s Lilly Scholarship Finalists for the time they dedicated to this process,” said Tina Peterson, Community Foundation President and CEO.
“In Monroe County, our Lilly Scholarship Finalists are chosen not just for their academic success, but also for how they give back to their communities,” she added. “Through their deeds and actions, each of these talented young people have exhibited a depth of character and integrity that cannot be accidental. We look forward to following each their journeys and invite them back to seek out careers in Monroe County after they complete their educations.”
Ten area high school seniors were selected as finalists for the scholarship. Evaluation of Monroe County’s Lilly Scholarship applications is a two-part blind review process. Applications are first reviewed and independently scored by members of a Lilly Scholarship committee at each Monroe County high school. The scored applications are then submitted to the Community Foundation, and finalists are identified from each school. The Community Foundation Scholarship Selection Committee, which is made up of members of the community and former Monroe County Lilly Scholars, blindly reviews and scores applications from the finalists. Each finalist is interviewed, and their interview scores are combined with scoring from the written portion of their application. The rankings, along with the committee’s recommendations are then submitted to Independent Colleges of Indiana, Inc., a nonprofit corporation representing 30 regionally accredited degree-granting colleges and universities in the state.
“The Lilly finalists represent our hope for the future,” said Jessika Hane, chair of the Community Foundation’s Scholarship Selection Committee. “Meeting each finalist, getting to know them, sharing their aspirations and dreams during the interview process reminds all of us of the great potential of young people. Greta and Aaron are shining examples of the light and leadership these students bring to our community, and to the world.”
Since 1998, the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program has assisted more than 4,500 Indiana high school graduates with more than $372 million in tuition to pursue baccalaureate degrees at Indiana colleges and universities. The program is administered by Independent Colleges of Indiana and community foundations in each of Indiana’s 92 counties.
The Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County has also announced that the eight other 2018 Lilly Scholarship finalists will receive $1,000 scholarships to use at a college or university of their choosing:
2018 JPMorgan Chase Bank Scholarship Recipients Mikayla Deckard, Edgewood High School Hadley Knaus, Bloomington High School South Ryan Paquette, Bloomington High School North
2018 Community Foundation Scholarship Recipients Zoe Berensztein, Bloomington High School South Caleb Cooper, Lighthouse Christian Academy Zachary Kovach, Edgewood High School Mac Rogers, Bloomington High School North Sage Sherfick, Academy of Science and Entrepreneurship
Previous Lilly scholarship recipients from Monroe County include:
2017 Betsy Beggs (BHSS); DePauw University Frances Kincaid (BHSN); Indiana University 2016 Greer King (BHSN); Indiana University Brian Emmons (BHSN); Indiana University 2015 Sidrah Din (BHSS); Rose-Hulman Riley Callahan (Lighthouse Christian Academy); Rose-Hulman 2014 Emma St. John (BHSN); Indiana University Winston Winkler (BHSN); Indiana University 2013 Hannah Alani (BHSS); Indiana University Shannon Jager (BHSN); DePauw University 2012 Evelyn Bauman (BHSS); Notre Dame Alex St. John (BHSN); Indiana University 2011 Maha Elsarrag (BHSN); Indiana University Lynne Bauman (BHSS); Notre Dame 2010 Bhavin Patel (BHSN); Indiana University Stephen Zerfas (BHSN); Notre Dame 2009 Miranda Arthur (Edgewood); Butler Audrey Ernst (Edgewood); University of Indianapolis 2008 Ashley Larason (BHSS); Purdue University Thomas Weakley (Edgewood); DePauw / Indiana University 2007 Meehan Lenzen (BHSN); Notre Dame Kristen Miller (BHSS); Indiana University 2006 David Kim (BHSN); Notre Dame Jenna Beasley (BHSN); Indiana University 2005 Manisha Patel (BHSN); Indiana University Jesse Pontius (BHSN); Purdue University 2004 Ryan Hodge (Indiana Academy); Rose-Hulman Isaac (Ike) Dolby (BHSN); Purdue Jennifer (Laird) Black (BHSS); Butler Tara Langvardt (Edgewood); DePauw University Caitlin (Odya) Homenda (Edgewood); Indiana University