“Local donors who created charitable funds at the Community Foundation of Shelby County were the catalysts in more than $3.4 million in grants and scholarships awarded in 2022,” according to Marian Spicer, executive director.

There were 21 new charitable funds established in 2022, bringing the total charitable funds administered to more than 235 and total assets to $48.8 million at year-end.

With a great deal of growth in recent years, the Foundation board worked with past board trustee and current Investment committee member Bruce Boyd to facilitate a strategic plan. The process resulted in a newly stated mission ‘To inspire donor generosity and transform it into meaningful, lasting impact through charitable gifts’ and core values of stewardship, collaboration, excellence, integrity and respect. By 2026, the staff and board will complete initiatives to implement a donor cultivation strategy, build strategy and framework for establishing community-focused funds that result in legacy generosity and provide collaborative leadership for funding a major community-based cause.

The Community Foundation’s Match Day was held on November 29, known nationally as Giving Tuesday. Match Day was an effort to raise enthusiasm for giving by offering a dollar for dollar match of up to $5,000 to 25 local charities. Donors for each charity helped exceed the match amount and a total of $812,078 was raised and distributed. To participate, a charity needed to have a qualifying organization fund housed at the Community Foundation.

Local high school seniors and adults received 170 scholarships totaling more than $308,000, helping them to better afford a post-secondary education. Scholarships are available to those pursuing skilled and technical training, as well as Associate’s and Bachelor’s degrees and beyond.

Community Foundation Partners gave to support the Foundation’s community grants program. Because of the generosity of 207 individuals, couples and businesses, $56,000 will be offered to local organizations during this spring’s community grants process.

Gifts for new and existing funds are welcome at any time and should be made payable to the Community Foundation of Shelby County with the fund name noted on the memo line. Credit card gifts may be made to any charitable fund by clicking the ‘Donate’ button on the Foundation’s website at commfoun.com.

The 2023 Community Foundation officers are, Mike Lochard, Chair; Kurt Barhorst, Vice Chair; Karen Fortman, Secretary; and Dave Monnier, Treasurer. Trustees are Devon Beer, Doug Borchers, Cindy Helman, Matt Hoying, Diane Reiss, Lisa Ruhenkamp and Amy Zorn. Staff members include executive director Marian Spicer; donor relations director Jessica Fortkamp; accounting manager Jeanne Hoying, CPA; accounting administrator Sandy Kinney and scholarships and grants manager Juli Smith.

In 2023, the Foundation will continue working with local residents wanting to give to charitable causes here and around the country.