News

Letters of Intent for Community Impact Funding Initiative now being accepted

Thanks to generous donor support and a growing endowment, the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County announces $1.5 million in granting initiatives for the current fiscal year that began July 1, a 6.5% increase over the previous year.

“The Community Foundation exists to make our county the best it can possibly be; to give those that live here the best opportunities for happy, successful lives,” said President and CEO Tina Peterson. “We strive every year to increase our capacity to achieve these fundamental but lofty goals.”

“For almost three decades now, individuals, families, and organizations have given to the Community Foundation to support these overarching goals, and that generosity is paying dividends for friends, our neighbors, and those who call our community home,” added Peterson. “Our endowment has grown by $13.7 million since 2012 (an 80 percent increase), which translates to more funding, more possibilities, and more opportunity to make our community what we all hope it can be for today and for tomorrow.”

Founded in 1990, today the Community Foundation’s total assets of $33.3 million include a growing $30.8 endowment and over 220 funds benefiting Monroe County organizations and residents. From early childhood development to aging, from basic needs to charitable economic development, from the arts to the environment, Community Foundation donors create lasting impact by fueling innovative ideas that make Bloomington and Monroe County a better place for all who call it home.

The Community Foundation’s grant initiatives include both competitive and proactive granting opportunities, donor-advised fund grantmaking to area nonprofits, agency fund distributions to nonprofits and designated fund distributions, educational scholarships, and leadership grants in areas of particular significance to Monroe County.

Competitive & Field of Interest Granting

This year’s grant initiatives include three competitive grant opportunities for nonprofit organizations. Competitive grant initiatives are funded through unrestricted funds, collaborative funding from regional partners, and field of interest funds established by donors to support specific areas of focus.

• Community Impact Funding Initiative – Programs funded through this competitive grant cycle aim to strengthen the community by enabling local organizations to address pressing problems or pursue compelling opportunities in Monroe County. This year’s grant initiative, co-funded with the Smithville Charitable Foundation, will award grants ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 to area nonprofits. Grant funding is designed to support a broad range of community needs such as arts and culture, social and health services, education, recreation, beautification and preservation, animal welfare, the environment, and community development opportunities. Letters of Intent are now being accepted for this initiative, and are due September 12. View details.
• Precision Health Granting Initiative – Precision Health Network Fund grants assist with the proactive development or enhancement of community health education and health outcomes in Brown, Daviess, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Monroe, Morgan, Orange, and Owen Counties. Programs selected to receive grants have stated goals that include prevention of disease, self-management of chronic disease, and/or promotion of health and healthy lifestyles that relate to wellness and disease management/prevention. This year, the Foundation will focus on prevention efforts in schools to help students avoid substance abuse and improve students’ social and emotional well-being. More details on the Precision Health grant opportunity will be announced soon.
• Innovation Grants – As an extension of the Community Impact Funding Initiative, the Community Foundation will conduct a pilot grantmaking cycle in early 2019 that will incentivize innovative proposals by encouraging local nonprofits to think creatively in addressing solutions to our community’s needs and opportunities. The innovation grantmaking cycle will award a total of up to $50,000 and incorporate a short written application process in the initial stage, followed by a “pitch-style” presentation for invited applicants. Donors and the community will be invited to attend the pitch competition event that will result in five grants of up to $10,000 each.

In addition to these competitive granting initiatives, grantmaking also occurs throughout the year from more than 20 Community Foundation field of interest funds. Community Foundation staff use their expertise to identify, evaluate, and award grants to the most qualified and deserving organizations and programs in areas identified by each field of interest fund.

Leadership Initiatives

While many granting initiatives address areas of urgency and opportunity, the Community Foundation Board may also elect to provide proactive funding in other areas of particular significance to Monroe County. Over time, our pool of endowed and flexible resources allow us to address different areas as community needs dictate. This year, the Community Foundation will distribute more than $200,000 to support strategic leadership initiatives.

“The Community Foundation is uniquely positioned to convene common voices around issues, take risks, and support innovative programs that improve the quality of life in our county,” said Jennie Vaughan, president of the Community Foundation Board of Directors. “Our leadership initiatives allow us to partner with civic, private, and nonprofit organizations to leverage resources to create a better future for all that call Monroe County home.”

• Monroe Smart Start – The Community Foundation will once again provide proactive funding to Monroe Smart Start, its early childhood education initiative. Funding will be used to grow preschool capacity, increase high-quality early education, provide professional development for educators, support family engagement and community partnerships, and facilitate enrollment for On My Way Pre-K, Indiana’s pre-K program for 4-year-olds from low-income families.
• Community Development Finance – Leadership funding will also be used to support strategies to attract community development financing to Bloomington. You can learn more about this partnership initiative with the City of Bloomington and the Bloomington Urban Enterprise Association by reading the March 28, 2018 announcement: Bloomington Launches New Strategy for Attracting National Financing for Community Development.
• Advancing Out-of-School STEM Learning Grants – This grant opportunity was made possible by Regional Opportunity Initiatives, a supporting organization of the Community Foundation. In 2017, ROI granted $25,000 to each of the 11 counties in the Indiana Uplands to advance K-12 STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) programs that engage youth through hands-on activities that add value and extend the school experiences. Out-of-school STEM learning occurs outside of the traditional school day, including before and after school and summer programs, and may be provided by school districts, community organizations, nonprofits, and cultural institutions such as libraries and museums.

Monroe County has a wealth of quality STEM programming but lacks the resources to advance coordination, collaboration, and shared training to make the ecosystem as valuable as it could be for local students. This year, the Community Foundation will grant $25,000 to support out-of-school STEM learning by providing resources and professional development to local educators.

• Be More Awards – Additional leadership funding will support the Be More Award recipients. The City of Bloomington Volunteer Network Be More Awards recognize outstanding community volunteers each year. In recognition of their selfless contributions, the ten recipients are awarded $500 checks from the Community Foundation that they can use to support the nonprofit organization of their choice.

Donor-Advised Distributions

The Community Foundation’s endowment includes over 45 donor-advised funds that will distribute more than $210,000 this year to support charitable and nonprofit organizations. These funds give donors the opportunity to play an active, personal role in their charitable giving. Each year, donors recommend recipients for grants from the fund while relying upon the Foundation’s staff for expertise in fund administration, record keeping, investing and grant making. These funds offer the ability to involve an entire family, group, or organization in making grant recommendations.

“The primary reason that I started a Donor Advised Fund was to teach my children the importance of helping others,” said John Hurlow or Hurlow Wealth Management. “When the time came to make annual distributions, I let the kids pick where they wanted the money to go. My daughter has had chronic migraines, and she wanted half of the money to go to the Riley Hospital Children’s Neurology Department to help other children suffering from migraines. My son is a huge animal lover and wanted half to go to the Monroe County Humane Society to help animals that have been abused. The kids talked about how awesome it was that we are doing this and they felt it was the first ‘adult’ thing they have ever done. The kids now look forward to picking a cause each year, and they also understand compounding interest and how this money will continue to grow and give back forever.”

Agency and Designated Funds

Over eighty Community Foundation funds are designated to benefit local nonprofit agencies every year. These endowed funds may have been established by the organization or by a donor with a particular affinity for a specific agency. Agencies may use designated grants to support their charitable operations in any way they feel appropriate. This year, the Community Foundation will distribute over $400,000 in agency and designated funds.

“Our relationship with the Community Foundation is about 20 years old,” said Monroe County Court Appointed Special Advocates Executive Director Kristin Bishay. “The Community Foundation has helped us become stronger and more financially stable. Our agency endowment fund has been a reliable source of annual support for us, while the Foundation has also provided support of their resources and expertise. We’re grateful that the Community Foundation has always been willing to be innovative with us in fitting their services to meet our needs.”

Educational Scholarships

The Community Foundation administers over 20 scholarships each year to support the educational aspirations of community members. Scholarship funds can be used to support students across the spectrum of educational attainment. This year, the Community Foundation will distribute more than $20,000 to help members of our community pursue educational opportunities.