Mark Strother (BHSN); Indiana University 2003 Amber (Knowlton) Todd (BHSS); Indiana University David Courtney (BHSS); Earlham Jennifer Richardson (BHSN); Indiana University Robert (Matt) Hawkins (Edgewood); Rose-Hulman Abram Hess (Indiana Academy); Indiana University Anand Patel (BHSN); Indiana University 2002 Theodore (Tio) Savich (BHSN); Earlham Aliese Sarkissian (BHSN); DePauw University Virginia Chappell (BHSS); Indiana University Michael Kruszynski (Indiana Academy); Rose-Hulman James Moynihan (Edgewood); Butler Andrea (Stalcup) Wallace (Edgewood); University of Evansville 2001 Lindsay Kile (Edgewood); Purdue Ruthie (Willsey) Sterrett (BHSS); Purdue Ann Marshall (BHSN); Indiana University Elizabeth Sloan (BHSN); Indiana University Reed Carmichael (BHSN); DePauw University Talialin Fehrenbach (BHSS); Butler 2000 Andrew Krebbs (Edgewood); Indiana University Michael Goodman (BHSN); Indiana University Alison O’Malley (Edgewood); Butler Morgan Volrich Riggs (BHSN); Indiana University 1999 Kathleen Tran (BHSS); Indiana University Aaron Ray (Edgewood); Indiana University Amanda Horvath (BHSS); Notre Dame Nathan Fuller (BHSN); Rose-Hulman 1998 Amber (Martindale) Yount (BHSS); Butler Rebecca (Strain) Spriggs (Edgewood); University of Evansville
About Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County: Created by individuals, families, and businesses who share a passion for Monroe County and a vision for its future, the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County has granted $25 million to more than 400 local nonprofit organizations since its incorporation in 1990. With a growing $32 million endowment, the Foundation makes a difference by connecting caring people, important causes, and community resources.
Five ways to make your giving count before 2017 ends
Now is a great time for giving. When you make a donation by December 31 to the Community Foundation, you aren’t just giving money—you’re creating positive impact that makes Monroe County better. Here are five ways to make the most of your year-end giving.
1. Give early and complete your gift by December 31. A gift by check is complete when mailed (postmarked) by December 30. Gifts by credit card are complete when your credit card account is charged. Even if it’s last minute, you can donate online up until 11:59 p.m. on December 31st. Be sure to note which fund you’d like to support. View the CFBMC Fund List.
2. Review your stocks. Consider a year-end gift of appreciated stock. If you gift stock, you will receive a charitable deduction for the current market value of the stock, which can provide significant savings in capital gains tax. Stock transfers can take several days. Contact your advisor soon to take advantage of this giving vehicle. View our guide to maximize tax savings with gifts of stock.
3. Give with your retirement plan. If you’re receiving taxable income from an IRA, the Charitable IRA Rollover Act allows donors age 70 ½ or older to donate up to $100,000 from their IRA without counting the distribution as income. Learn more about using your Required Minimum Distributions (RMD) to support the causes you care about most. View our IRA Rollover Fact Sheet. Donors interested in an IRA rollover gift for the 2017 tax year should contact their financial advisors soon to take advantage of this benefit by December 31st.
4. Give now—decide later. If you need a charitable tax deduction this year but are undecided about which nonprofits to support, consider opening a donor-advised fund at the Community Foundation. You can claim a deduction for contributions to your fund now even though distributions from the fund would be made in future years. Contact us for details.
5. Let the Community Foundation do the legwork. Working with us gives you access to our extensive knowledge of the local nonprofit community and the needs of our county. We’re here to help you achieve your charitable goals. Email Meagan Niese or call 812-333-9016 to get started.
Thank you for making a difference in Monroe County! Happy Holidays!
Community Foundation gives update on giving, granting, and impact at annual event
CFBMC held its 2017 Annual Report to the Community on November 2. The annual event provided an opportunity to celebrate the organization’s activities that connect caring people, important causes, and community resources. The Foundation gave updates on its endowment, fundraising, granting and leadership initiatives.
