Connect with LaGrange County nonprofit organizations at the bi-monthly LaGrange Partners meeting. The first meeting for 2023 takes place February 14, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Linder’s Tavern on Main in LaGrange.
LaGrange Partners, an interagency meeting for nonprofit organizations and entities providing services for LaGrange County residents, will meet February 14, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Linder’s Tavern on Main in LaGrange.
Partners provides a forum for learning about resources, discussing current issues, networking, and keeping up to date on existing services in LaGrange County.
The meeting is open to nonprofit staff, board members, volunteers and interested community members who want to connect and learn more about the nonprofit sector in LaGrange County.
2023 LaGrange Partners Schedule
February 14
April 11
June 13
August 8
October 10
December 12
Meetings are on the second Tuesday of every other month, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Locations vary. The meeting format includes time for lunch, agency announcements, networking, and a featured presentation on a focus topic.
To register for the February LaGrange Partners meeting, click here.
Guests will be able to pre-select a meal. Payment will need to be made directly to Linder’s on the day of the meeting.
Graduating LaGrange County high school seniors who are planning to apply for a Community Scholarship offered through the LaGrange County Community Foundation have until February 15, 2023 at 5 p.m. to submit their applications.
The Foundation manages more than 45 community scholarship funds. Scholarship opportunities vary according to residency, career fields, current high school attendance, anticipated college enrollment, extracurricular involvement, and academic performance.
Scholarships are available for students who are planning to pursue a full-time education at a college, university, technical or trade school. Students can apply online at LCCF.net/availablescholarships
Applicants should read the criteria carefully, as each scholarship is unique. Awards range from $500 to $3,000 per scholarship and may be used for educational expenses.
A full list of scholarships, criteria, and their award amounts is available online.
Questions about a scholarship opportunity? Contact Scholarship Manager Laurie Sherck at lsherck@lccf.net or call 260-463-4363.
The Community Impact Grant program will be offered in two funding rounds in 2023: grant applications will be due April 3 and September 1.
Applications are now open for the spring cycle. Award notifications will be made within 60 days of the application deadline.
The LaGrange Community Foundation seeks proposals for innovative or creative projects with significant impact in LaGrange County. Community Impact Grants are available to nonprofit organizations serving LaGrange County.
The grants are made possible through the generosity of donors who have supported the unrestricted and field of interest charitable funds at the Foundation.
Nonprofit organizations serving LaGrange County are eligible to apply in six areas: arts & culture, recreation, health and human services, community development, education and environment.
Spring Cycle Deadline
Fall Cycle Deadline
April 3, 2023
September 1, 2023
Previous Community Impact Grants have ranged from $5,000 to $25,000 per award.
The top five finalists for the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship are, from left, Paige Riegsecker, Manisha Ramachandran, Ella Clarke, Kamryn Miller and Ethan Hibbs.
Five LaGrange County high school seniors have been named finalists for the 2023 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship. The prestigious award goes to an outstanding high school senior in LaGrange County.
The 2023 Lilly Endowment Community Scholar will be awarded a full-tuition scholarship including a $900 book stipend per year, for four years to any accredited college or university in Indiana.
Finalists for the award are Ella Clark of Westview High School, daughter of William and Carrie Clark; Ethan Hibbs of Westview High School, son of Cliff and Sandy Hibbs ; Kamryn Miller of Westview High School, daughter of Brian and Brooke Miller; Manisha Ramachandran of Lakeland High School, daughter of Anand and Teresa Ramachandran, and Paige Riegsecker of Westview High School, daughter of Ryan and Jodi Riegsecker.
The scholarship is awarded to one well-rounded LaGrange County graduating senior who exemplifies service and leadership in their community, while maintaining a commitment to academics.
The scholarship program is offered each year by the LaGrange County Community Foundation, and other Indiana community foundations across the state to help raise the level of educational attainment in Indiana; to increase awareness of the beneficial roles Indiana community foundations can play in their communities; and to encourage and support the efforts of current and past Lilly Endowment Community Scholars to engage with each other and with Indiana business, governmental, educational, nonprofit and civic leaders to improve the quality of life in Indiana generally and in local communities throughout the state.
