The Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County
&
Regional Opportunity Initiatives
invite you to our new offices for a special ribbon cutting and open house.
Tuesday, March 7, 2017
4:00-6:30 p.m.
100 S. College Ave., Suite 240
Bloomington, IN 47404
We are located in downtown Bloomington on the 2nd floor of the Chase Building at the corner of Kirkwood and College Avenues.
Fourteen grants awarded with $250,000 allocated specifically to fund projects that empower local youth.
The Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County (CFBMC) has announced the recipients of its 2017 Community Impact Grants. The Community Impact Funding Initiative is a collaborative effort of the Community Foundation and Smithville Charitable Foundation. Grant recipients were honored at a special event on Monday, January 9.
Fourteen grants were awarded from an original field of 53 applicants. Grants range in size from $10,000 to $38,500 for a total of $325,650. Community Impact Grants focus on funding charitable efforts that address pressing problems, have the potential for encouraging change, and create solutions to the issues that impact our community. Funding requests for projects that “empower youth to reach their potential” received priority in the evaluation process this year. Several quality-of-life grants were also awarded for impact projects that benefit all age groups in the community.
“Indiana has the 15th largest population of children in the United States with more than 1.5 million children younger than 18 living in our state,” said Tina Peterson, President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County. “Yet many of our children live in conditions that are less than ideal and struggle with issues beyond their control.”
Indiana ranks:
“We believe the best way to move the needle relative to these significant issues is by focusing on the potential of young people,” added Peterson. “This year, we asked for grant projects designed to allow nonprofits and other exempt organizations to prepare young people for success and provide them with the skills, knowledge, and awareness to inspire and equip them to reach their full potential.”
“The response to our request for grant projects that empower youth was overwhelming” added Peterson. “We would have doubled the number of grant awards if we’d had the funding to do so. We are, however, pleased and hopeful about the potential of the projects we were able to support this year. From prevention of substance abuse and addiction, character and leadership development, and career awareness to tolerance and acceptance of others, the substance of the grants funded is timely, essential, and relevant to our community.”
This year represents the sixth year that Smithville Charitable Foundation joins the Community Foundation in funding the Community Impact Grants. “We continue to welcome the opportunity to work with the Community Foundation in funding this important grant initiative and helping to enrich the lives of the people in Monroe County,” said Darby McCarty, a governor on the Smithville Charitable Foundation Board of Directors and President/CEO of Smithville Communications.
2017 Community Impact Grant Recipients (*denotes youth program):
Bloomington Hospital Foundation for Bloom360°* – This program is designed to give infants a healthy start through prenatal and postpartum care, as well as encourage and support healthy behaviors among children and adults throughout their lives.
Bloomington Playwrights Project for its youth programs* – These programs provide students ages 5-17 a variety of opportunities to get involved in the theatrical process, from writing their own plays to performing original works.
Boys and Girls Club of Bloomington for a new program* to expose youth to a variety of careers and skill sets. – This program will enable youth to make more informed decisions about education pathways and post-secondary opportunities.
Centerstone for the Nurturing Parenting Program* – As an alternative to abusive and neglectful parenting practices, this program is an evidenced-based and family-centered curriculum designed to foster positive parenting skills, intentional family nurturing time, and activities to promote brain development in children from birth to young adult.
Communities in Schools for site coordinators at Templeton and Fairview Elementary Schools* – CIS is the largest dropout prevention organization in the U.S. dedicated to keeping kids in school and helping them succeed. Through partnerships with schools, community organizations, health care providers, social services and businesses, CIS coordinators assess student needs and provide resources such as food, school supplies, health care, counseling, academic assistance and positive role models so that students can focus on learning.
Ellettsville Main Street for parking at the Heritage Trail – The grant will help to fund the purchase of an adjacent parcel of land that will allow users a safer way to enjoy and access the trail.
Girls Inc. and Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Indiana to expand and strengthen the Girls Inc. mentoring program* – The program will match 50 high-risk girls with 50 caring Big Sister adult mentors during 2017.
Harmony Education Center for Rhino’s Youth Center* – This grant will support of the Center’s afterschool programming that connects youth with adult mentors, art, music, media projects and more.
Middle Way House for Support YES! Youth Empowerment Services* – For school-age youth residing in its facilities, Support YES! allows Middle Way House to provide after-school and holiday care, remedial education and academic enrichment, and experiences designed to foster social-emotional growth.
