Welcome to Communityworks!
Along with seventeen other community foundations around the state, the Effingham Community Foundation and the Mattoon Area Community Foundation are exploring issues critical to the quality of life in Illinois: childcare, workforce development and land use and protection. Communityworks is a regional grantmaking program designed to take on significant challenges in the Effingham and Mattoon communities. It is a joint project between the two foundations for the benefit of the larger community. But what does Communityworks mean for this region?
Communityworks provides four exciting opportunities for the two communities:
- The first is relationships - the opportunities to engage residents in issues that affect their lives and connect leaders and partnering organizations that might collaborate in new ways.
- The second is issues - the opportunity to learn about and highlight important issues on the local agenda in the areas of child care, land use & protection and workforce development.
- The third is resources - the opportunity to bring into the community a permanent source of funding for projects and non-profit organizations addressing the emerging issues.
- The fourth is impact - the opportunity to have a real impact on how we care for children, develop workers and protect our environment.
Through local donations and matching funds from The Grand Victoria Foundation, the Communityworks Endowment is fully funded at $475,000. The $475,000 will be a permanent fund that will continue to grow. As an endowment, its principal will be invested, allowing the interest income it generates to be granted on an annual basis while protecting the fund for future generations. And $475,000 is only the beginning - the fund can accept donations on an ongoing basis to continue to build community capital.
Communityworks is a joint effort of the Effingham County Community Foundation and the Mattoon Area Community Foundation. Established in 1999, the Effingham County Commmunity Foundation has $1.3 million in assets and 22 separate funds. Established in 1980, the Mattoon Area Community Foundation has $941,000 in assets and 11 separate funds. The shared mission of the two foundations is to improve quality of life in their communities by raising and managing endowed and other funds for long-term philanthropic purposes. Both foundations share an executive director and serve local individual and corporate donors and nonprofit organizations. See the Questions & Answers section for more information.
Communityworks, Building a Stronger Community
Effingham County Community Foundation
Mattoon Area Community Foundation
Grand Victoria Foundation
Copyright 2007