“As an organization built on endowments, our mission is focused on both today and tomorrow,” said President and CEO Tina Peterson. “We know that change today is positively essential to sustaining this community’s tomorrow. Our job, as an organization, is to empower those people, organizations, and nonprofits that drive the change Monroe County needs to succeed.” Read More
Sycamore Land Trust endowment helps ensure environmental education programs live forever
Since 2005, the Sycamore Land Trust Environmental Education Program has provided hands-on learning experiences to people of all ages, free of charge. Today, Sycamore Land Trust provides its educational program to more than 5,000 people per year. In 2015, the Monarch Environmental Education Endowment, housed at the Community Foundation, was created to allow its educational program to grow and sustain long-term. Read More
Impact grants fuel collaboration to address food insecurity, healthy foods, and job training
CFBMC partners with Centerstone to fund transitional home for women recovering from substance abuse disorders
CFBMC is partnering with Centerstone to establish Monroe County’s first transitional housing for women recovering from substance abuse disorders and their children. The program will provide a safe therapeutic environment to serve as a bridge between initial treatment and re-entry into the community. In addition to housing and treatment, the program will help women develop the coping, life and parenting skills necessary for recovery, self-sufficiency, and stability.
“Similar programs in Indiana that allow young children to stay with their mothers are showing tremendous and promising long-term trajectories for women and children,” said Peterson. “Centerstone has the staff, the training, and the expertise to support these women and their children and we are grateful for the opportunity to impact their life-changing work.” Read More
Thrive by Five Campaign to ensure sustainability of early childhood initiatives
There’s never been a better time to be a preschooler in our community. Like never before, they have opportunities to succeed, to excel, and to conquer life. Since 2009, the Community Foundation has invested $1.2 million to increase access to affordable, high-quality early childhood education through its leadership initiative, Monroe Smart Start.
This year the Community Foundation is planning to build on the momentum for early childhood education by raising $1 million in new funds through the Thrive by Five Campaign. Once the goal is met, this endowment fund will generate $42,500 each year to sustain and support early childhood education programs in our community forever. Read More
Preschool applications open for On My Way Pre-K program in Monroe County
Help us get the word out! Applications are now available for Monroe County income-eligible families with children to apply for free pre-K starting this January. Indiana’s state-funded prekindergarten program, On My Way Pre-K, provides tuition-free education grants for 4-year-olds from low-income families to attend high-quality pre-K. The Community Foundation also provides grant dollars as part of the 5% required On My Way Pre-K community match contribution.
For information on enrollment and eligibility, go to ONMYWAYPREK.org.
2018 Lilly Scholarship finalists announced
Congratulations to Monroe County’s 2018 finalists for the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship! These ten high school seniors were recently honored at the Community Foundation’s Annual Report to the Community.
Two of the finalists will be selected to receive a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to an accredited Indiana public or private college of their choosing. Monroe County’s 2018 Lilly Endowment Scholarship recipients will be announced in early December. Read More
Sixty-five nonprofit agencies recently received annual grant distribution checks from funds established at the Community Foundation. This year, more than $316,000 was distributed to agencies. These endowed funds were created by single donors, groups of donors or by the agencies themselves. Grants from agency and designated funds provide much needed operational support for local organizations and represent some of the ways that the Community Foundation distributes funds to support local nonprofits. Thank you to the donors who make these distributions possible each year through gifts to long-term endowments and to the nonprofits that do incredible work in our community. See List of Nonprofits
Donors establish 17 new funds this year
The Community Foundation fuels lasting impact in Monroe County through our 217 funds designated to address a range of community needs. Since July 1, 2016, we’re thrilled to share that 17 new funds have been created! Thank you to the generous donors that made these funds possible. See List of New Funds
Community Foundation welcomes three new board members
CFBMC added three new members to its Board of Directors this year. Jessika Hane (human resources director at Oliver Winery), Jeff Wuslich (co-founder of Cardinal Spirts) and Jeremiah Young (president of Nature’s Way) have been elected to serve a three-year renewable term effective July 1, 2017.
“These three individuals are exceptional advocates for our community and passionately believe in the mission of the Community Foundation,” said President and CEO Tina Peterson. “We’re fortunate to have them on our team!” Read More
Great ways to give through appreciated stock and IRA distributions
Guest column by Scott Walters. There are many wonderful methods of charitable giving. While I am a firm believer that all charitable giving is important and purposeful, I also believe that there are often better, more efficient ways to give.