Monroe County Community School Corporation for the FIRST Robotics program* – This competitive international robotics program for high school students actively promotes STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education.
Monroe County Fair Association matching grant to hire an engineering firm to assess its infrastructure – The MCFA is evaluating and mapping its electrical, communications, speaker system, gas, storm water, water and sanitary sewer systems to support future development and events.
New Hope Family Shelter to provide seed funding to hire a development professional – By securing a professional fundraiser, New Hope hopes to focus on the critical work before them, while securing future funding to enable the organization to move to a new location and continue to thrive into the future.
Ohio River Foundation for its Youth Conservation Teams* – This work-study program will support local high school students who will work to protect and restore habitats in Hoosier National Forest in the summer of 2017.
The Project School for Maker Space equipment* – In addition to classroom use, The Project School will invite the community into its downtown Bloomington location for special events throughout the year and to use its Maker Space as a hub for creative exploration.
Several 2017 grant recipients shared how these grant funds will impact their organizations and communities:
“The Project School was so pleased to be selected as a first-time Impact Grant recipient,” said Amy Jackson, Philanthropy & Outreach Director at the Project School. “It was very exciting to see this year’s focus on youth-serving organizations. We cannot wait to build a creativity space that will be accessible to youth throughout our community, and thanks to the Community Foundation’s generosity, this will now be possible!”
“The Impact Grant will have a tremendous impact on our organization and its ability to serve the Bloomington community,” said Chad Rabinovitz, Producing Artistic Director with Bloomington Playwrights Project. “Arts education not only teaches how to think differently, but also why people think differently. Now more than ever, it’s important to provide students with a strong foundation of acceptance and creativity. We’ll be able to use the funds to increase capacity in our sold-out programs and launch new and exciting arts education opportunities that build this foundation.”
“The Quadrangles are thankful to be recipients of the Impact Grant award this year,” said Cindy Kvale, FIRST Robotics Program Coordinator and teacher at Bloomington High School South. “We appreciate its support in not only helping us improve the engineering of our robots but also in strengthening the community through our youth STEM initiatives.”
“Boys and Girls Clubs of Bloomington will be able to establish a program that will expose youth early to many different career paths and post-secondary education programs,” said Leslie Abshier, Resource Development Director. “This is a great opportunity for our youth to develop job skills early and to think critically about their plans for the future. We could not be more grateful that CFBMC stands with us as we prepare our youth for lives filled with purpose and productivity.”
“Ohio River Foundation is thrilled to be awarded an Impact Grant for its Youth Conservation Team program, Career Youth Training: Conservation in Hoosier National Forest,” said Rich Cogen, Executive Director, Ohio River Foundation. “ORF’s YCT program was in Hoosier National Forest in summer 2013 with a Bloomington-area high school student crew performing 44 projects over a 3-week period. HNF personnel were so impressed that they nominated the YCT crew for a US Forest Service award! We’re looking forward to another award-winning performance by Bloomington high school students in summer 2017.”
“This grant will help the Monroe County Public Health Clinic address some of the most difficult health concerns, such as infant mortality, tobacco and substance abuse and mental health among our children and mothers through collaboration and innovative approaches in our community,” said Amy Meek, Program Manager with Indiana University Health Bloomington. “Thank you for helping us to set the stage for generational change.”
“With a deep understanding of the impact of domestic violence and trauma on children, the Youth Empowerment Services (YES) program helps children heal and overcome the effects of domestic violence that without intervention can lead to a cycle of generational domestic abuse,” said Middle Way House Executive Director Debra Morrow. “With this award, the Foundation has shown a commitment to ensuring that children, whose families are receiving services at our agency due to domestic violence, will have access to supportive services and enrichment activities from our YES program.”
“Ellettsville Main Street saw a need for parking next to the new Heritage Trail, so the elderly and handicapped won’t have to cross busy State Road 46 to get to the trail,” said Jeana Kapczynski, President of Ellettsville Main Street. “This grant will help to purchase a property for parking so the trail can be enjoyed by all. We are delighted the Foundation saw the benefit of this for Ellettsville.”
“The Monroe County Fair Association is very thankful to the Community Foundation for awarding us a grant that will help locate and appraise the condition of all the different utility lines on the fairgrounds,” said Tony Schershel, past president of the Monroe County Fair Board. “Completing this project will help us move forward with the Master Plan which will allow the fairgrounds to better serve the Monroe County community.”
