Subscribe to the CFBMC Newsletter.
Community Foundation gives update on giving, granting, and impact at annual event
CFBMC held its 2017 Annual Report to the Community on November 2. The annual event provided an opportunity to celebrate the organization’s activities that connect caring people, important causes, and community resources. The Foundation gave updates on its endowment, fundraising, granting and leadership initiatives.
“As an organization built on endowments, our mission is focused on both today and tomorrow,” said President and CEO Tina Peterson. “We know that change today is positively essential to sustaining this community’s tomorrow. Our job, as an organization, is to empower those people, organizations, and nonprofits that drive the change Monroe County needs to succeed.”
Read More
Sycamore Land Trust endowment helps ensure environmental education programs live forever
Since 2005, the Sycamore Land Trust Environmental Education Program has provided hands-on learning experiences to people of all ages, free of charge. Today, Sycamore Land Trust provides its educational program to more than 5,000 people per year. In 2015, the Monarch Environmental Education Endowment, housed at the Community Foundation, was created to allow its educational program to grow and sustain long-term.
Read More
Impact grants fuel collaboration to address food insecurity, healthy foods, and job training
We believe the greatest impact is achieved when multiple organizations come together to address a community need or opportunity. We’re pleased to share how Hoosier Hills Food Bank, South Central Community Action Program, Growing Opportunities, and Stone Belt are working together to address food insecurity, healthy foods, and job training. Over the years, the Community Foundation has awarded a number of Community Impact Funding Initiative grants that have made this collaboration possible.
Read More
CFBMC partners with Centerstone to fund transitional home for women recovering from substance abuse disorders
CFBMC is partnering with Centerstone to establish Monroe County’s first transitional housing for women recovering from substance abuse disorders and their children. The program will provide a safe therapeutic environment to serve as a bridge between initial treatment and re-entry into the community. In addition to housing and treatment, the program will help women develop the coping, life and parenting skills necessary for recovery, self-sufficiency, and stability.
“Similar programs in Indiana that allow young children to stay with their mothers are showing tremendous and promising long-term trajectories for women and children,” said Peterson. “Centerstone has the staff, the training, and the expertise to support these women and their children and we are grateful for the opportunity to impact their life-changing work.”
Read More
Thrive by Five Campaign to ensure sustainability of early childhood initiatives
There’s never been a better time to be a preschooler in our community. Like never before, they have opportunities to succeed, to excel, and to conquer life. Since 2009, the Community Foundation has invested $1.2 million to increase access to affordable, high-quality early childhood education through its leadership initiative, Monroe Smart Start.
This year the Community Foundation is planning to build on the momentum for early childhood education by raising $1 million in new funds through the Thrive by Five Campaign. Once the goal is met, this endowment fund will generate $42,500 each year to sustain and support early childhood education programs in our community forever.
Read More
Preschool applications open for On My Way Pre-K program in Monroe County
Help us get the word out! Applications are now available for Monroe County income-eligible families with children to apply for free pre-K starting this January. Indiana’s state-funded prekindergarten program, On My Way Pre-K, provides tuition-free education grants for 4-year-olds from low-income families to attend high-quality pre-K. The Community Foundation also provides grant dollars as part of the 5% required On My Way Pre-K community match contribution.
For information on enrollment and eligibility, go to ONMYWAYPREK.org.
2018 Lilly Scholarship finalists announced
Congratulations to Monroe County’s 2018 finalists for the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship! These ten high school seniors were recently honored at the Community Foundation’s Annual Report to the Community.
Two of the finalists will be selected to receive a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to an accredited Indiana public or private college of their choosing. Monroe County’s 2018 Lilly Endowment Scholarship recipients will be announced in early December.
Read More
Sixty-five nonprofits receive annual distributions
Sixty-five nonprofit agencies recently received annual grant distribution checks from funds established at the Community Foundation. This year, more than $316,000 was distributed to agencies. These endowed funds were created by single donors, groups of donors or by the agencies themselves. Grants from agency and designated funds provide much needed operational support for local organizations and represent some of the ways that the Community Foundation distributes funds to support local nonprofits. Thank you to the donors who make these distributions possible each year through gifts to long-term endowments and to the nonprofits that do incredible work in our community. See List of Nonprofits
Donors establish 17 new funds this year
The Community Foundation fuels lasting impact in Monroe County through our 217 funds designated to address a range of community needs. Since July 1, 2016, we’re thrilled to share that 17 new funds have been created! Thank you to the generous donors that made these funds possible.
See List of New Funds
Community Foundation welcomes three new board members
CFBMC added three new members to its Board of Directors this year. Jessika Hane (human resources director at Oliver Winery), Jeff Wuslich (co-founder of Cardinal Spirts) and Jeremiah Young (president of Nature’s Way) have been elected to serve a three-year renewable term effective July 1, 2017.
“These three individuals are exceptional advocates for our community and passionately believe in the mission of the Community Foundation,” said President and CEO Tina Peterson. “We’re fortunate to have them on our team!”
Read More
Great ways to give through appreciated stock and IRA distributions
Guest column by Scott Walters. There are many wonderful methods of charitable giving. While I am a firm believer that all charitable giving is important and purposeful, I also believe that there are often better, more efficient ways to give.
Gifts of appreciated property are one of the most effective ways to fulfill your charitable goals. Other types of gifts, such as real estate, mineral interests, art, and other collectibles, are examples of the assets that may often be appreciated and, therefore, are candidates to be given to a charity. The most common asset that is used for this technique is appreciated stock.
Read More
End-of-year giving and holiday hours
The holidays and the end of the year are quickly approaching, but you still have time to make a charitable gift to the Community Foundation and take advantage of 2017 tax benefits! Support your favorite organization or cause by donating to one of our 217 funds or choose to make an unrestricted gift to help meet Monroe County’s most pressing needs. Regardless of how you give, your gift will continue to have an impact well beyond this year through our growing endowment.
Online Donations: Contributions through our website are processed immediately and securely. Gifts can be made up until 11:59 pm on December 31 to count as a 2017 tax deduction.
Checks: Checks must be dated and postmarked on or before December 30 to be considered a 2017 tax deduction.
Stock Transfers: Donating appreciated stocks, bonds or mutual funds is quick, simple and may provide you with significant tax benefits. These gifts are transferred directly from your brokerage account to a fund at the Community Foundation. Please call us at (812) 333-9016 for more information.
IRA Rollovers: If you’re receiving taxable income from an IRA, the Charitable IRA Rollover Act allows donors age 70 ½ or older to donate up to $100,000 from their IRA without counting the distribution as income. View our IRA Rollover Fact Sheet for more information. Donors interested in an IRA rollover gift for the 2017 tax year should contact their financial advisors soon to take advantage of this benefit by December 31st.
We’re open weekdays 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. to assist you. However, we will be closed November 23-24, December 25-26, and January 1. Contact us with your end-of-year giving questions at (812) 333-9016 or [email protected].
Give Now
Upcoming events and important dates
February 7: 100+ Women Who Care Quarterly Meeting. More information.
February 23: 50+ Men Who Care Quarterly Meeting. More information