Additional Programmatic Initiatives

In addition to this year’s grant initiatives totaling $1.5 million, the Community Foundation will also support the following programs and organizations this year:

• Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship – The Community Foundation will once again administer the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship program on behalf of Monroe County. Lilly Endowment Community Scholars are awarded four-year, full tuition scholarships to pursue baccalaureate degrees at colleges or universities in Indiana. Funding for this scholarship program is provided by the Lilly Endowment, and the Community Foundation collaborates with Independent Colleges of Indiana to award this scholarship each year. Applications are currently open for this scholarship opportunity through August 26, 2018. View details.
• Regional Opportunity Initiatives – The Community Foundation will also continue its commitment to support Regional Opportunity Initiatives, Inc.

In 2014, the Southwest Central Indiana steering committee released The Strategic Plan for Economic and Community Prosperity in Southwest Central Indiana, which identified key strategies and action steps essential to the success of our region. In 2015, Lilly Endowment awarded ROI a $25,870,000 grant for its education and workforce initiatives and a regional opportunity fund to support key strategies.

In 2016, ROI was established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and a supporting organization of the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County. Housed in the same office space, the Community Foundation and ROI also share executive leadership, accounting services, and communication and marketing resources.

ROI’s mission is to advance economic and community prosperity in the 11 counties of what is now called the Indiana Uplands region. Through education and workforce initiatives and quality of place development, ROI is supporting progress in the region that encompasses Brown, Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Monroe, Orange, Owen and Washington counties.

“Monroe County has a symbiotic relationship with the other ten counties in the Indiana Uplands,” added Peterson. “Through the work of ROI, we have the opportunity to address challenges and opportunities like workforce attraction and retention, and advancing economic prosperity in a way that is exponentially more impactful than going it alone.”

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 $27 million to more than 400 local nonprofit organizations since its incorporation in 1990. With a growing $30.8 million endowment, the Foundation makes a difference by connecting caring people, important causes, and community resources.

For Mark and Katy Bradford, giving back to the community is more than a hobby, it’s a passion. After moving to Bloomington in 1990 for Mark’s work at Monroe Bank, now Old National Bank, they did not hesitate to go to work volunteering and supporting their new home.

In fact, between the two of them, they have served as volunteers and supporters of 16 different local organizations and nonprofits. The Bradfords did this all while raising their three sons, Matt, Mike, and John. Mark first got involved with the Community Foundation when it was just being formed in 1990, and later became a board member. He was drawn to the sustainability the Community Foundation could offer Monroe County.

“I think it is important to have a strong Community Foundation, and the dollars are particularly helpful during difficult economic times,” Mark said. “During a recession, the Foundation is able to support the community and local nonprofits in a relatively consistent manner at a time when charitable giving typically decreases.”

Mark also led the Community Foundation in its first corporate campaign with the goal of raising $1 million from local businesses. Because of Mark’s leadership, the Foundation exceeded its goal and raised $1,037,000.

“Old National Bank made a $100,000 multi-year pledge to the Community Foundation, and in doing so, we wanted to leverage the contribution for the greatest benefit,” said Mark. “We reached out to leaders in the business community to tell them why ONB made the decision to support the Community Foundation, and ask if their business would consider a corporate gift. I was blown away by the generosity of the local businesses.”

Because they have given back in so many diverse ways, the Community Foundation was a perfect vehicle for Mark and Katy to create a lasting philanthropic legacy that would provide for many of the nonprofits they love. Katy and Mark chose to create a legacy through a gift in their estate by naming the Community Foundation as a beneficiary of a retirement plan.

Mark said,“Our number one estate-planning priority is to assist our children and grandchildren, but we determined they would not miss the 5% of our estate we are investing in the Community Foundation. We determined that Bloomington has been very good to us as we raised our children, and are enjoying being ‘empty nesters,’ so we wanted to give back to this wonderful community.”