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 has granted nearly $25 million to more than 400 local nonprofit organizations. Our $27 million endowment is growing and so is the difference we make by connecting caring people, important causes, and community resources.
About the Smithville Charitable Foundation: Inspired by altruism, the Foundation’s main goal is to enrich the lives of those around them by creating opportunities and bringing necessities to communities in its areas of service. As a private foundation, it works closely with community foundations in surrounding counties and supports a variety of causes related to religion, education, health, relief of poverty or distress and various public organizations.
The Community Foundation administers a number of scholarship funds to support the educational aspirations of Monroe County community members. Applications are now open for the following 2017 scholarships:
Deadline to apply: February 28, 2017.
This scholarship is awarded to an Edgewood High School senior who has a Bean Blossom Township School affiliation. Consideration is given for academic as well as other achievements, leadership activities, extra-curricular skills, financial need, and the student’s work record. View more information about Stinesville High School Alumni Scholarship.
Deadline to apply: February 28, 2017.
This memorial scholarship honors Betty Burnett’s years of service and commitment to the Pi Beta Phi chapter at Indiana University. Applicant must be a member in good standing of the Indiana Chapter of Pi Beta Phi; be a sophomore or junior currently attending IU – Bloomington; have at least a 2.50 overall GPA; and exhibit outstanding service to the chapter and to IU. View more information about Pi Beta Phi Alumnae Club Betty Burnett Welke Scholarship.
Deadline to apply: March 15, 2017.
This scholarship is awarded to a current senior in high school who meets at least one of the following criteria: raised on a farm, member/former member of the Monroe County 4-H program, current member of the Monroe County FFA chapter. Scholarship(s) may be used for college tuition, fees, books, and/or equipment necessary for course work. Applicants may major in any area of study; however, preference will be given to those individuals majoring in Agriculture, Home Economics or Natural Resources. View more information about Monroe County Ag Day Scholarship.
Deadline to apply: April 15, 2017.
This memorial scholarship honors Thomas Meoeller’s musical talents and provides opportunities for students to pursue music education. Applicants are high school students – grades 10 to 12 who reside in Monroe County and wish to pursue music endeavors. Examples of expenses eligible for this scholarship award include, but are not limited to, rental or purchase of a musical instrument, music lessons, fees for musical competition, recording projects, vocal lessons, tuition for music camp (college tuition/fees for music and/or music education major may be considered). View more information about the Tom Moeller Memorial Scholarship.
For specific questions on these or other scholarship opportunities, please contact Program Director Marcus Whited at [email protected] or 812-333-9016.
The Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe Country has announced Monroe County’s 2017 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship recipients. Ms. Betsy Beggs and Ms. Frances Kincaid 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.
Betsy Beggs of Bloomington High School South is the daughter of Bill and Sarah Beggs. She is president of Student Council and a member of Sounds of South Advanced Choir, French Club, Golf Team, and National Honor Society. Her community efforts include volunteering with Dance Marathon for Riley Children’s Hospital, Sherwood Oaks Christian Church-Kids Ministry, and Operation Friendship Youth International Exchange. Through her participation with American Legion Auxiliary Hoosier Girls State, Betsy became passionate about how Indiana’s state government works and hopes to expand knowledge of the duties, rights and responsibilities of Indiana’s citizens as a future politician.
“I am grateful and humbled to have been chosen as one of this year’s Lilly Scholars,” said Beggs. “Many thanks to the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County, the Bloomington South administrators and teachers, and my family for giving me opportunities to grow as both a student and a person. I am excited for this next chapter in my education and look forward to giving back to the community.”
Frances Kincaid of Bloomington High School North is the daughter of Jay and Jenny Kincaid. Frances is president of BHSN National Honor Society, a senior leader and founding member of the BHSN Life Skills Academy, and has participated in Student Council, Jazz Band and Diving. She has volunteered for several organizations including Habitat for Humanity, Best Buddies, Catholic Heart Work Camp and Community Kitchen. Following an illness her junior year, Frances developed an interest for a career in medicine and desire to make a difference in peoples’ lives the way her doctors have made in hers. She plans to attend medical school after college to become a trauma surgeon.
“I am so honored and humbled to be chosen to represent my community as a Lilly Scholar,” said Kincaid. “It is a wonderful gift and a great responsibility. I am very grateful for the support and encouragement I have received from my family and friends as well as my teachers and coaches at Bloomington North.”