After a competitive application process that evaluates academics, community and school activities, leadership, and written essays, the finalists are interviewed by the Foundation’s Lilly Scholarship Advisory Committee. The results of the interview round are combined with the application round to determine the 2023 nominees who will be submitted to Independent Colleges of Indiana for final selection of the LaGrange County recipient.
Announcement of the recipient will be made in mid-December. The four remaining finalists will each receive a $1,000 renewable four-year scholarship from the Lambright Leadership Scholarship Fund, established by Kevin and Carrie Lambright in 2013.
There are many ways to integrate charitable giving into your financial planning at the end of 2021. The LaGrange County Community Foundation can help. Each of these options can help you make a meaningful difference! Be sure to make your gifts by the deadlines for a 2021 deduction (see deadlines below).
Leverage Your Gift: The Next 30 Years Matching Campaign
Leverage your year-end giving to endowed funds at the LaGrange County Community Foundation. The Foundation has set aside $30,000 to match gifts to permanent endowment funds. Donors can designate gifts to multiple funds; gifts will be matched one-to-one, up to a total gift amount of $3,000 per household/individual.
Gifts of Appreciated Stock
A gift of appreciated stock is a good option to benefit a nonprofit with a direct gift and benefit the donor with an income tax deduction and capital gains tax savings. To make a gift of stock, please contact our office at 260-463-4363. Stock gifts must be made by Monday, December 27.
IRA Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD)
If you are 70 1/2 or older, you can make a gift from your IRA account to LCCF for the causes you care about. Gifts made from your IRA (up to $100,000 per year) are not taxable income. If you are 72 or older in the year of the distribution, your gift qualifies towards your RMD. If you are married, your spouse can also make a gift of up to $100,000 from his or her IRA, for a total of $200,000.
Gifts to donor advised funds are not eligible. You can contribute to designated, agency, field of interest funds at LCCF or to the Caring Community Grantmaking Fund (the unrestricted grantmaking endowment).
2021 Year-End Giving Deadlines
Last day for 2021 grant recommendations from donor advised funds: 10 a.m. Monday, December 27.
Gifts sent to LCCF must be postmarked no later than Friday, December 31.
Credit card gifts must be made before 12 midnightFriday, December 31.
Gifts of stock must be received in LCCF accounts by Monday, December 27.
Donor Advised Fund Holders
To ensure that your year-end grants are sent out by December 31, the deadline for recommending grants for 2021 is 10 a.m. Monday, December 27.
LCCF Holiday Schedule
Thursday, December 23 – closed
Friday, December 24 – closed
Thursday, December 30 – closed
Friday, December 30 – closed
All other days we will be available to serve you during regular business hours 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please note, our office closes daily for lunch from 12-1 p.m.
Questions About Year-End Giving?
We invite you to contact Octavia Yoder, Executive Director, at 260-463-4363 or email oyoder@lccf.net.
The LaGrange Knights of Pythias Lodge No. 144 disbanded after 128 years and donated $55,000 to create an unrestricted endowment fund at the LaGrange County Community Foundation. The fund will support community grantmaking and address needs in the community. From left, in front, are past LCCF board president George Brown, Knights of Pythias members Mahlon Bontrager, Allen Connelly, Richard Long, the late Duane L. Sams, Tom Atwater and current LCCF board president Neal Wolheter. In row two, from left, are LCCF Interim Executive Director Dave Bennett, Knights of Pythias members Gordon Olds, Ken Bousner, Mike Farber, the late Harvey Lambright, Roger Olds and Myron Sharp.
As the Knights of Pythias LaGrange Lodge no. 144 closed the chapter on a 128-year-old history in 2018, the creation of a permanent endowment fund at the LaGrange County Community Foundation will allow their charitable legacy to live forever.
In December, the Knights donated $55,000 to create a
permanent unrestricted endowment at the Community Foundation. While the fund will
provide long-term support for community grantmaking, their gift also will be
matched 2-for-1 through a matching grant from Lilly Endowment.
The Knight’s search for a meaningful
gift came at an opportune time: it was a rare chance for the Knights to triple
their gift and create a permanent charitable legacy. The Endowment is providing
$2 for every $1 contributed to LaGrange County Community Foundation
unrestricted endowments during the matching period, October 1, 2018, through
December 31, 2020, up to $500,000.
With the Lilly 2-for-1 match, the
Knights’ gift now becomes $165,000. The income from the fund will support
charitable projects in LaGrange County as determined by the LCCF Board of
Directors.
