A Major Philanthropic Program for Communities in Indiana

In reflecting on the first 13 years of the Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow (GIFT) initiative, Lilly Endowment takes great pride in being associated with the thousands of people throughout Indiana's 92 counties who have in some way contributed to the successful launching and development of Indiana's community foundations. Today--after five phases of GIFT--a community foundation or affiliate serves every Indiana county. Their combined assets are approximately $1 billion, up from an aggregate value of $100 million in 1990 when GIFT began.

Perhaps as important as the financial development of the foundations during the past decade or so was the emergence of community foundations as civic conveners and forces for the improvement of the quality of life in Indiana communities. The community foundation model clearly has been shown to be an effective vehicle for enhancing the prospects for brighter futures for Indiana communities.

As the Endowment ponders the future of Indiana's community foundations and the nature and extent of its future support of them, it is grateful for the conscientious efforts Indiana community foundations exerted in the "Taking Stock" program and the consideration of input from many different sources on their strengths, deficiencies, potential and accessibility. The responses in many ways affirmed one of the basic purposes of the GIFT initiative: to build the capacity of Indiana communities to be self-reliant, to be more able to shape their own destinies by having local control over the use of their community foundations' resources.

Technical assistance is available through the Indiana Grantmakers Alliance, which provides an annual calendar of programs and on-site visits for community foundations. Technical assistance and training are available to all participants, including board members, staff and volunteers.

The program director for this grant program is W.R. "Ace" Yakey Jr., 317/916-7342.

For more information: GIFT, Phase V Guidelines PDF Download

Indiana Grantmakers Alliance: www.indianagrantmakers.org