“The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship allows us the opportunity to keep these talented, young people here in Indiana for post-secondary education to become the future leaders in our communities,” said Community Foundation President and CEO Tina Peterson. “Today, Betsy and Frances join an incredible network of talented young people committed to community engagement and leadership. As a community, we need to do our part by providing them with experiences and eventually jobs that will allow them to stay Indiana. We look forward to the contributions they will make to ensure a bright, prosperous future for our Indiana communities.”
Eleven area high school seniors were selected as finalists for the scholarship from among 100 applicants for this year’s scholarship, the largest number of applicants ever received in Monroe County. 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 Monroe County community, blindly reviews and scores applications from each of the finalists. Each finalist is interviewed, with their interview scores tallied alongside the scores from the written portion of their application. The rankings, along with the committee’s recommendations are submitted to Independent Colleges of Indiana, Inc., a nonprofit corporation representing 31 regionally accredited degree-granting colleges and universities in the state.
“Every year, I’m reminded of the amazing potential of the young people in our community,” said Jessika Hane, chair of the Community Foundation’s Scholarship Selection Committee. “They bring talent to the table and hopes for the future. It’s an inspiring process, getting to know each one of these outstanding, rising stars.”
“Historically, our application and interview process has happened in the spring, and I’m so glad that we moved our timeline to the fall,” added Hane. “Meeting with these students and spending time with them as the year 2016 draws to a close fills me with optimism and faith in the future and that is something of tremendous value. I’m so thankful to participate in this process.”
Since 1998, the Lilly Endowment Scholarship Program has assisted more than 4,000 Indiana high school graduates with more than $300 million in tuition for pursuing baccalaureate degrees at Indiana colleges and universities.
The Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County has also announced that the nine other 2017 Lilly Scholarship finalists will receive $1,000 scholarships to use at a college or university of their choosing:
2016 JPMorgan Chase Bank Scholarship Recipients
2016 Community Foundation Scholarship Recipients
Previous Lilly scholarship recipients from Monroe County include:
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 $27 million endowment, the Foundation makes a difference by connecting caring people, important causes, and community resources.
Subscribe to the CFBMC Newsletter.
It’s Thanksgiving Eve, the night before the holiday season officially begins. I, for one, will be grateful to hit the pause button, turn down the volume, so to speak, on all the news and rhetoric that accompanies election season and to focus instead on those values that are central to this season of gratitude.
Evidence that those values are alive and well in our community can be found throughout this edition of the Community Foundation’s newsletter. I encourage you to take a few moments to see for yourself. You will be reminded that our community is populated by people who are thoughtful, generous and kind. Were it not, the Community Foundation would not exist.
Please accept our warmest wishes for a very happy Thanksgiving and a peaceful holiday season! We are so grateful for the role you allow the Community Foundation to play and the opportunity to work with each of you in making sure Monroe County is a place we are all proud to call home.
-Tina
During this season of gratitude, we at the Community Foundation are reminded of the incredible generosity you show to people living in Monroe County.
Because of your compassion, we will all be strengthened for tomorrow, not just for today. You are building a better quality of life for future generations. So today, we want you to know how grateful we are for you and your vision for a better community – thank you.
On November 3, the Community Foundation hosted its 2016 Annual Report to Community. The theme focused on one generation supporting the next – through their deeds, gifts, and engagement. As the Community Foundation moves beyond its 25th birthday and into its second generation, we are proud to celebrate the people, the causes, and the organizations that make Bloomington and Monroe County great. Thank you for celebrating with us! See more photos.
Eleven area high school seniors were selected from among nearly 100 applicants for this year’s scholarship, the highest number of applicants ever received in Monroe County.
Monroe County’s 2017 Lilly Scholarship Finalists include:
The 2017 finalists were honored at the Community Foundation’s Annual Report to the Community on November 3. Two of the finalists will be selected to 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. Monroe County’s two 2017 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship recipients will be announced in early December. Read more.
The Community Foundation fuels innovative ideas and lasting impact in Monroe County through a diverse menu of funds designated to address a range of community needs. This year, CFBMC added 11 new funds! Thank you to the generous donors that made these funds possible.
New Unrestricted Funds
These funds allow the Community Foundation the flexibility to address Monroe County’s ever-changing needs through strategic grant making, year after year. Unrestricted funds are used to facilitate innovative responses to our community’s most compelling opportunities or respond to the most pressing needs.
