1. More than 600 community foundations exist nationwide.
2. Indiana leads the nation, with nearly every county of the state served by a
community foundation.
3. Thousands of individuals have realized the unique opportunity community
foundations offer to fulfill their philanthropic wishes.
Thus, in the past decades assets nationwide have tripled to more than $10
billion.
4.
Indiana community foundation assets are growing at more than twice the national
rate - over $100 million having been added to
the state's community foundations in the last three years alone.
Individuals are not the only ones who have realized the value of community
foundations. Many private foundations and corporations have become strong
advocates and have introduced significant initiatives to support the growth of
the community foundation movement in America.
Such private foundations and corporations have devised programs to stimulate the
development of local community foundations and to encourage individuals and
families to create endowments for all kinds of charitable purpose through the
community foundation instrument.
The largest of these programs by a private foundation is the GIFT Initiative -
"Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow" - funded by a $60 million grant
from Indiana's Lilly Endowment Inc.
Through the GIFT Initiative, donors who contribute to their community
foundation's permanent endowment for any charitable purpose of their choice may
enable that foundation to qualify for matching funds from Lilly Endowment. Such
donors are thus helping their community foundation more rapidly build a
permanent source of charitable dollars to meet the changing needs of the
community.