Gifts of appreciated property are one of the most effective ways to fulfill your charitable goals. Other types of gifts, such as real estate, mineral interests, art, and other collectibles, are examples of the assets that may often be appreciated and, therefore, are candidates to be given to a charity. The most common asset that is used for this technique is appreciated stock. Read More
End-of-year giving and holiday hours
The holidays and the end of the year are quickly approaching, but you still have time to make a charitable gift to the Community Foundation and take advantage of 2017 tax benefits! Support your favorite organization or cause by donating to one of our 217 funds or choose to make an unrestricted gift to help meet Monroe County’s most pressing needs. Regardless of how you give, your gift will continue to have an impact well beyond this year through our growing endowment.
Online Donations: Contributions through our website are processed immediately and securely. Gifts can be made up until 11:59 pm on December 31 to count as a 2017 tax deduction.
Checks: Checks must be dated and postmarked on or before December 30 to be considered a 2017 tax deduction.
Stock Transfers: Donating appreciated stocks, bonds or mutual funds is quick, simple and may provide you with significant tax benefits. These gifts are transferred directly from your brokerage account to a fund at the Community Foundation. Please call us at (812) 333-9016 for more information.
IRA Rollovers: If you’re receiving taxable income from an IRA, the Charitable IRA Rollover Act allows donors age 70 ½ or older to donate up to $100,000 from their IRA without counting the distribution as income. View our IRA Rollover Fact Sheet for more information. Donors interested in an IRA rollover gift for the 2017 tax year should contact their financial advisors soon to take advantage of this benefit by December 31st.
We’re open weekdays 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. to assist you. However, we will be closed November 23-24, December 25-26, and January 1. Contact us with your end-of-year giving questions at (812) 333-9016 or [email protected]. Give Now
Upcoming events and important dates
February 7: 100+ Women Who Care Quarterly Meeting. More information. February 23: 50+ Men Who Care Quarterly Meeting. More information
On an overcast morning in the fall, 15 Bloomington High School North environmental science students gather near a stream at the Griffy Lake Nature Preserve. They divide into groups and gather equipment — nets, collection bins, test tubes, and even hip waders. Sycamore Land Trust‘s Environmental Education Director, Shane Gibson, describes the river watch exercise the group will conduct that day. With the help of Gibson and Sycamore volunteers, the students spend the next two hours in the stream collecting and analyzing data on water flow, habitat, chemicals, and macroinvertebrates.
Later that same week, Gibson travels to Unionville Elementary School to meet up with a class of 15 kindergartners. He leads the class in an exercise all about trees — from seedling to root system, to trunk, branches, leaves, and fruit. The class then goes outside to gather tree nuts of all varieties to learn how and why squirrels collect and store them for winter.
“Once you gain an appreciation for nature, that’s when the conservation and deeper level of understanding kicks in,” says Gibson. “We’re providing those initial experiences of awareness and observation that we hope later in life contribute to greater understanding.”
Since 1990, Sycamore Land Trust has preserved more than 9,100 acres of land in 26 southern Indiana counties, including hardwood forests, native prairies, family farms, wetlands, and critical habitat for threatened and endangered species. Sycamore’s Environmental Education Program was added in 2005 to connect people of all ages with nature and foster the next generation of conservationists.
Sycamore provides hands-on educational opportunities on its nature preserves as well as in classrooms and schools. Gibson works closely with educators and community groups to customize lessons that meet teaching objectives. Lessons often include math, science, discovery, hiking and exploring, reflective writing, experimentation, collection of data, analysis, and interpretation.
In 2015, Sycamore Land Trust collaborated with the Community Foundation to create a new endowment fund that would allow its educational program to grow and be sustainable long-term. The Monarch Environmental Education Endowment is one of three designated endowment funds that support the organization and will help to ensure that these programs can continue to touch lives forever.
“Partnering with the Community Foundation is a natural fit because, like Sycamore Land Trust, the Community Foundation is also in the business of forever,” said Christian Freitag, Executive Director of Sycamore Land Trust.