New Designated Funds
New Donor Advised Funds
New Scholarship Fund
View complete list of CFBMC funds.
Each of the nonprofits listed below recently received an annual grant distribution from a fund established at the Community Foundation for their benefit. 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 and to the nonprofits that do incredible work in our community.
Black Friday. Cyber Monday. #GivingTuesday.
November 29 is #GivingTuesday, an international day dedicated to giving. You can be part of the celebration in our community by making gifts, volunteering your time, and advocating for your favorite causes.
We encourage you to join the #GivingTuesday movement. Some ideas include:
Let’s create positive impact together this #GivingTuesday. We hope you’ll join us. Give Now!
Monroe Smart Start is now in its fifth year of helping our community’s youngest learners! A leadership initiative of the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County, Monroe Smart Start helps to ensure children are ready for school and ready for life. The Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County has invested more than $1 million in support of early learning in our community over the last five years. Initiatives supported include increasing access to affordable, high-quality early childhood education; supporting early childhood educators in providing quality care; and family and community engagement.
2016 Early Childhood Education Snapshot:
Serving over 11,000 low-income community members each year, Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard (MHC) is a Bloomington-based food pantry that works to increase access to healthy food to anyone in need.
With the help of a 2016 Impact Grant, Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard was able to purchase the building they formerly leased at 1100 W. Allen Street and devote more time and resources to securing food and expanding its programs. In the four years that MHC has occupied this building, the space has been transformed into a vibrant community food resource center that also offers nutrition education, cooking classes, tool share, and community gardening programs to help people become healthy, self-sufficient, and environmentally conscious.
Congratulations MHC on the building purchase, and on being recently recognized in the James Beard Foundation’s 2016 Good Food Guide, an annual publication recognizing U.S. organizations creating better food systems.
Have you heard about our new Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA) Program? A CGA is a great opportunity for you or a loved one to support the causes you care about most while also receiving lifetime income.
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.
John and Gerry Miller became the Community Foundation’s first donors with a Charitable Gift Annuity early this year. “We chose a CGA simply because we wanted to support the Community Foundation,” say John Miller. “The CGA is one option that allows us to maintain some income while supporting an organization we believe in.”
The Millers were also able to take advantage of our limited-time matching opportunity. Donors who start a CGA during the 2016-2017 fiscal year will receive a matching gift that can be directed to an existing fund at the Community Foundation of the donor’s choosing.
| CGA Gift Amount | Matching Gift |
| $10,000-$50,000 | 10% of CGA amount |
| $50,000 or more | $7,500 |
To take advantage of the CGA Matching Initiative, contact Development Director Meagan Niese at (812) 333-9016 or [email protected].
Read more about life income plans.
Have you heard about Regional Opportunity Initiatives, Inc.? ROI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and a supporting organization of the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County.
Established in 2016 to advance economic and community prosperity in Southwest Central Indiana (SWCI), ROI is implementing an education and workforce plan and a regional opportunity fund for quality-of-place investments in an 11-county area encompassing Brown, Crawford, Davies, Dubois, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Monroe, Orange, Owen and Washington counties.
ROI currently shares office space with the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County and Foundation President and CEO Tina Peterson is also serving as interim CEO of ROI.
ROI is seeking to hire an advanced manufacturing specialist, work-based learning specialist, and education specialists. Visit SWCIndiana.org to learn more.
Learn more about ROI.
After 26 years in Fountain Square Mall, we’ve moved across the street into the downtown Chase Building at the corner of College and Kirkwood Avenues. Come see us in our new location. We love visitors! And, stay tuned for details on our upcoming Open House.
100 S. College Ave.
Suite 240
Bloomington, IN 47404
Phone: 812-333-9016
Fax: 812-333-1153
Email: [email protected]
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 2016 tax benefits! Support your favorite organization or cause by donating to one of our 215 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 made through the site can be made up until 11:59 pm on December 31 to count as a 2016 tax deduction. Give Now!
Checks: Checks must be dated and postmarked on or before December 31 to be considered a 2016 tax deduction.
We’re open weekdays 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. to assist you. However, we will be closed November 24-26, December 23 and 26, and January 2. Contact us with your 2016 end-of-year giving questions at (812) 333-9016 or [email protected].