Katy and Mark know they aren’t alone in caring deeply for Monroe County. Mark hopes that others will join him and Katy in looking to improve our community both now and in the future.

“Don’t put it off the way I did,” Mark said. “We are currently working with an attorney in updating our estate planning documents, but the process is very simple.  The Community Foundation provided us with a relatively short document to review, sign and incorporate into our will.  It has been exciting to think that Katy and I will be leaving a small legacy to benefit the community long after we are gone.”

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Katy and Mark have been married for 37 years and have three sons – Matt (35), Mike (33) and John (32). Matt is married to Sara Cotner, and they have two sons – Henry (7) and Tate (5). Matt and Mike live in Austin, Texas, and John lives in Los Angeles.

Katy has been a board member and/or active volunteer for the following Bloomington organizations – YMCA, Boys & Girls Club Auxiliary, Bloomington Country Club, Childs School PTO, Cutters Soccer, Big Brothers/Big Sisters and Habitat for Humanity. Mark has been a board member and/or active volunteer for the United Way, Bloomington Hospital Foundation, Bloomington Hospital (IU Health Bloomington), Boys and Girls Club, Community Foundation of Monroe County and Bloomington, Regional Opportunity Initiatives (ROI), Bloomington Economic Development Corporation (BEDC), Monroe County Community School Corporation, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity and Ivy Tech Community College. 

Community Foundation updates scholarship criteria and adds semi-finalist round.

The Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County (CFBMC) has opened applications for the 2019 Monroe County Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program. Interested high school seniors have until Sunday, August 26 to submit their applications to be considered for the scholarship program. Monroe County’s two Lilly Scholarship recipients will be announced in December.

New this year, the Community Foundation Board of Directors approved changing the scholarship criteria to remove the requirement that Monroe County applicants be U.S. citizens. The number of years students must attend high school in Monroe County was also reduced from four to three consecutive years.

“As a community, we benefit greatly from the diverse backgrounds and experiences of individuals and families who have chosen to make Monroe County their home,” said President and CEO Tina Peterson. “We believe that the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program should be reflective of that diversity and offer many young people the opportunity to compete for this prestigious award. The changes to our criteria are very simply meant to more clearly align with the realities of who we are as a community.”

Lilly Endowment Community Scholars are awarded four-year, full tuition scholarships to pursue baccalaureate degrees at colleges or universities in Indiana. The scholarship also includes up to $900 annually for required textbooks and equipment. 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. Finalists for the scholarship will be identified in October, and the two 2019 Lilly Endowment Community Scholars for Monroe County will be named in December 2018.

“To ensure that every eligible student has the opportunity to apply, we want students and families in Monroe County to be aware that the timeline for the Lilly Scholar program is earlier than many other scholarship programs,” said Program Director Marcus Whited. “We encourage students to review the Lilly Scholarship application online this week and reach out early to teachers, school staff, and others for the required recommendations.”

Lilly Scholarship Eligibility Requirements:

• Applicant must be a resident of Monroe County.
• Applicant must attend an accredited Monroe County high school and/or the Indiana Academy for at least three consecutive years.
• Applicant must graduate by June of 2019 from one of these eligible schools: Bloomington High School North, Bloomington High School South, Edgewood High School, Academy of Science and Entrepreneurship, Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics & Humanities, Bloomington Graduation School, and Lighthouse Christian Academy.
• Applicant must have a cumulative GPA of 3.70 or above (on a weighted four-point scale) through the end of their junior year.
• Applicant plans to pursue a full-time baccalaureate course of study at an Indiana college or university beginning in the Fall of 2019.

In addition to criteria changes, the Community Foundation Board of Directors also approved a new semi-finalist round for 2019. Applications will be blindly reviewed and independently scored by members of a Lilly Scholarship committee at each Monroe County high school to identify semi-finalists. The number of semi-finalists will be reflective of each school’s senior class size.

