Community Connection
OCTOBER 2021
|
|
We were deeply saddened by the passing of our friend, Jeff Lange, on September 26. Jeff joined our Board of Directors in 2017 and served in leadership as Chair of our Investment committee. He was also an active member of our Executive and Audit & Finance committees. His keen talents and insights were invaluable to our organization, Board, and community.
Moreover, Jeff was just an all-around terrific guy. He was the kind of person one truly enjoyed being around. He was supportive, friendly, and supremely good-natured. Jeff was both a colleague and a friend and he will be sorely missed.
|
|
CFCI Awards More Than $260,000 in Fall Grants
|
|
Every year, the dedicated members of our volunteer grant review committees commit countless hours to evaluating dozens of applications to make the very important and difficult decision of awarding funds through the Community Needs, Local Jobs Fund, and Women's Fund Success grants. This year, over $260,000 was awarded to 26 deserving nonprofit organizations that are providing vital programs and services to the central Illinois community.
“Behind these grant awards are dedicated nonprofit professionals who work incredibly hard every day to meet specific needs in our community. We couldn’t be prouder to assist them and support the outstanding programs that truly strengthen the central Illinois area. This would not be possible without the generous donors who have created funds through CFCI. Through grantmaking, we’re able to ensure a lasting legacy for funders who have made a commitment to maintaining positive growth and stability of our nonprofit community,”
-Mark Roberts, President & CEO
|
|
Keeping Up With CFCI Staff
|
|
Introducing Our New Financial Assistant
|
We're excited to introduce our new Financial Assistant, Michelle Cecil! Some of Michelle's key responsibilities include processing grant requests, accounts payable, preparation of bank deposits, and distribution of acknowledgement letters and donor fund statements. She is an amazing addition and we're thrilled to have her on the CFCI team.
|
|
A Farewell to Our Financial Manager
|
After nearly 7 ½ years of exceptional service as our Financial Manager overseeing the Foundation’s operations, finances and administrative functions, Jacqueline completed her final day at CFCI. Although we are sad to see such a loyal member of our team go, we are so happy to celebrate her upcoming position with the Communities Foundation of Texas. We are grateful for the amazing work she’s done over the years and will certainly miss her. We’re excited to see her succeed as she pursues this new opportunity!
|
|
Upcoming Grant Opportunities
|
|
Please join us for our virtual networking events to learn more about the 2021-2022 Ending Hunger Together Fund grant opportunity and the brand new Community Works grant program coming up in November.
Through this new grant program, CFCI is working to gain a broader understanding of challenges and opportunities within the focus area of economic development as it exists within our community, with a goal of driving systematic, long-term change. As such, CFCI is interested in investing in collaborative economic development programs that emphasize job creation and retention. Similar to the Ending Hunger Together grants, we are not looking to fund individual organizations working in isolation; rather, we are seeking innovative collaboration among two or more organizations.
The Community Works and Ending Hunger Together RFP's will open November 1, 2021.
Learn more about this new grant opportunity and what other organizations are doing to promote job creation and retention, as well as address food insecurity in the central Illinois area.
|
|
Tuesday, November 9, 2021
1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
|
|
Wednesday, November 10, 2021
8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
|
|
Vernon "Butch" Gudat Scholarship
|
|
The Vernon "Butch" Gudat Charitable Fund is now open and accepting scholarship applications. This fund provides at least one $1,500 academic scholarship annually to qualifying children and grandchildren of career and volunteer firefighters in Peoria, Tazewell, and Woodford counties. The fund commemorates the dedication and bravery of Peoria Fire Captain Butch Gudat, who died fighting an apartment complex fire on Main Street in Peoria on January 23, 1983.
Applications are due December 1, 2021.
|
|
The Women's Fund First Ever
Girls Investing in Girls Event
|
|
The Women’s Fund of CFCI hosted its first ever Girls Investing in Girls (GIG) workshop event on October 19 to introduce the concept of philanthropy to young women in high school. At the end of the day, these young women had the unique opportunity to work through the grantmaking process and award a $4,000 Women's Fund grant to one deserving nonprofit, to which they chose the Peoria Public Schools Foundation for their Middle Schools Girls Mentoring Pilot program!
Tuesday’s GIG pilot program was a huge success as a group of 15 young women of diverse backgrounds and experiences from Illini Bluffs, IVC, Peoria High, and Peoria Regional Learning Center participated and had the opportunity to learn about the importance of philanthropy, the Community Foundation of Central Illinois, the Women’s Fund, and how to review grants. They were presented two grants previously selected by the Women’s Fund grant review committee and chose this year’s participant.
GIG participants spoke about some of the things they learned, which included what philanthropy is, how nonprofits operate, programs the Women’s Fund helps, and the process of reviewing grants. One participant stated, “Reviewing grants is hard, but rewarding.” Following the workshop, another participant stated she is going to “look further into local nonprofit organizations and how to be involved in them.”
|
|
Please make all gifts (deposits into your fund) by Monday, November 22.
Please make all grants (donations to nonprofits) by Friday, December 3.
Community Foundation Holiday Hours
CLOSED: Thursday & Friday, November 25-26
CLOSED: Thursday & Friday, December 23-24
CLOSED: Thursday, December 30 at 12pm
CLOSED: Friday, December 31
|
|
Caterpillar Employees and Retirees Can
DOUBLE the Impact of Their Donation to CFCI
|
|
The Caterpillar Foundation announced that gifts to community foundations are now eligible for their Matching Gifts Program. Caterpillar employees and retirees who choose to donate to our operating fund or other endowment funds can apply for a 1:1 match from the Caterpillar Foundation. Those who have donor-advised or Depository funds at CFCI and plan on donating to a specific charity can also apply for the match. Please visit the Caterpillar Foundation website by clicking here for detailed instructions on how to submit your match request. The Community Foundation of Central Illinois greatly appreciates your support. By working together, we will continue to improve the quality of life throughout central Illinois.
|
|
We're proud of our accreditation with National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations®. This accreditation, signified by this Seal, indicates that the Community Foundation of Central Illinois meets the highest standards for philanthropic excellence. The 26 national standards establish legal, ethical, effective practices for community foundations everywhere and indicates CFCI’s commitment to excellence and accountability. Learn more about the accreditation process at cfstandards.org.
|
|
|
|
3625 North Sheridan Road
Peoria, IL 61604
309-674-8730
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|