The Mattoon Area Community Foundation is at a critical crossroad in its development. In 2005, our assets were slightly above $300.000; today we have passed the $1 million mark. The path ahead is full of promise and opportunities that are remarkably different from a generation ago.
But growth brings a whole set of new challenges. Endowments are the bedrock of community foundations. While their acquisition and growth are essential to the Foundation’s perpetuity and effectiveness in the community, certain resources are necessary to develop these assets. Without those resources –operational funds—there lies little hope for developing the endowed funds essential to the Foundation’s stability and growth.
The Partners in Philanthropy Campaign addresses those special funding needs. Pledges to this campaign will be unrestricted funds—with half available for immediate use by the Foundation, for anything from day-to-day expenses of running the Foundation to funding special grant requests. The other half of pledges will be directed to a permanent endowment fund. Earnings on this endowment fund will be directed to grants or community projects at the discretion of the board of directors.