News

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.

Read More

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.

Read More

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. 
Read More

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.
Read More

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].

Copyright © 2018 Crescendo Interactive, Inc. Used by permission.

? 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.

Grants for FREE, high-quality pre-k programs are available for children from low-income families who will be 4-years old, but not yet 5-years old by August 1, 2018, and will be attending kindergarten in the 2019-20 school year. Grants will be awarded until all available slots have been filled. Families are encouraged to apply early!

Go to www.OnMyWayPreK.org for more information or call 1-800-299-1627 for assistance.

The announcement from the Indiana Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning:

On My Way Pre-K applications for 2018/2019 school year are now available for families in 20 counties

Program has expanded from five original counties to 20 for next school year

Indianapolis (March 1, 2018) – Indiana’s Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning (OECOSL) is now accepting applications from families in 20 counties who may be eligible for grants for their children to receive high-quality, prekindergarten education through the On My Way Pre-K program for the 2018/2019 school year. The pilot program was expanded in 2017 from five to 20 counties to provide the benefits of early childhood education to more Hoosier children from low-income families.

In addition to the five counties where On My Way Pre-K has been available since 2015 (Allen, Jackson, Lake, Marion and Vanderburgh) the program will be available for the 2018/19 school year in Bartholomew, DeKalb, Delaware, Elkhart, Floyd, Grant, Harrison, Howard, Kosciusko, Madison, Marshall, Monroe, St. Joseph, Tippecanoe and Vigo Counties. Families residing in these 20 counties must meet the following eligibility criteria to apply:

• The family must have an income below 127 percent of the federal poverty level.
• Their child must be 4 years old by August 1, 2018, and starting kindergarten in the 2019/2020 school year.
• Parents/guardians in the household must be working, going to school or attending job training.

Links to electronic applications, in both English and Spanish, as well as a printable paper application, are available at www.OnMyWayPreK.org.

Once the family has met eligibility requirements and has been awarded a grant for their child, they may choose from any of the eligible, enrolled On My Way Pre-K programs in their county. Families can search approved providers at www.ChildCareFinder.IN.gov. OECOSL has enrolled 504 On My Way Pre-K providers in the 20 pilot counties, and the application process for new providers is ongoing. In order to qualify, a program must be top-ranked at level 3 or level 4 in Paths to QUALITY or be accredited by an approved national or regional accrediting body (Click here for details on provider eligibility).

Approved pre-K programs may be located in a public or private school, licensed child care center, licensed home or registered ministry as long as that program meets the quality requirements and is registered as an On My Way Pre-K Provider. Families may choose from a program that is full-day or part-day, as well as from programs that end with the school year or continue through the summer.

Families who need help finding an approved pre-K program can also call 1-800-299-1627 for assistance from an early learning referral specialist.

More than 5,000 Hoosier children have attended preschool through a grant from the On My Way Pre-K program since it began in 2015. OECOSL continues to partner with Purdue University on a longitudinal study of children who have participated in the pilot program in an attempt to measure their success OECOSL also updates the Indiana General Assembly every year on the program. The most recent report can be found here.

On My Way Pre-K is Indiana’s first state-funded prekindergarten program, which was approved as a five-county pilot by the Indiana General Assembly in 2014, and expanded to a 20-county pilot by the General Assembly in 2017. For more information, visitwww.OnMyWayPreK.org.

The Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning is a division of the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA).