CFPC meets Lilly GIFT challenge

The Community Foundation of Pulaski County (CFPC) has announced it has successfully completed Lilly Endowment Inc.’s Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow (GIFT) challenge

"When Lilly Endowment announced the newest phase initiative in the fall of 2014, it was the first experience for nearly the entire board of directors," said Wendy Rose, CFPC executive director. "It was also an extraordinary opportunity to impact our community by increasing the foundation’s grant-making capacity. Board, staff, and donors responded in amazing fashion and deserve deep appreciation for this accomplishment toward a brighter future for Pulaski County."

The sixth phase of Lilly Endowment’s GIFT initiative offered Pulaski County $500,000 in matching funds if it met the matching challenge by March 31, 2016. Half the amount was designated for unrestricted endowments like the Community Grants Fund with a $1 for $1 match ratio. Unrestricted funds support local projects and programs and help the Community Foundation Board address changing needs in the community.

The other half of matching funds was offered with a 50 cent for $1 ratio for gifts to new or existing restricted funds. Late in the challenge period, a proposal by the Winamac Pool Committee was approved by the board, making gifts toward that project also eligible for matching dollars.

Thanks to donors and Lilly Endowment, CFPC’s overall endowment will grow by more than $1.1 million, due in part to the 2014 Lilly Endowment matching challenge.

“GIFT has been a great opportunity to talk about philanthropy and building endowment for the future of our county,” said Gregg Malott, CFPC president.

There are 94 community foundations throughout Indiana that make grants to support local charitable organizations in all of Indiana’s 92 counties. Lilly Endowment launched the GIFT initiative in 1990 to help Indiana community foundations build endowments. Strong endowments enable communities to become self-reliant and better able to support local projects and programs that strengthen quality of life in their towns and counties and across Indiana.

 

About Community Foundation of Pulaski County

Community Foundation Pulaski County is a nonprofit public charity established in 2002 to encourage the growth of endowed funds to serve and enrich our community today and tomorrow. It is committed to improving quality of life by funding community projects, stewarding endowed funds for the future, and fostering philanthropy in Pulaski County.  For more information contact CFPC at 574-946-0906; email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; or visit www.cfopc.org.