“The members of our Lodge no. 144 feel very fortunate to have our donation grow and benefit several organizations thanks to the LaGrange County Community Foundation,” said Gordon Olds, a Knights of Pythias member.
“We are humbled by
the generosity of the Knights of Pythias. Their gift establishes a permanent
legacy and will provide long-term funding to nonprofits working to improve LaGrange
County,” said Octavia Yoder, LaGrange County Community Foundation Associate
Director. “We are thankful for their partnership and support in the Lilly
Endowment matching grant.”
The
Knights of Pythias
Chartered on October 16, 1890, the Knights of Pythias are
one of the oldest fraternal organizations in LaGrange County.
In 1912, the group began meeting in the upstairs of what is
today Foltz Bakery. In those early days, the meeting space contained ornate
furniture, velvet robes, oil paintings and valuable memorabilia with gemstones.
Those items were used during the Knights’ induction ceremonies. The Knights
sold the building in 2008.
Among their philanthropic interests, the Knights of Pythias
count many as beneficiaries. They sponsored Little League Baseball teams, the
LaGrange County Police Department, Special Olympics, ARC Opportunities,
LaGrange County Council on Aging, LaGrange County 4-H, Clothes and Food Basket,
Habitat for Humanity, Reason 4 Hope, LaGrange County Historical Society, United
Fund of LaGrange County, ARK Animal Rescue, Youth for Christ, Relay for Life,
Night to Shine and Agape Mission.
Their most popular fundraiser was selling Plyley’s caramel
apples at Corn School.
While Knights of Pythias focused on supporting local needs,
much of the draw for its members was the social aspect of the club. Being a
part of the lodge was a tradition the members did not take lightly; many
members today had grandfathers who were also a part of the lodge.
The Knights can count among their group eight 50-year
members: Duane Billman, Allen Connelly, Gordon Frost, Richard Long, Jack Olds,
Roger Olds, and the late Harvey Lambright and Duane Sams.
One member said as a young boy his father worked in the
fields from dawn until dusk, but made the Knights meeting a priority. Even when
the weather was impassible with blowing snow and ice, members trudged through
knee-deep drifts of snow.
Before his passing, the late Duane Sams shared with the
Community Foundation his proudest moment as a 50-year member: pinning a 50-year
pin on his grandfather. Not many members had Sam’s privilege.
With the Knights’ gift to the Community Foundation, their
charitable legacy will live forever.
The LaGrange County Community Foundation
has received a grant of $500,000 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.
The LaGrange County Community Foundation
can use this matching fund grant to build its financial assets and support its charitable
activities. The Endowment will provide $2 for every $1 contributed to LaGrange
County Community Foundation unrestricted endowments during the matching period,
October 1, 2018, through December 31, 2020.
“We are thankful to Lilly Endowment and
excited about what the match opportunity could mean for our community,” said
Octavia Yoder, LaGrange County Community Foundation Associate Director. “These
funds will help our mission to inspire and sustain generosity, leadership and
service in our community, and help us address our community’s greatest needs.”
Created in 1991, the LaGrange County
Community Foundation connects people to charitable causes and provides
opportunities for donors to leave a lasting legacy. Through the generosity of
donors, the community foundation provides scholarship opportunities to local
students and makes grants to nonprofits working to improve LaGrange County. To
learn more, visit www.lccf.net.
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.
Starting in 2019, LaGrange County 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 LaGrange 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.
LIFE grant applications are due to the LaGrange County Community Foundation office by 5 p.m. on Thursday, January 31. The application form can be downloaded at www.lccf.net/life-grants.
The LIFE Philanthropy Program at LCCF was created to promote youth involvement and teach philanthropy to LaGrange County’s next generation of community leaders. LIFE oversees its own grantmaking fund and makes recommendations for funding to the Board of Directors.
LIFE grants are available to nonprofit youth organizations and nonprofits providing a youth program or service. Additionally, public and private schools are eligible to apply for funding. Grant amounts typically range from $500 to $2,000 per award.
The LaGrange County Community Foundation will be hosting a Grant Workshop on Wednesday, Feb. 20, from 4-5 p.m. at the Community Foundation.
The Foundation encourages those nonprofit or government organizations considering submitting an application in 2019 to attend.