In 2016, Sycamore rallied support for its educational endowment and took advantage of a Community Foundation agency endowment match opportunity. Thanks to generous donors and supporters, the Monarch Environmental Education Endowment has continued to grow every year. Sycamore expects this fund to reach more than $900,000 in early 2018, with a concerted effort to reach a $1.3 million goal by the end of the year. Once this goal is met, distributions from this fund will cover the majority of costs of the educational program on an ongoing basis. In the meantime, Monarch Fund endowment fund distributions help to make it possible for Sycamore to provide its environmental education program free of charge to more than 5,000 people per year.
“Sycamore Land Trust can sit in people’s living rooms and say, ‘Because of your support, because of your investment, Indiana will be a different place in 100 years,’” added Freitag. “Our children are going to have access to life-changing programming that they wouldn’t otherwise have. I think the future is only going to grow for this program.”
Guest column by Scott Walters, chair of the Community Foundation Professional Advisor Council.
There are many wonderful methods of charitable giving. While I am a firm believer that all charitable giving is important and purposeful, I also believe that there are often better, more efficient ways to give.
Gifts of Appreciated Stock
Gifts of appreciated property are one of the most effective ways to fulfill your charitable goals. The most common asset that is used for this technique is appreciated stock. Other types of gifts, such as real estate, mineral interests, art, and other collectibles, are examples of the assets that may often be appreciated and, therefore, are also candidates to be given to a charity.
For example, if you’ve owned 100 shares of a stock for many years in a company that has been successful and, as a result, the value of the stock has risen significantly from when you bought it at $10/share to $100/shares today. The shares that are now worth $10,000 have a tax cost basis of only $1,000. If you were to sell the stock and give the resulting cash for charitable purposes, the proceeds of the sale would first be exposed to the capital gains tax, typically in the range of 20% or higher for most taxpayers. So, the $10,000 sale proceeds, once reduced by the tax of $1,800 ($9,000 x 20%), is now only $8,200 that would be available to be given to the charity.
If instead of selling the stock in the example above you would give the stock to the charity directly, the full value of the stock ($10,000) would be realized by the charity. In addition, you receive a federal charitable deduction of $10,000, rather than $8,200 when the stock is sold before being given to charity. The combined benefit of avoiding capital gains tax and the greater charitable deduction make a very clear case for giving appreciated stock.
Charitable Distributions from IRA Accounts
A relatively new provision of tax legislation allows you to use an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) to make a charitable gift, or Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD). To qualify for this opportunity, the IRA holder must be 70 ½ or older and may give up to $100,000 per year to any number of charitable organizations. Only public charities qualify for this technique of giving. So private family/corporate foundations, donor-advised funds, and split-interest charitable trusts do not qualify.
This is a particularly effective giving method when the IRA holder is able to direct some or all of their Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) to this method. In effect, they avoid paying tax on the amount that is directed to the charity. This can be very effective if the IRA holder does not itemize deductions on their tax return and, therefore, does not get the benefit of the charitable deduction.
So, isn’t it great that not only can you fulfill your instincts to give to causes that you care about and also, at the same time, satisfy the need to be as efficient as possible with your financial resources? I think so!
The Community Foundation fuels lasting impact in Monroe County through 217 funds designated to address a range of community needs. Since July 1, 2016, we’re thrilled to share that 17 new funds have been created! Thank you to the generous donors that made these funds possible.
Unrestricted Funds
Jefferson and Mary Shreve Unrestricted Fund Phil and Margaret Hathaway Unrestricted Fund
Donor Advised Funds
Cole Family Virtuous Cycles Fund Hane Family Fund
Charitable Gift Annuities
Jane A. Gouker Charitable Gift Annuity Fund John and Gerry Miller Charitable Gift Annuity Tomi and Jim Allison Charitable Gift Annuity
Field of Interest Funds
Curry Family Fund for a Compassionate and Caring Community Flick Medical Emergency Fund Geraldine Newton Jones Fund Lewis Fund for Early Childhood Education Simpson McCarty Family Fund
Agency and Designated Funds
Judith B. Feldpausch Fund Switchyard Park Endowment Fund
Non-Permanent Funds
Dandelion Fund McRobbie Family Advised Fund Urschel-Jarvis Community Fund
We’re pleased to share that sixty-five nonprofit agencies recently received annual grant distribution checks from funds established at the Community Foundation for their benefit. This year, more than $270,000 was distributed to agencies!
