Kosciusko County Community Foundation (KCCF) has received a grant of $1 million as part of Lilly Endowment Inc.’s seventh phase of its Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow (GIFT) initiative. With GIFT VII, the Endowment is making up to $125 million available to help Indiana community foundations strengthen the towns, cities and counties they serve.
KCCF can use this matching fund grant to build its financial assets and support its charitable activities. At least two-thirds of the matching fund grant must be designated to support the growth of KCCF’s community fund endowments (unrestricted), which over time will provide flexibility to help the foundation to meet community needs. The Endowment will provide $2 for every $1 contributed to KCCF’s community fund endowments during the matching period, October 1, 2018, through December 31, 2020.
KCCF may choose to designate up to one-third of the matching fund grant to support the foundation’s own operating needs or specific community or charitable projects. The Endowment will provide 50 cents for every $1 that KCCF raises during the matching period for these purposes.
“Lilly Endowment Inc. has generously challenged us and we plan to rise to that challenge and grow Community Funds. The Endowment understands the importance of these unrestricted funds in serving the changing needs of our community, over time. We are so grateful to be able to offer our community an opportunity allowing them to have every dollar given to Community Funds matched with $2! Lilly Endowment Inc. has proven to be a champion of Community Foundations across the state and we are so appreciative,” said KCCF CEO, Suzie Light.
The GIFT initiative is part of Lilly Endowment’s grantmaking to strengthen Indiana communities and has been a priority of the Endowment since the first phase of GIFT in 1990. The initiative’s primary aim is to help Indiana community foundations develop the philanthropic capacity to identify, prioritize and address local opportunities and challenges.
To encourage the engagement of KCCF’s board of directors, the Endowment also will award an additional $100,000 unrestricted grant if the foundation achieves 100 percent financial support from KCCF board members during the period January 1, 2019, through June 30, 2020.
Starting in 2019, KCCF will have the opportunity to apply for more funds through GIFT VII’s community leadership grants. This component includes both planning and implementation grants, which are available to help the foundation deepen its understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing its community; convene key local stakeholders and explore how it can effectively play a leadership role in implementing initiatives and strategies that enhance the quality of life in Kosciusko County.
