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Author: Shelly Jones

02 Apr

Posted at 18:12h in Community News, Grantmaking Impact
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Grant County, Ind. — The Community Foundation of Grant County and WindSwell Foundation (formerly AWS Foundation) have announced a new grant opportunity focused on creating more inclusive communities for individuals with disabilities. Through this collaboration, the WindSwell Foundation Accessible Communities Fund was established at the Community Foundation, supporting a new WindSwell Inclusive Communities Grant Cycle. This initiative is designed to empower nonprofits to better serve individuals by funding projects that promote accessibility, inclusion, and community engagement. Examples of eligible projects include sensory-friendly spaces, adaptive toys and equipment, entryway ramps, accessible vehicles, fencing for children with autism, universal restrooms, or inclusive playground upgrades. "We're thrilled about this opportunity with the WindSwell Foundation, as it will broaden our grantmaking capacity and bolster programs that advance inclusivity and empowerment for individuals with disabilities in Grant County," said Dawn Brown, President and CEO of the Community Foundation. Beginning May 1, 2025, local nonprofits can apply for grants between $2,500 and $10,000 to support inclusive programs and projects that align with WindSwell Foundation’s Guiding Principles, which emphasize: Self-determination – Individuals with Disabilities deserve a choice driven life (self-determination). Preferences, opinions, priorities, and accommodations are best defined by the individual rather than for the individual. Inclusion over segregation – Inclusion and...

06 Mar

Posted at 14:38h in Featured Story
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So, our clocks will spring forward one hour at 2 a.m. this Sunday in accordance with Daylight Saving Time. The key word here is SPRING.  Yes, Spring will officially begin on Thursday, March 20th—that’s THIS month…just around the corner. I don’t know about you, but January and February were challenging for us at the CoFo.  January was 89 days long and both months were so cold, dark, and dreary.  That’s probably why Hoosiers appreciate Spring so much.  Sunshine, the spouts of new flowers, and even March Madness means longer (and warmer) days are coming. We need them.  We deserve them. Another thing we need and deserve is an active, prepared workforce. My Board emphasized that this year when they established a strategic plan goal for us to use our scholarship dollars as an economic development tool. That’s bold!  But what does it mean exactly? Let me explain. Well, in case you didn’t know, our scholarship application is now open through the end of March. You can find more information about that and how to apply at www.GiveToGrant.org. Anyone from Grant County who plans to attend college next fall should consider applying no matter what age! I appreciate scholarships.  In fact, I might not have...

05 Mar

Posted at 16:27h in Community News
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[vc_row css_animation="" row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" angled_section="no" text_align="left" background_image_as_pattern="without_pattern"][vc_column][vc_column_text]The CLIMB is a 3-day leadership program designed to empower individuals to take bold, transformative actions within their communities. The course equips Climbers with knowledge in Board Leadership, Civic Leadership, and Personal Leadership. [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation="" row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" angled_section="no" text_align="left" background_image_as_pattern="without_pattern"][vc_column][vc_separator type="normal"][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text css=""] 2025 Cohort: [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation="" row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" angled_section="no" text_align="left" background_image_as_pattern="without_pattern"][vc_column width="1/6"][vc_column_text css=""] Alyssa Sigler Andrew Heald Ashley Shirley Brittany Howey Chuck Binkerd [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/6"][vc_column_text css=""] Courtney Middlesworth David Hunt Dawn Brown Emma Pearson Emma Reagan [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/6"][vc_column_text css=""] Evan Gilmore Evan King Haley Anderson Hannah Gavorski Kayla Johnson [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/6"][vc_column_text css=""] Kyle Knight Kylie Jackson LeeAnna Smith Libby Root Lindsey DeWitt [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/6"][vc_column_text css=""] Lynn Nguyen Matt Wilson Meagan Mathias Misty Fox Nate McNeely [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/6"][vc_column_text css=""] Sarah Worl Shelly Jones Sia M’Bayo Steve Gibson Tammy Pearson [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation="" row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" angled_section="no" text_align="left" background_image_as_pattern="without_pattern"][vc_column][vc_separator type="normal"][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text css=""] Leadership Core Competencies: [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation="" row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" angled_section="no" text_align="left" background_image_as_pattern="without_pattern"][vc_column width="1/3"][vc_column_text css=""] Board Leadership: - Core Responsibilities of Nonprofit Boards - Effective Staff and Board Roles - Building a Thriving Board - Setting Vision and Strategy - Fundraising Essentials for Board Members - Activating Board Committees[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3"][vc_column_text css=""] Civic Leadership: - Choose a life of purpose at the local level - Study an issue and set goals for the greater good - Build a Talented Team - Grow and Thrive in an Ecosystem - Engage Audiences and Share your Success - Empower, Evolve, and Envision[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3"][vc_column_text css=""] Personal Leadership: - Self Leadership - Building a Culture of Trust & Transparency -...