These endowed funds were created by single donors, groups of donors or by the agencies themselves. Grants from agency and designated funds provide much needed operational support for local organizations and represent some of the ways that the Community Foundation distributes funds to support local nonprofits. Thank you to the donors who make these distributions possible each year through gifts to long-term endowments and to the nonprofits that do incredible work in our community.
Animal Welfare, Arts & Environment
Bloomington Community Band
Bloomington Community Radio, Inc. (WFHB)
Bloomington Playwrights Project
Farmer House Museum
George E Archer Foundation, Inc.
Hoosier Youth Philharmonic
Indiana Limestone Symposium
Lotus Education & Arts Foundation
Monroe County Historical Society, Inc.
Monroe County Humane Association
Sassafras Audubon Society
Sycamore Land Trust, Inc.
Windfall Dancers
Writing for a Change Foundation of Bloomington
Education & Learning
Bloomington Developmental Learning Center
Bloomington Montessori School
Community Justice and Mediation Center
Delta Association of Kappa Kappa Gamma
Edgewood High School Dollars For Scholars
Foundation of Monroe County Community School Corporation
Franklin Initiative
Harmony School
IU-Courson Greeves Scholarships
Ivy Tech Foundation, Inc.
Leadership Bloomington Alumni, Inc.
Monroe County Library Foundation
Pinnacle School
Richland Bean Blossom Community School Corporation
President and CEO Tina Peterson welcomes attendees at the 2017 Annual Report to the Community. View more photos.
Foundation announces Thrive by Five fundraising campaign and new funding for Monroe County’s first transitional home for women recovering from substance abuse disorders.
CFBMC held its 2017 Annual Report to the Community on Thursday, November 2. The annual event provided an opportunity to celebrate the organization’s activities that connect caring people, important causes, and community resources. The Foundation gave updates on its endowment, fundraising, granting and leadership initiatives. The theme for the event was “A Vehicle for Change.”
“As an organization built on endowments, our mission is focused on both today and tomorrow,” said President and CEO Tina Peterson. “We know that change today is positively essential to sustaining this community’s tomorrow. Our job, as an organization, is to empower those people, organizations, and nonprofits that drive the change Monroe County needs to succeed.”
Peterson shared that the Foundation received $1 million in gifts during the past year, growing its endowment to $30.9 million, and adding 12 new funds.
“The vehicle for change that the Community Foundation is entrusted to steer has many seats – each one filled by individuals, families, and businesses who have a passion for this community,” added Peterson. “Those passions are diverse – arts, animals, education, essential needs, community development, youth development, those with disabilities, and the environment. Fortunately, our bus is a big one, and there are seats available for all who wish to be the change they want to see in our community.”
Grants and distributions from the Community Foundation’s 217 funds often serve as the vehicles to advance important causes and improve the quality of life in Monroe County. As needs and opportunities arise in our community, the Foundation also provides proactive funding to respond to pressing needs and compelling opportunities. Peterson gave updates on several of these leadership initiatives:
expanding early childhood education opportunities,
responding to the opioid crisis in our community, and
advancing Southwest Central Indiana’s regional economic and workforce initiatives.
Early Childhood Education “For the past 6+ years, the Community Foundation has deliberately focused on early childhood education as a key solution-based approach to ensuring that children, families and the community succeeds,” said Peterson.
The Community Foundation has invested more than $1.2 million on Monroe Smart Start initiatives to increase access to affordable, high-quality early childhood education especially for children from less advantaged circumstances. Monroe Smart Start has been supported through distributions from the Community Foundation’s unrestricted funds, selected field of interest funds, and donor advised funds.
Earlier this year, Monroe County was selected to join 19 other counties eligible to participate in On My Way Pre-K, Indiana’s first state-funded prekindergarten program for 4-year-olds from low-income families. Participating counties must provide a local funding match to support the program.
To support this match requirement and to continue the growth of Monroe Smart Start initiatives, the Foundation announced the Thrive by Five Endowment Campaign. The goal of this $1 million endowment building fundraising campaign is to ensure the sustainability of Monroe Smart Start’s early learning initiatives. When funded with $1 million, this endowment will generate $42,500 in interest income to expand the Community Foundation’s early childhood education initiatives, which currently cost more than $150,000 per year.