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 $24 million to more than 400 local nonprofit organizations since its incorporation in 1990. With a growing $26 million endowment, the Foundation makes a difference by connecting caring people, important causes, and community resources.
We make grants, offer expertise, and lead in collaboration with others to meet our community’s most pressing needs and seize its most important opportunities. From early childhood development to aging, from basic needs to economic development, from the arts to the environment, our donors fuel innovative ideas and power lasting impact for our communities. Learn more about the areas we impact.
The Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe Country has announced finalists for the 2017 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship. Eleven area high school seniors were selected from among nearly 100 applicants for this year’s scholarship, the highest number of applicants ever received in Monroe County.
Monroe County’s 2017 Lilly Scholarship Finalists include:
“It’s been incredible to see so many more students in Monroe County apply for the Lilly Scholarship, especially considering the earlier timeline this year.” said President and CEO Tina Peterson.
In previous years, applications in Monroe County were due in December and scholarship recipients were announced in April of the year they graduated from high school. Applications for the 2017 scholarship were due August 31st. The accelerated timeline is the result of a “compelling recommendation” from community foundations who participated in a statewide evaluation of the program conducted by Lilly Endowment in 2015. During the evaluation process, a number of Indiana community foundations suggested that identifying Lilly Endowment Community Scholars earlier in the school year would give recipients more time to decide which college or university to attend. The change affects the program for all Indiana community foundations.
“The applications we received this year for the Lilly Scholarship demonstrate that Monroe County has no shortage of exceptionally talented young people,” added Peterson. The eleven finalists excel in areas of leadership, academics, extracurricular activities and in service to our community and we’re thrilled to recognize their accomplishments.”
The 2017 finalists will be honored at the Community Foundation’s Annual Report to the Community on Thursday, November 3.
Two of the finalists will be selected to 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.
Since 1998, the Lilly Endowment Scholarship Program has assisted more than 4,000 Indiana high school graduates (including 58 from Monroe County) with more than $300 million in tuition for pursuing baccalaureate degrees at Indiana colleges and universities.
Monroe County’s two 2017 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship recipients will be announced in early December.
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 $24 million to more than 400 local nonprofit organizations since its incorporation in 1990. With a growing $27 million endowment, the Foundation makes a difference by connecting caring people, important causes, and community resources.
View photos from this event!
November 3, 2016 | Shreve Hall, Ivy Tech Bloomington
Join us in celebrating the people, the causes, and the organizations
that make Bloomington and Monroe County great!
Thursday, November 3, 2016
Program: 4:30 p.m.
Cocktail reception to follow
Shreve Hall
Ivy Tech – Bloomington
200 Daniels Way, Bloomington, IN 47404
Directions
RSVP by Oct. 31
For more information, contact us at [email protected] or (812) 333-9016.
$2.1 million in new funds raised for the Monroe County community
With more than $2 million in new funds, the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County (CFBMC) has announced it exceeded fundraising goals set for the Lilly Endowment GIFT Phase VI matching challenge.
“Thanks to the foresight and generosity of donors and organizations in our community, the Community Foundation received the full $1 million dollars in match from the Lilly Endowment,” said President and CEO Tina Peterson.
“We’re grateful to these individuals, families and businesses who share our passion for Monroe County and a vision for its future.”
In total, 645 individuals and businesses gave $1.18 million in gifts. With the match provided by Lilly Endowment, the Community Foundation’s endowment has grown by $2.18 million total.
“The Lilly matching opportunity has allowed us to significantly grow our capacity to support our community and increase our grantmaking ability,” added Peterson. “It’s a game changer. Because of GIFT VI’s impact, the Foundation will be able to make $98,000 in additional grants to the community each year forever. That translates to an additional $1.8 million over the next 25 years to address the most pressing needs and compelling opportunities in our community.”
In 2014, Lilly Endowment Inc. announced Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow (GIFT) Phase VI, an effort to promote sustainable and effective community foundations in Indiana. Through this initiative, the Endowment made matching grants available to Indiana community foundations, with the amount based upon the county’s population. Monroe County was one of 17 counties eligible for $1 million in matching dollars to grow funds for strategic grantmaking in our community. The Phase VI Lilly Endowment fundraising challenge ended March 31, 2016. This phase was the sixth Lilly Endowment initiative to provide matching challenges to Indiana community foundations since 1990.