12 Feb

Posted at 16:42h in A Message from Dawn, Featured Story
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I used to teach 1st grade way back in the day. Literally before widespread use of the internet.  So, while we had dictionaries, we didn’t have Merriam-Webster.com, Google, or that funny crookedthing that Word does to tell us if a word (like) was spelled incorrectly. Since we didn’t have those nice things, we didn’t miss them.  But it sure did make for some funny nighttime reading as I was grading the papers of 6-year-olds. At that time, I taught The Writing Process.  And amazingly, several students in my class were writing at a 4th grade level by the end of the year.  I always loved it when my students were in the Revision Phase of the process. They all had these little tennis visors that I had purchased.  They’d pull them out of their desks and don a visor when they were re’vising’.  Get it.  Yeah, I know it’s not spelled the same way, but they didn’t…and it was adorable! One of my favorite essays was about hozay kinsakeo—that’s José Canseco for those who aren’t fluent in the art of first grade writing. While spelling would be important when we got to a published piece, during the writing process, it’s all about flow—any...

11 Feb

Posted at 19:43h in Featured Story, Grantmaking Impact
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The Community Foundation of Grant County is proud to announce the distribution of $350,000 in designated grants to local nonprofit organizations. These grants, made possible through the generosity of donors who have established over 200 designated endowment funds, provide long-term, sustainable support to organizations serving Grant County. These funds, along with the Community Foundation’s 250+ other charitable funds, are a testament to the power of philanthropy and its lasting impact on the nonprofits that help our community thrive. Designated grants support specific nonprofit organizations as named by the donors who established the funds. This year, several organizations across Grant County have received funding to advance their missions, enrich our community, and address critical needs. “Our designated endowment funds represent the vision of donors who want to ensure a sustainable future for the organizations and charitable causes they care about most,” said Dawn Brown, President and CEO of the Community Foundation. “These grants help organizations plan for the future, knowing they can rely on consistent financial support year after year.” A designated endowment fund is a charitable giving tool created by a donor to provide ongoing financial support to a specific nonprofit organization or cause. The principal amount of the fund is invested, and a...

18 Dec

Posted at 13:50h in Community News
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The Community Foundation of Grant County is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2025 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship for Grant County - Samuel Gonzalez and Nadira Balasundaram, both of Mississinewa High School. Lilly Endowment Community Scholars are known for their community involvement, academic achievement, character, and leadership. “Samuel and Nadira stood out not only for their impressive academic achievements but also for their dedication to serving their community and demonstrating leadership in meaningful ways," said Dawn Brown, CEO at the Community Foundation. "Their commitment to making a positive impact exemplifies the qualities we seek in a Lilly Endowment Community Scholar, and we are proud to support their bright futures.” Each Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship provides for full tuition, required fees and a special allocation of up to $900 per year for required books and required equipment for four years. The scholarship is for full-time undergraduate students leading to a baccalaureate degree at any eligible Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university. Lilly Endowment Community Scholars may also participate in the Lilly Scholars Network (LSN), which connects both current scholars and alumni with resources and opportunities to be active leaders on their campuses and in their communities. Both the scholarship program...