Peterson introduced CFBMC Board Member Jessika Hane, human resources director at Oliver Winery, and Jessica Merkel, partner at Bunger & Robertson, as chairs of the Thrive by Five Campaign. Hane and Merkel indicated that they were proud to serve as chairs because their own children (five between the two of them) have benefited from high-quality early childhood education programs in Monroe County.
“As working moms, we depend on these programs,” Merkel said. “If childcare is so necessary for us, I can only think of how critical it is for families struggling to make ends meet. The affordability and reliability of childcare can determine whether a parent keeps a job, makes a rent payment, has food for their family, or can fill a prescription. It is invaluable to have quality, affordable childcare in our community. It not only improves the lives of our children but their entire family as well.”
The Foundation’s Thrive by Five fundraising campaign committee has already raised $380,000, including a leadership gift of $100,000 by local real estate developer Elliot Lewis. This lead gift establishes the Lewis Fund for Early Childhood Education as the official name of the Thrive by Five Campaign endowment.
“When children have high-quality learning experiences, it impacts the prosperity of the entire community,” added Hane. “Children who are prepared for school and prepared for life have the capacity to change the world.”
Opioids in Our Community In September, the Community Foundation was the lead sponsor for the first South Central Opioid Summit in Bloomington. The event brought more than 600 people together from across the region with a goal of increasing collaboration around the growing drug epidemic.
“An inspiring and humbling event, the Summit gave those in attendance a greater understanding of the challenges faced by individuals struggling with addiction, the frightening impact the epidemic is having on children and families, and the importance of working together to find solutions,” said Peterson.
Peterson announced that the Foundation is partnering with Centerstone to establish Monroe County’s first transitional housing for women recovering from substance abuse and their children. Through a $50,000 seed grant, Centerstone will secure a facility to support up to 6 women and their children initially. It is anticipated that the program will eventually serve up to 36 women and their children annually.
“Women with addictions are much less likely to seek and receive treatment due to many barriers, including fear of social stigma, domestic violence, lack of adequate childcare, or fear of legal intervention that may result in the loss of their children,” said Peterson. “When mothers do not get treatment, the impact is devastating for their children and often results in trauma that affects a child for a lifetime.”
The program will provide a safe therapeutic environment to serve as a bridge between initial treatment and re-entry into the community. In addition to housing and treatment, the program will help women develop the coping, life, and parenting skills necessary for recovery, self-sufficiency, and stability. The facility will prioritize placement for pregnant women and women with young children.
“Similar programs in Indiana that allow young children to stay with their mothers are showing tremendous and promising long-term trajectories for women and children,” added Peterson. “Centerstone has the staff, the training, and the expertise to support these women and their children and we are grateful for the opportunity to support their life-changing work.”
Regional Economic and Workforce Initiatives In 2016, the Community Foundation established Regional Opportunity Initiatives, Inc. (ROI) as a supporting organization and separate 501(c)(3) entity. The mission of the organization is to support economic and community prosperity in the 11-county region of Southwest Central Indiana through education, workforce, and quality of place initiatives. Peterson also serves as the CEO of ROI and its ten-person staff shares its offices with the Community Foundation.
“Ultimately, ROI’s goal is to ensure that this region prospers,” said Peterson. “As the largest county and employer in Southwest Central Indiana, Monroe County stands to benefit a great deal from the opportunities ROI makes possible.”
Funded by a $26.5 million grant from the Lilly Endowment, ROI is working with the region’s key industry sectors – advanced manufacturing, life sciences, and national security and defense – to establish partnerships and to begin to implement initiatives for strategic alignment.
“For the region to prosper, we believe we must focus on alignment between our key economic and workforce assets and the communities, institutions, and programs that support them,” said Peterson.
Peterson highlighted some of the ROI initiatives currently underway to support these efforts.
Ready Schools – Six regional school districts are currently working with ROI to apply design thinking principles in realigning, K to 12, educational delivery, and curriculum with the workforce needs of the region.
STEM Fellows – Fifteen regional elementary educators were nominated by their school principals and selected by ROI to serve as STEM Fellows within their schools. Fellows participate in professional development and community engagement opportunities to create more relevant STEM learning experiences for students and better prepare students for careers in our region.
