Western Indiana Community Foundation and its affiliates of the Attica, Covington, Southeast Fountain and Vermillion County Community Foundations has received a grant of $1,000,000 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.

Western Indiana Community Foundation can use this matching fund grant to build our financial assets and support our charitable activities. At least two-thirds of the matching fund grant must be designated to support the growth of Western Indiana Community Foundation’s unrestricted endowments, which over time will provide flexibility to help the foundation to meet community needs.  The Endowment will provide $2 for every $1 contributed to Western Indiana Community Foundation’s unrestricted endowments during the matching period, October 1, 2018, through December 31, 2020. 

Western Indiana Community Foundation 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 Western Indiana Community Foundation raises during the matching period for these purposes.

Dale White, CEO of the Western Indiana Community Foundation, said “We are very thankful to Lilly Endowment and excited about what the match opportunity could mean for our community.” He added, “Last year, our endowments helped us make a difference in the lives of more than 33,000 people in Fountain and Vermillion County.  Thanks to the generosity of Lilly Endowment, and with help from our generous community to meet this match, we will be able to increase the impact we have in our community and address our greatest needs in the bi-county area.”

The Western Indiana Community Foundation was founded in 1990 as the area’s partner, resource and steward in philanthropy.  WICF manages $23 million in charitable assets and over 300 individual funds – each of which supports the unique charitable intent of the donor who established the fund.  Annually, the Foundation awards over a million dollars in grants and scholarships to support our community and is a National Standards certified community foundation.

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 Western Indiana Community Foundation’s board of directors, the Endowment also will award an additional $200,000 unrestricted grant if the foundation achieves 100 percent financial support from our board members during the period January 1, 2019, through June 30, 2020.  

Starting in 2019, Western Indiana Community Foundation 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 Fountain and Vermillion County.

Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by three members of the Lilly family – J.K. Lilly Sr. and sons J.K. Jr. and Eli – through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly & Company.  The Endowment exists to support causes of community development, education and religion.  Lilly Endowment’s community development grantmaking is designed to support efforts that enhance the quality of life in Indianapolis and Indiana.

Nearly 250 students in Fountain and Vermillion County are the recipients of over $228,000 in scholarship awards to be used for their academic pursuits in 2019-2020.  Check this site often for new scholarship opportunities and other updates.

Five new endowment funds have recently been established to benefits area communities and high school students.  For more details click on the link to learn more about each fund.

The new funds include:  CDH Scholarship Fund, Wallace-Minnette Community Fund, George Norman Family Fund, Mark & Cindy Mason Community Fund, and the Michael & Mary Margaret Rhees Community Fund.

To learn how you can establish a fund to benefit your community contact Dale at (765) 793-0702 or by email at dwhite@wicf-inc.org.

Due to extremely cold temperatures and dangerous wind chill factors our hours will be altered this week.

* Tuesday: Open from 8am-12pm / Closed from 1pm-4pm
* Wednesday: Closed ALL day
* Thursday: Closed from 8am-12pm / Open from 1pm-4pm

Congratulations to recent grant recipients:
Covington Circle Trail ($17,000), Fountain County – CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) ($4,000), Friendship Circle Center ($7,000), Attica Fire Department ($3,000), Cayuga Lions Club ($500), CFI Rescue & Sanctuary ($1,200), Covington Christian School ($5,415), Attica High School Travel & Adventure Club ($2,000), North Vermillion High School Music Program ($1,000), Town of Kingman ($1,500), Covington Elementary School Swim Program ($4,000), Paws-n-Claws Animal Shelter ($6,000), Community Recreation Center ($450), Parke-Vermillion Community Pregnancy Center ($500) .  More →  

The Foundation’s online scholarship application process is now open for students attending Attica, Covington, Fountain Central, Seeger, North Vermillion and South Vermillion High School.  The application deadline is March 1.  

For details visit the scholarship section of our website.  

One Fountain County student has been named recipient of a full tuition four-year scholarship as the Western Indiana Community Foundation 2019 Lilly Endowment Community Scholar – Fountain County.

Shiley Claypool will receive full tuition to the Indiana private college or public university of her choice and a $900 yearly stipend for required books and equipment.

Ms. Claypool, of Covington High School, has plans to major in biology and minor in chemistry or environmental science.  At the beginning of her senior year, Shiley ranked #6 in her graduating class with a 3.9 GPA. 

Shiley is a member of the National Honor Society has participated for four years in soccer, tennis and the CHS dance team.  Ms. Claypool has also found time to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and with the vacation bible school program at her church.  In addition to her school and community activities she works part-time as a cashier at County Market. 

One of Ms. Claypool’s references wrote, “Shiley is hardworking, conscientious, trust worthy and very respectful and polite.  She gets along well with everyone and she will do well in college.  I highly recommend her!”  Another said, “She has been a joy to have around and I cannot say enough good things about her.  She works hard, stays dedicated to the task at hand, and pushes forward as much as she can in whatever life throws at her.  Shiley is highly regarded with me and others.”

Ms. Claypool is the daughter of Lindsey Claypool of Kingman.  

There were 143 scholarships awarded statewide.

Western Indiana Community Foundation is pleased to announce its partnership with the Fountain County 4-H Council.

According to Dale White, CEO of the Foundation says, “The 4-H Council has established a pass-thru fund with the Community Foundation for the purpose of making improvements to the community building at the Fountain County 4-H Fairgrounds.  Members of the Council have recently begun to raise funds to upgrade the restrooms, refresh parts of the concession – kitchen area and make other updates to the building.  On the exterior they hope to improve the drainage and expand the parking area.  The Foundation will be processing all donations for this project.” 

Donations may be made on the Donate Here! link on this page or mailed to Western Indiana Community Foundation, ATTN: 4-H Fairgrounds – Capital Improvement Fund, PO Box 175, Covington, IN 47932.