The Community Foundation Scholarship Selection Committee will evaluate the scored semi-finalists applications from each school. This committee, which is made up of members of the community and former Monroe County Lilly Scholars, blindly reviews and scores applications from the semi-finalists to select ten finalists. In October, each finalist will be interviewed, and their interview scores will be combined with scoring from the written application. The finalist’s rankings, along with the committee’s recommendations for scholarship recipients, will be submitted to Independent Colleges of Indiana, Inc. Independent Colleges of Indiana will affirm the scholarship recipients for Monroe County prior to announcement in December.

“The Community Foundation is honored to work with Independent Colleges of Indiana to award this scholarship each year,” added Peterson. “The Lilly Community Scholarship Program has allowed 60 Monroe County Lilly Scholars to pursue education opportunities in Indiana. Our hope is that this opportunity increases the odds that talented young people stay here, in Indiana, to become the citizens and leaders we need to ensure a bright, prosperous future for our communities.”

Since 1998, the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program has assisted more than 4,400 Indiana high school graduates statewide 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.

For more information on the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program or other scholarships administered by CFBMC, visit https://cfbmc.org/lasting-impact/apply-for-a-scholarship/ or contact Marcus Whited, Program Director at 812-333-9016 or [email protected].

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 $27 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.

Gifts to our community – that pay you back for life!

Exciting news! For the first time since 2012, the American Council on Gift Annuities has increased the suggested maximum payout rates for Charitable Gift Annuities. Effective July 1, the rates have raised by 0.30% to 0.50% for most ages.

There’s never been a better time to make a gift to support a cause you care about most through the Community Foundation while generating retirement income for yourself and/or your loved ones.

What is a Charitable Gift Annuity?

A charitable gift annuity (CGA) is a gift made to a nonprofit organization that can provide you with a secure source of fixed payments for life.

How does it work?

You make a one-time gift to the Community Foundation, and we agree to pay you a fixed amount every year for your lifetime. You can also choose to name up to two people you love to receive the annuity payments. The older you are, the better the payment rate. After your lifetime, any unused gift amount will go to the Community Foundation.

How do I benefit?

• You make a significant gift to the community without compromising your financial security.
• Fixed income payments are free from market volatility with rates superior to standard long-term accounts.
• You receive a charitable tax deduction for the one-time gift you make and typically a portion of the annuity payments are tax-free.
• If you make a gift of appreciated securities to fund your annuity, you can avoid a portion of the capital gains tax.

How do I get started?

The Community Foundation offers current CGA life income to beneficiaries of age 60 and older. A deferred CGA can be established as early as age 55. You can start a CGA today with a gift of $10,000 or more.

Download CGA Brochure

We would love to talk with you about how CGAs can help you accomplish your charitable and income goals. For a personalized illustration of how a CGA can benefit you and our community, contact Meagan Niese at 812-333-9016 or [email protected].

Wolfe Allen, a senior at the Academy of Science and Entrepreneurship, has been awarded the first Carl Deal, Jr. Memorial Scholarship. Established at the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County, this scholarship will be presented annually to a current, or former Boys & Girls Club member for post-secondary education or training. Carl Deal’s wife Berit with longtime friend Tommy Richardson were joined by Community Foundation Program Director Marcus Whited and Boys and Girls Clubs Executive Director Jeff Baldwin to award the scholarship to Allen at the school’s Senior Awards Breakfast ceremony on May 16, 2018.

“Having the Carl Deal, Jr. Scholarship awarded to me was a pleasant surprise, and I am very grateful to have this opportunity,” said Allen, who will be attending Ivy Tech Community College in Bloomington this fall.

Born in 1959, Carl “King” Deal Jr. grew up in the Crestmont neighborhood on Bloomington’s northwest side. He attended Fairview Elementary and Dyer Jr. High, and was a graduate of Bloomington High School North. Carl also worked for over 25 years at General Electric in Bloomington. As a child, his father coached youth sports at what was then the Boys Club, where Carl and his brother Steve were active members. Carl developed lifelong friendships through his involvement with the Club. He appreciated the commitment and impact that the Boys and Girls Club had on his life and wanted to give back to the young people of this community. Carl was known for his big personality, for his generous nature, and as an advocate for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bloomington and the families they serve.