I-69 Interchange Analysis – ROI is working with HWC Engineering to analyze the I-69 interchanges in the Southwest Central Indiana region. The goal is to establish a cohesive vision for the system of new interchanges along the I-69 Corridor, outline of the opportunities/constraints to development at each interchange, and identify key strategies necessary to implement plan recommendations.
Competitive Positioning/Regional Branding – ROI is working Dartlet and Fourth Economy to develop a competitive identity strategy for Southwest Central Indiana that will be used to attract talent, business, and investment to our region. This fall several hundred regional partners participated in messaging workshops. Results from the workshops will be combined with information from Southwest Central Indiana’s existing Strategic Plan for Economic and Community Development, Occupational Needs Assessment, I-69 Interchange Analyses, and other regional data to help inform the competitive identity process.
More information on these and other ROI initiatives can be found at SWCIndiana.org.
About Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County: Created by individuals, families, and businesses who share a passion for Monroe County and a vision for its future, the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County has granted $25 million to more than 400 local nonprofit organizations since its incorporation in 1990. With a growing $30 million endowment, the Foundation makes a difference by connecting caring people, important causes, and community resources.
Ten Monroe County high school seniors have been selected as finalists for the 2018 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship. The 2018 finalists will be honored at the Community Foundation’s Annual Report to the Community on Thursday, November 2.
Monroe County’s 2018 Lilly Scholarship finalists include:
Zoe Berensztein, Bloomington High School South
Caleb Cooper, Lighthouse Christian Academy
Mikayla Deckard, Edgewood High School
Hadley Knaus, Bloomington High School South
Zachary Kovach, Edgewood High School
Aaron Nunes, Bloomington High School South
Ryan Paquette, Bloomington High School North
Mac Rogers, Bloomington High School North
Sage Sherfick, Academy of Science and Entrepreneurship
Greta Stephenson, Bloomington High School North
This year’s ten finalists were selected from among 68 applicants. In selecting recipients for the Monroe County Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship, consideration is given to student activities and achievements, community and civic service, academic performance and leadership potential.
“Every year, we are inspired by the quality of applicants for Lilly Endowment Community Scholars program,” said Community Foundation President and CEO Tina Peterson. “Monroe County has no shortage of exceptionally talented young people, and these 2018 finalists excel as leaders in their schools and in our community. We look forward to recognizing each of them at our Annual Report to the Community on November 2.”
Lilly Endowment Community Scholars are awarded four-year, full-tuition scholarships to pursue baccalaureate degrees at accredited public or private nonprofit colleges or universities in Indiana. Monroe County’s two 2018 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship recipients will be announced in December.
Evaluation of Monroe County’s Lilly Scholarship applications is a two-part blind review process. Applications are first reviewed and independently scored by members of a Lilly Scholarship committee at each Monroe County high school. The scored applications are then submitted to the Community Foundation, and finalists are identified from each school. The Community Foundation Scholarship Selection Committee, which is made up of members of the community and former Monroe County Lilly Scholars, blindly reviews and scores applications from the finalists. Each finalist is interviewed, and their interview scores are combined with scoring from the written portion of their application. The rankings, along with the committee’s recommendations are then submitted to Independent Colleges of Indiana, Inc., a nonprofit corporation representing 30 regionally accredited degree-granting colleges and universities in the state.
Since 1998, the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program has assisted more than 4,500 Indiana high school graduates with more than $372 million in tuition to pursue baccalaureate degrees at Indiana colleges and universities. The program is administered by Independent Colleges of Indiana and community foundations in each of Indiana’s 92 counties.
The Community Foundation’s Annual Report to the Community begins at 4:30 p.m. on November 2 in Shreve Hall at Ivy Tech Bloomington (200 Daniels Way, Bloomington, IN 47404). This annual event is a celebration the Foundation’s past year of connecting caring people, important causes, and community resources. For more information on the Lilly Scholarship and the Community Foundation’s Annual Report to the Community event, visit www.cfbmc.org.
About Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County: Created by individuals, families, and businesses who share a passion for Monroe County and a vision for its future, the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County has granted $25 million to more than 400 local nonprofit organizations since its incorporation in 1990. With a growing $30 million endowment, the Foundation makes a difference by connecting caring people, important causes, and community resources.