17 Dec

Posted at 15:47h in Community News, Grantmaking Impact
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We are thrilled to share this exclusive preview of our 2024 grantmaking-to-date—40th Anniversary Grantmaking Report, celebrating four decades of unwavering dedication to Grant County. Together, we’ve achieved incredible milestones, including over $28 million in charitable investments since our founding and over $4 million in grantmaking from January through November of 2024 alone. This report highlights the transformative power of our shared commitment to Asset Development, Grantmaking, and Community Leadership—the three pillars that guide our work and guide our mission. Take a moment to explore the remarkable stories, inspiring grants, and the impact made possible by our generous donors and partners. THANK YOU for being a vital part of this journey as we look ahead to an even brighter future for Grant County. Let’s celebrate together!  Click Here to check out ALL the grantmaking awarded yet this year and see how we’ve partnered with people and nonprofits to make Grant County a better place—all because of YOU.  Triple Your Impact Today This impact could be tripled when your end-of-year donation is matched! With your generosity, we can continue supporting vital programs and initiatives that create real, lasting change in Grant County. This is a rare opportunity to triple the power of your generosity and make a lasting difference. This is a...

16 Dec

Posted at 20:23h in Featured Story
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GRANT COUNTY —The Community Foundation of Grant County recently received accreditation with the nation’s highest standard for philanthropic excellence. Community Foundations National Standards® establish legal, ethical, effective practices for community foundations everywhere. “Meeting the National Standards benchmarks is a rigorous, comprehensive process,” said Susie Nelson, board chair of National Standards. “This accreditation is a significant accomplishment that indicates the Community Foundation of Grant County demonstrates a commitment to transparency, quality, integrity and accountability as it carries out its mission.” The Community Foundations National Standards® program requires community foundations to document their policies for donor services, investments, grantmaking and administration. With over 500 community foundations already accredited nationwide, the program is designed to provide quality assurance to donors, as well as to their legal and financial advisors. “This is critically important to our donors,” said Dawn Brown, Community Foundation president. “When people make a charitable bequest or establish a fund, they are putting their trust in us. They are counting on us to manage the investment wisely, honor their charitable wishes and, in some cases, provide lifetime income to a loved one. The National Standards accreditation says our house is in order.” The Foundation works to meet critical community needs and support local causes, including...

10 Dec

Posted at 20:00h in Featured Story
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For 40 years, the Community Foundation of Grant County has helped community members make the year-end giving season easy and joyful. The end of the calendar year is often when donors think strategically about how to maximize the impact of their charitable dollars, while minimizing their tax burden. To support your end-of-year giving in being tax-wise and making a difference, here are ten tips below. 1. Donate appreciated stock. If you have stocks or other publicly traded securities that are worth more than what you paid for them, donating these to charity at the end of the year removes your tax liability from the stock sale and is a cost-efficient donation. Stock transfer timelines can vary by provider, but must be received by December 31. (For assistance with a stock gift, contact the CoFo Team or click here for instructions.) 2. “Bundle up” your giving through a Donor Advised Fund (DAF). A DAF is a popular charitable giving vehicle allowing for a tax deduction at the time it’s opened or added to. Then, you can spread your grants to the causes and nonprofits of your choosing throughout the year(s). Setting up a DAF is easy, and once it’s opened, the Fund can accept...

10 Dec

Posted at 17:49h in Featured Story
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If you saw the movie Wicked in the past couple of weeks, raise your hand.  Yeah, me too!  If you saw it more than once, you’re my people. I’ve always connected to that story.  I’ve seen the Broadway play four times—once in South Bend, once in Indy, and twice in New York City. I’m known as a Wizomaniac. I can’t help it; it inspires me! And it also reminds me that not everything you see, or think, is always true. Quite often, you need to dig a little deeper… if you’re willing.  But before I get too far into this tale, let me set the stage for those of you who haven't seen Wicked (the play or the movie) yet. There are some foundational truths about Oz that might help connect the dots. The Land of Oz is full of much innuendo and outuendo, as you will quickly discover. The music is swankified and the dancing is highly Ozmopolitan.  But the best part is the dichotomy, and unlikely friendship, between Glinda and Elphaba. It was so cleverly written and produced. Of course, people quickly jump to the conclusion that the green girl (the steamed asparagus) dressed in back is the...