After his unexpected death in 2012, Carl’s wife Berit, friends, family, and co-workers launched an annual fundraiser to support the Boys & Girls Club and to create a scholarship in Carl’s memory. Held in August, the King’s Blues, BBQ & Funk Fest at Upland Brewing Co. has drawn 400 people each year since 2013.

“Carl was a strong believer in the power of education, and it is my hope that, through this endowment, kids who wouldn’t normally receive such an award, will be able to achieve things that might not have been possible before,” said Berit Deal. “Like Carl, you can be ordinary and extraordinary at the same time. We are so excited for Wolfe, and look forward to seeing his future unfold.”

“Carl and Berit understood fully what it means to ‘pay it forward,’” said Jeff Baldwin, executive director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Bloomington. “They both recognized the value in the Club and what it did for them and for other youth in the community. Thanks to them, and the scholarship they have provided, Wolfe Allen will take a bolder step forward into his future  – exciting for him, our community, and the Boys and Girls Club.”

The next King’s Blues, BBQ & Funk Fest is scheduled for August 4 at Upland Brewing Co.

Information and eligibility requirements for the Carl Deal, Jr. Memorial Scholarship can be found at https://cfbmc.org/lasting-impact/apply-for-a-scholarship/deal/. The application deadline for the 2019 scholarship is March 15, 2019.

About the Community Foundation: 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 $27 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.

Subscribe to the CFBMC Newsletter.

Community boosts Thrive by Five Campaign on Giving Day with $119,000 in gifts

Thanks to 26 local early learning heroes, 17 local businesses and more than 500 donors, Thrive by Five Giving Day raised more than $119,000 for early learning in Monroe County, exceeding the day’s goal! Our early learning heroes also lived up to their titles by raising more than $70,000 through the peer-to-peer fundraising blitz on April 25.

On Giving Day, corporate partners received an “Eat Like A Kid” lunch kit & Jellyfish Craft Kit to share with their offices. A discerning panel of pre-K kids evaluated jellyfish created by Giving Day partner businesses. Congratulations to the winner IU Riley Physicians Clarizz. Pre-K kids joined the fun, too, with early learning project kits delivered to local classrooms.

Thank you to the Giving Day partners, heroes, and donors who stepped up to ensure that all Monroe County kids thrive by age five. As a result, the Thrive by Five Campaign has raised more than $720,000 towards its $1 million goal for early learning initiatives. Thank you also to the Lewis Family for establishing the Lewis Fund for Early Childhood Education with their lead campaign gift.
View the Thrive by Five Superhero Leaderboard to see how much each hero raised on Giving Day.

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Community Foundation awards $560,000 in grant initiatives

CFBMC awarded $560,000 in competitive and proactive grants this year to local organizations. The grant recipients were honored at a special event at Hoosier Energy.

Thirteen nonprofit organizations received Community Impact Grants, a competitive granting initiative totaling more than $270,000. The Community Impact Funding Initiative is co-funded by the Community Foundation and Smithville Charitable Foundation.

2018 Community Impact Grant Recipients:

• Banneker Community Center for a 15-passenger vehicle 
• Catholic Charities Bloomington to expand mental health and counseling services 
• Ellettsville Main Street for a paved, handicap accessible parking lot at the Heritage Trail 
• Foundation of Monroe County Community Schools for the STEM Collaboration Lab at Bachelor Middle School 
• Girls Inc. of Monroe County for a programmatic needs assessment 
• Humanetrix Foundation for events to increase the number of women pursuing computer science, technology, and entrepreneurship
• Middle Way House to expand violence prevention programming into elementary schools 
• New Hope Family Shelter to support the purchase of property for a new facility 
• People & Animal Learning Services for the construction of new fencing to expand therapeutic and educational programs 
• Teachers Warehouse to expand free school classroom supply services to high school teachers 
• Volunteers in Medicine of Monroe County for a feasibility assessment for gaining Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) status 
• Wheeler Mission Ministries for the installation of a fire suppression system 
• WonderLab Museum for STEM-focused museum experiences for children ages birth to 3 years

The Community Foundation also announced that it is distributing $290,000 in proactive grants this fiscal year to serve Monroe County. These grants are generally awarded from field of interest funds established by donors to address specific focus areas along with the Community Foundation’s unrestricted funds.

