The Martin County Community Foundation (MCCF) came into existence in 1999 in response to an invitation from Lilly Endowment.  It started as an affiliate fund of the Lawrence County Community Foundation (LCCF).  Following that the two counties reorganized into being partners in the Community Foundation Partnership in 2004.  Martin County had no organization prior to that with the charge and ability to help charitable causes through grants, developing permanent funds, or convening meetings to address the needs of the county.  Now donors look to the community foundation to help fulfill their charitable, philanthropic goals.  It is through a variety of Lilly Endowment initiatives, that it has become better known.  The foundation continues to struggle with being more widely known and the mission being understood and supported by citizens of the county.  The MCCF has developed a three-year plan to address these issues that involve foundation board members, staff, charitable groups, donors, and past and current residents of the county.

The MCCF and LCCF as partners in the Community Foundation Partnership, Inc. have made a major impact on the people and communities of Martin and Lawrence Counties .  The core business is building permanent assets through endowments and distributing the proceeds from the assets to charitable organizations.  Endowment funds, whether designated for a particular group, cause, or unrestricted, to be used for current or emerging needs of the county, are primarily funded by individual citizens wishing to support their favorite not-for-profits and community interests.  The Partnership’s endowment portfolio includes assets from over one hundred forty-one (141) different funds benefiting Martin and Lawrence Counties .  At the end of 2006, the total value of permanent endowments held by the Partnership was over $5.63 million. There are a steadily increasing number of deferred gifts being arranged, and the MCCF has established a Legacy Society to recognize and foster continued growth in planned giving.

The last published annual report lists endowment funds for each county.  It is easy to recognize some of our most treasured local institutions and causes that reflect the charitable interests of donors.  The endowment money is professionally managed for growth and protection of the corpus of the funds.  Each year the Board of Directors decides on the amounts to be granted from endowments based on investment performance over time and the long-term best interests of fund beneficiaries.  The Partnership takes seriously its responsibility to see that these funds do what the donors intended -for good, forever.

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