As part of the current Lilly Endowment challenge, CFBMC’s Board of Directors set a target of 65% in unrestricted funds. Of the $2.1 million raised in this time period, the Community Foundation exceeded its goal with 76%, or $1.4 million, to grow unrestricted funds. Personal gifts from the Foundation’s Board of Directors totaled $111,661 and board members established eight new named unrestricted funds.
“Unrestricted funds allow us the flexibility to address Monroe County’s ever-changing needs,” said Development Director Meagan Niese, “Through strategic grant making and leadership initiatives, the Community Foundation is able to facilitate innovative and proactive funding to respond to the community’s most pressing and compelling opportunities, challenges and urgent needs.”
The Lilly GIFT VI challenge also gave CFBMC momentum for its “Corporations for the Future” campaign. Corporations took advantage of the matching opportunity to create new funds and partner with CFBMC, often for the first time. The number of new companies that made gifts to CFBMC during this time period increased by 24% with a total of $484,450 from 17 corporations.
New donors also participated in the Community Foundation’s first match-day event, “Match Madness” in March 2015. Match Madness was an event to grow the endowments of 10 local nonprofit agencies. The Community Foundation offered $150,000 ($50,000 Lilly GIFT VI and $100,000 CFBMC) in match dollars. Combined, agency endowments grew by $280,000 in this 25-hour period.
“We are immensely grateful to the Lilly Endowment for GIFT VI,” Chris Cockerham, chair of the Community Foundation development committee. “This opportunity challenged and incentivized us to develop new and innovate ways to significantly grow for the future. We’re proud of the outcome, and thrilled that it gave us the opportunity to develop new relationships and increase awareness about the Foundation and the agencies and nonprofits that are so vital in our community.”
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 $24 million to more than 400 local nonprofit organizations since its incorporation in 1990. With a growing $26 million endowment, the Foundation makes a difference by connecting caring people, important causes and community resources. We make grants, offer expertise and lead in collaboration with others to meet our community’s most pressing needs and seize its most important opportunities, including impacting education, healthcare, the environment, charitable economic development, social services, the arts and more.
About Lilly Endowment
Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by three members of the Lilly family through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. A separate entity from the pharmaceutical company, the foundation supports community development, education and religion causes primarily in Indianapolis and Indiana.
Lilly Endowment Inc. launched the Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow (GIFT) initiative 25 years ago to encourage the establishment and strengthening of community foundations as vehicles to improve the quality of life in Indiana communities. The success of Indiana’s community foundations over the intervening years has far exceeded the Endowment’s expectations when GIFT began. With assistance from the Lilly Endowment, all 92 counties in Indiana are served by a community foundation or affiliate. The total value of the assets of Indiana community foundations that have regularly participated in GIFT has increased from an aggregate value of about $30 million to nearly $2 billion, and those community foundations have paid grants totaling more than $915 million. These results would not have been achieved without the imagination, generosity, commitment and leadership of thousands of donors, volunteers and foundation staff members throughout the state.
CFBMC Board Member and Old National Bank Regional CEO Mark Bradford has been chosen as Indiana’s 2016 Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser by the Indiana chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). Bradford will receive the award at the Indiana Philanthropy Awards Dinner on November 17, 2016 in Indianapolis, IN.
“The Community Foundation is greatly indebted to Mark for his leadership,” said President and CEO Tina Peterson. “Mark embodies the potential that a volunteer can make in inspiring and motivating peers, fellow board members, the community, and an organization’s staff to stretch beyond the norm, to set ever higher expectations, and to achieve.”
Bradford, along with Community Foundation leadership, created the CFBMC Corporations for Our Future Campaign in 2013. Under Bradford’s volunteer leadership in this initiative, corporate giving to the Community Foundation has increased by 24 percent since 2013. With $687,200 in endowed corporate gifts, the campaign is already more than 68 percent towards its $1 million goal in corporate gifts by 2022. Thanks to the Lilly Endowment GIFT VI matching challenge, a portion of corporate funds were also matched between 2014 and 2016. With a match of $408,850 from the Lilly Endowment, the impact of corporate gifts to the Community Foundation has totaled $1,096,050 since 2013.
“This project has been a labor of love for Mark,” said Immediate Past Board Chair Edward W. Najam, Jr. “He is an incredible advocate for the mission of the Foundation.”