2018 Proactive Grant Recipients:

• Centerstone for transitional housing and treatment for women in recovery
• Monroe County Community School Corporation to support the creation of an additional pre-K classroom at Grandview Elementary School
• Monroe County United Ministries to support expansion of the Compass Early Learning Center
• Monroe County Community School Corporation and Richland-Bean Blossom Community School Corporation to support and facilitate the parental engagement program 
• Women Writing for (a) Change Bloomington to expand community creative writing programs
• Community Development Finance Institutions. The Community Foundation is working with the Bloomington Urban Enterprise Association and the City of Bloomington to explore the potential for employing Community Development Finance Institutions to generate economic growth and opportunity, in particular among underserved populations.

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Transitional housing and treatment program for women now open

This year, the Community Foundation awarded a proactive grant to Centerstone for a new transitional housing and substance abuse treatment program for women. We’re pleased to share that the program, officially named Centerstone Recovery Transitional Housing (CRT), formally opened in April.

The six-bed program is Bloomington’s first to serve women recovering from substance abuse who are pregnant or who have young children. It provides childcare support and parenting education along with substance abuse treatment. This recovery option enables mothers to keep their young children with them, rather than leave children with family members or in foster care. In addition to fully furnishing the housing facility, Centerstone has also hired a residential coordinator and recovery coach, three behavioral health technicians and an admission coordinator to support the program.

“CRT is filling a vital service gap in our community’s fight against addiction and is helping save lives and save families,” said Centerstone Director of Advancement Beth Rodriquez. “We are excited to share continued updates of our progress as this program grows.”

Community Foundation receives $145,000 legacy gift from Jean Langbak

Throughout her life, Jean Langbak helped others advance their careers, families, and communities. Her legacy now lives on through a gift from her estate of more than $145,000 to the Community Foundation’s Unrestricted Endowment Fund and the Boys and Girls Club Endowment Fund at the Community Foundation.

Born in South Dakota during the Great Depression, Langbak and her family moved to Logansport, Indiana as a teenager. After graduating from Logansport High School in 1941, Jean began a career as an operator with Indiana Bell Telephone Company. During her time there she was promoted to supervisory roles becoming the first female district manager in the company’s history. She remained with the company after it was purchased by AT&T and relocated several times around the state.

Longtime friend Denny Smith first met Jean as a colleague at Bell Telephone. Denny described Jean as “a strong, independent, and effective manager in the workplace. She was a very caring person, so focused on being responsible for herself.” She eventually took a position in Bloomington where she retired from the company and made the city her home.
 
Denny later went on to become Jean’s professional financial advisor and worked with her on how she could create a philanthropic legacy with her estate. Because Jean wanted to broadly support a number of the organizations, Denny and Jean’s attorney Tom McGlasson suggested the Community Foundation, which could put her gift to work through a number of local nonprofits to meet the community’s most pressing needs. She could also designate a portion of her gift specifically to the Boys and Girls Club through an agency endowment at the Community Foundation.

Jean’s gift will distribute grants to the Boys & Girls Club every year to support its mission in Monroe County. Her gift to the Community Foundation Unrestricted Endowment Fund will annually provide strategic grantmaking funds to address Monroe County’s most pressing needs and compelling opportunities.

Jean’s legacy will significantly impact the local community and enhances the Foundation’s $32 million+ endowment. “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 President and CEO Tina 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 Jean, who have entrusted us with planned gifts. We are honored to serve in this trusted role for the benefit of our community.” For more information on making a legacy gift, contact Development Director Meagan Niese.

New planned giving website! Discover resources to leave a legacy.

