Community Foundation distributes $238,673 to 61 area nonprofits during ceremony at HLGU

HANNIBAL, Mo. — The Community Foundation Serving West Central Illinois & Northeast Missouri announced the distribution of $238,673 in grant funding to 61 area nonprofits through its community grant program during a Tuesday morning ceremony at Hannibal-LaGrange University, one of the recipients of this year’s grants.

The grants, totaling 68 in number, have been awarded from 54 funds held at the Community Foundation and will provide crucial support to a diverse range of local charitable interests.

These grants will assist nonprofit organizations dedicated to arts and culture, community betterment, education, health and human services. The funds will support various programs, help with the purchase of essential equipment and supplies and contribute to much-needed operational expenses.

“The need for support in our nonprofit community is greater than ever this year as demonstrated by the record number of 124 grant applications that we received for our community grant program,” Community Foundation Program Officer Kent Embree said in a press release.

“For the past two years, we have been able to exceed more than $200,000 in grants annually to deserving organizations within our 12-county service area through this program. We recognize the profound impact these organizations make in our communities, and we are excited to witness the continued success in their endeavors this year.”

Through the community grant program, the Community Foundation strives to strengthen nonprofit programs which ultimately enhances the quality of life throughout our region. The Community Foundation annually accepts applications for funding from nonprofit organizations in its 12-county region. A grant committee, comprised of board members and volunteers from throughout the region, evaluates each application to determine the awards. 

The funding for these community grants is made possible through earnings from endowment funds. Donors collaborate with the Community Foundation to establish permanent charitable funds that align with their philanthropic goals and the needs of the community. The Community Foundation invests and grows these funds, and each year a portion of the fund’s earnings are distributed as grants while the principal remains intact.

“The donors who establish these funds have diverse goals and intentions, but what ties them together is their love for their community,” Community Foundation CEO Catherine Bocke Meckes said. “We are grateful for our donors’ vision and commitment to West Central Illinois and Northeast Missouri. The greatest impact of their generosity is yet to come. Through endowment, we are preparing our region for a vibrant and prosperous future.”

The following funds supported the 2023 community grant program:

Unrestricted Endowment Funds, support grants for arts and culture, community betterment, education, health and human services in the Community Foundation’s 12-county service area:

• Anonymous Funds (2)
• Karl H. & Bobbi Bowles Family and Quincy Farm & Home Supply Company Fund
• Dr. & Mrs. Merle F. Crossland Family Fund
• Harry Channon Eaton Family Endowment Fund
• Angie (Fusselman) Mayes & Evelyn J. Fusselman Fund
• Harry J. & Bernice M. Wissman Heidbreder Fund
• Kirk Family Fund – Houston, Carolyn & Carson
• Carl and Gladys Koehser Family Fund
• Mrs. Arthur O. Lindsay Fund
• Robert A. & Anne M. Mays Fund
• Robert G. and Melva Campbell Riley Fund
• Charles A. & Nancy Scholz Charitable Fund
• Margaret J. Sinnock Fund
• Bette J. Starnes Endowment
• Jeffrey G. & Theresa L. Spear Fund
• Grant L. and K. Georgann Sturhahn Fund
• Dorothy L. Swallow Fund
• Community Endowment Fund
• James R. and Katherine H. Williams Fund
• Carl, Althea & Cathy Wiskirchen Endowment

Field of Interest

• Blessing Hospital Community Health Fund
• Jayne & Leroy Boeckelman Fund for Young Musicians
• Katherine Broemmel Endowment for the Arts
• Noma Meyers Eaton Fund
• Paul H. & Anne B. Gardner Memorial Fund
• Grace United Methodist Church of Quincy Fund
• HOMEBANK Fund
• HOMEBANK of Quincy Fund
• Jane’s Kids’ Fund
• Jon’s Home Center Associates Fund
• G. Arthur (Art) Keller, Jr. Fund
• Irwin Family Fund
• Cory Didriksen Lovelace Fund
• William & Sheila Menke Endowment
• The Quincy Foundation Fund
• Quincy Recycle Fund
• James L. & Dorothy W. Rouner Fund
• Alan L. Stiegemeier and Mary Ellen Stiegemeier Charitable Fund
• The Wood Endowment

County Endowment Funds, support nonprofit organizations in a specific county:

• Adams County Endowment Fund (IL)
• Brown County Endowment Fund (IL)
• Hancock County Endowment Fund (IL)
• Lewis County Endowment Fund (MO)
• Marion County Endowment Fund (MO)
• Monroe County Endowment Fund (MO)
• Pike County Endowment Fund (IL)

Donor Advised Funds, allow a fund advisor to recommend grant recipients. Donor advisors may recommend grants at any time throughout the year, but are encouraged to consider grants in support of competitive grant requests:

• Betty Schmidt Endowment
• Green-Humphrey Family Fund for Music
• Joe and Denette Kuhlman Family Fund
• T.C. & Mary S. Oakley Descendants Fund
• Ralph Oakley Family Fund
• Optimist Club of Quincy Friend of Youth Fund
• The Zechariah Fund

These are among the 225+ funds at the Community Foundation that support arts and culture, community betterment, education, health or human services.  

This year’s grant recipients are:

The Community Foundation Serving West Central Illinois & Northeast Missouri builds permanent charitable funds to assist area nonprofits and communities. Its mission, “Connecting people who care with causes that matter,” is achieved by gathering funds, growing them through investments, then granting to nonprofit organizations, causes or communities that mean the most to its donors.   

The Community Foundation has made grants since 1997 totaling more than $15 million in the 12-county service area of Adams, Brown, Hancock and Pike in Illinois and Clark, Lewis, Marion, Ralls, Pike, Knox, Shelby and Monroe in Missouri.