Funds raised from the Corporations for Our Future Campaign will generate more than $46,000 in grants to local nonprofit organizations next year. Over the next 10 years, the impact of corporate gifts raised to date will infuse more than $500,000 into Monroe County to respond to the community’s most pressing needs and compelling opportunities.
“As is the case with all good fundraisers, Mark is driven by a passionate commitment to making Monroe County a better place for all who call it home,” added Peterson. “He is a strong fundraiser who knows how to connect with others and draw upon their love of our community. But more significant than his ability to raise funds is the legacy of impact he has created for Monroe County.”
Tickets and sponsorships are available for the 2016 Indiana Philanthropy Awards on November 17. More information and the complete list of 2016 award recipients is available at https://community.afpnet.org/afpinindianachapter/home.
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 $24 million to more than 400 local nonprofit organizations since its incorporation in 1990. With a growing $26 million endowment, the Foundation makes a difference by connecting caring people, important causes, and community resources.
Grant initiative to prioritize projects this year that empower youth.
The Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County announced today that grants are available through the Community Impact Funding Initiative. The grants, co-funded by Smithville Charitable Foundation, aim to strengthen the community by supporting innovative projects with lasting impact and enabling organizations to address pressing problems or pursue compelling opportunities in Monroe County. The 2017 grant initiative will award more than $300,000 to area nonprofits and will prioritize projects that “empower youth to reach their potential.”
Local 501(c)(3) organizations and other organizations exempt from filing for 501(c)(3) status may apply for the 2017 grants with requests ranging from $10,000 to $50,000. Priority consideration will be given to projects that meet one or more of the following criteria: empower youth to achieve their full potential; offers innovative or transformative solutions to critical community issues; or foster collaboration across organizations and/or sectors to increase impact and effectiveness.
“Indiana has the 15th largest population of children in the United States with more than 1.5 million children younger than 18 living in our state,” said Tina Peterson, President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County. “Yet many of our children live in conditions that are less than ideal and struggle with issues beyond their control.”
For example, Indiana ranks:
“We believe the best way to move the needle relative to these significant issues is by focusing on the potential of young people,” added Peterson. “This year, we are asking for grant projects designed to allow nonprofits and other exempt organizations to prepare young people for success and provide them with skills, knowledge and awareness to inspire and equip them to reach their full potential.”
Youth development grants are intended for programs with broad scope, influencing and addressing educational, career and general life issues. Potential examples include grant projects that promote and facilitate character development, leadership skill development, career awareness, positive mental health, prevention of substance abuse, tolerance and acceptance of others, soft and interpersonal skill development, entrepreneurship education, and preparation for STEM-related training and/or careers.
“We are hoping this year’s focus on youth will be a strong call to action in our community,” added Peterson. “Only 12 of Indiana’s counties have experienced an increase in child population since 2008 and Monroe is one of those counties. This gives us a unique opportunity to become a leader in addressing the many challenges Indiana faces while empowering youth here at home.”
To be considered for funding, applicants must first submit a two-page letter of intent and verification of tax-exempt status to CFBMC by 5 p.m. on September 19. Following review of the letters of intent, selected organizations will be invited to submit full grant proposals, which will be due November 7. Grants will be awarded January 9, 2017.
“We’re incredibly grateful for the generosity of CFBMC donors and the Smithville Charitable Foundation for making this grant initiative possible,” added Peterson.
“We have seen these funds used in amazing ways to address a broad range of community needs,” added Darby McCarty, a governor on the Smithville Charitable Foundation Board of Directors. “We’re excited once again to invest in this initiative and are looking forward to seeing the funded projects make a difference in the lives of Monroe County residents.”
A few examples of recent Impact Grant projects include:
Guidelines and instructions for the 2017 grant initiative are available online at https://cfbmc.org/lasting-impact/apply-for-a-grant/community-impact-grants/. For more information on eligibility and application procedures, contact CFBMC Program Director Marcus Whited 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 $24 million to more than 400 local nonprofit organizations since its incorporation in 1990. With a growing $26 million endowment, the Foundation makes a difference by connecting caring people, important causes and community resources.
About Smithville Charitable Foundation: Inspired by altruism, The Smithville Charitable Foundation was established in 2007 as a desire to enrich lives by creating opportunities and bringing necessities to the communities served by Smithville Communications. As a private foundation, Smithville Charitable Foundation works closely with community foundations in the 17 counties of its service territory to support a variety of causes related to religion, education, health, the arts, relief of poverty or distress, and various public organizations.