Topics at the workshop will include an overview of the Community Impact Grant Program, the online application portal, eligibility requirements and the elements of an effective application.
The Foundation will be conducting two funding rounds in 2019. Community Impact Grant applications are due April 1 and September 3. The application process will open online on January 31, 2019.
The LaGrange County Community Foundation is seeking proposals for innovative or creative projects with significant impact on the community. Eligible areas of funding include: arts & culture, recreation, health & human services, education and environment.
Information about the Community Impact Grant program, as well as the application and eligibility criteria is available on the Foundation’s website at www.lccf.net/community-impact-grants.
In December, the LaGrange County Community Foundation awarded Rainbow Years Learning Ministry in Shipshewana a $20,000 grant. From left are Rainbow Years students Lucille Duzan and Hudson Hoover with Rainbow Years teachers Conner Duzan and Courtney Alber. Joining them are Rainbow Years Learning Ministry Director Portia Amstutz, and David Bennett, LaGrange County Community Foundation Interim Executive Director.
LAGRANGE – The LaGrange County Community Foundation awarded Community Impact Grants totaling $96,441 in 2018 to 16 nonprofit organizations serving residents in LaGrange County.
Through Community Impact Grants, the foundation aims to support nonprofit needs and provide innovative programs and services for local residents.
Rainbow Years Learning Ministry in Shipshewana was among the 16 organizations who received funding. The Community Foundation awarded Rainbow Years $20,000 for new playground equipment and curriculum materials.
Rainbow Years will replace old playground equipment and provide new fencing, with age-appropriate activity structures for children. The total project cost of $61,000 has been financed through local fundraising and an additional grant from a private foundation. Additionally, the grant will support the curriculum program, which focuses on social and emotional learning and preparing children for kindergarten.
“Rainbow Years Learning Ministry is just so very excited about our plan to extend the classroom to the outdoors with our new playground. It will be an amazing area for children to explore, run, jump, learn, inspire, create, imagine, enrich, and grow socially and emotionally,” said Portia Amstutz, the director of Rainbow Years.
“We are also excited about sharing it with the broader community (when the daycare is not in session). We want all families to enjoy a safe and inviting play place even if they are not enrolled in our program,” Amstutz added.
Each year, the Community Foundation accepts proposals for charitable projects and programs that help local nonprofit organizations provide services to LaGrange County families and individuals. The Grants Advisory Committee reviewed the submitted grant applications and made recommendations to the Board of the Directors who approved the grant awards. The grants are made possible through the generosity of donors who have supported the unrestricted charitable funds at the Foundation.
In 2018, the LaGrange County Community Foundation awarded $96,441 in Community Impact Awards. Those projects and programs include:
Reason 4 Hope, $2,000, Camp Hope
LaGrange County Council on Aging, $10,300, LaGrange Area Transit Van
LaGrange Communities Youth Centers, $2,420, Art and Drama Camps
The Farm Project, $25,000, Emergency Foster Care Home
Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry, $5,000, Meat processing fees for food pantries
Youth for Christ of Northern Indiana, $1,500, Campus Life program materials and equipment
LaGrange Church of God, $2,200, Night to Shine
Ark Animal Rescue and Adoption, $1,500, Pet ID machine
Mad Anthonys Children’s Hope House, $2,000, Operational support for LaGrange County families
Compassion Pregnancy Center, $10,621, LaGrange Office Remodel Project
Kate’s Kart, $2,500, LaGrange County Book Distribution
Phillip’s House, Inc. $1,500, Board training and consulting
Elijah Haven, $3,900, Batterers Intervention Program
Community Harvest Food Bank, $5,000, LaGrange County Farm Wagon
Impact2818 at Camp Lakewood, $1,000, AED safety equipment
In 2019, proposals for Community Impact Grants will be accepted on April 1 and September 3. A grant training session will be held on Wednesday, February 20, from 4-5 p.m. at the Community Foundation. The session will provide information on the Community Impact Grant program and how local nonprofit organizations can apply for funding. RSVP is required. To learn more, visit www.lccf.net.
The LaGrange County Community Foundation’s mission is to inspire and sustain generosity, leadership and service. Founded in 1991, the Community Foundation connects people to charitable causes and provides resources to nonprofits to make a lasting and sustainable impact.