Have you seen the new planned giving resources on our website? Learn how to create a lasting legacy in our community through your will, retirement plan, insurance policy, or other estate plans. 
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Applications for On My Way Pre-K now available for children starting pre-K programs in August

Help us get the word out! On My Way Pre-K applications are now open for children that will start pre-K programs in August.

On My Way Pre-K is Indiana’s first state-funded prekindergarten program or low-income children. Funding is available for up to 200 eligible 4-year-olds in Monroe County for the 2018-2019 school year!

Grants for FREE, high-quality pre-K programs are available for children who will be 4-years old, but not yet 5-years old by August 1, 2018, and will be attending kindergarten in the 2019-2020 school year. Grants will be awarded until all available slots have been filled. Families are encouraged to apply early.

On My Way Pre-K is a program of the Indiana Family & Social Services Administration and is locally supported by the Community Foundation and its Monroe Smart Start initiative. Go to www.OnMyWayPreK.org for more information or call 1-800-299-1627 for assistance.
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Congratulations to our community’s 2018 scholarship recipients

The Community Foundation is proud to help local students and adults to fund their educational dreams. Established by generous individuals and companies, CFBMC’s scholarship programs help members of our community pursue continuing education, develop their unique potential, and enhance their ability to contribute to Monroe County and society.

Congratulations to the Community Foundation’s 2018 scholarship recipients. We wish them well as they begin their educational journeys and pursue their career aspirations.

See List of 2018 Scholarship Recipients

Bloomington launches new strategy for attracting national financing for community development

Bloomington is developing and piloting a new model for bringing national financing to local community development. Bloomington is encouraging and incentivizing community development financial institutions (CDFIs) to work here by becoming a “CDFI Friendly City.”

The Community Foundation is working with a local CDFI working group, Bloomington Urban Enterprise Association and the City of Bloomington to explore the potential for employing Community Development Finance Institutions locally.

CDFIs are financial intermediaries that provide capital and services to underserved populations – low-income, low-wealth and other disadvantaged groups and areas. For more than 30 years, CDFIs have produced substantial community impact through jobs, affordable housing, and sustainable community facilities, as well as solid financial returns. More than 1,000 CDFIs operate in the U.S., providing billions of dollars of financing annually. But smaller markets, including cities such as Bloomington, often face challenges attracting CDFI financing.

“Flexible, affordable financing from CDFIs attracts investments from national and regional banks and foundations into local communities,” said President and CEO Peterson. “These combined investments can help address a community’s most pressing needs and compelling opportunities, supporting nonprofit enterprises, catalyzing small business growth, and expanding affordable housing. These areas traditionally struggle to secure the capital necessary to optimally serve those who need community support to succeed and thrive, and we are excited about the potential that CDFIs bring to Monroe County.” Read More

Upcoming events and important dates

August 1: 100+ Women Who Care Quarterly Meeting. More information.
September 19: 50+ Men Who Care Quarterly Meeting. More information.

Planned giving made easy!

Good planning requires good information. We have it for you!  We’ve launched a new planned giving website where you will find comprehensive resources to help create a legacy for your family and community using your estate plan.

What and How to Give

Find out what types of assets make the best planned gifts. Learn about gifts of cash, stocks, and property. Discover how to make a gift that provides tax benefits and even income for life.

Online Will Planner

Access an easy, secure guide to plan your estate. Complete the information on your family, estate, and goals using your personal account. Use your guide for efficient conversations with your professional advisor to create your estate plan.

Gift Calculators

View personalized gift calculations that show the income and tax benefits of setting up a gift plan using your assets and property values. Compare the benefits of various gift vehicles.

Gift Planning Stories, News & Articles

Learn how others have made an impact through their acts of giving to the Community Foundation. Enjoy articles on personal planning, Washington and financial news. Articles are updated every week, so visit us again and again.

See The New CFBMC Planned Giving Website

A special gift for you!
As part of this launch, we would like to give you a FREE Estate Planning Guide to help you successfully plan your legacy, provide for, and protect your family today. Get your free Estate Planning Guide.
 
Have questions? We’re here to help! Contact Development Director Meagan Niese at 812.333.9016 or [email protected].

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