Greetings Noah!

Is change in the air already? Cooler mornings and evenings lately have reminded us that another seasonal transition will soon be upon us, and with it a shift in the Foundation's focus for the fall. As we prepare to wrap up our 3rd Quarter grantmaking cycle at the end of September, we're already inviting local high school students in the 4th Quarter to stake their claim to more than $300,000 in generous donor awards available to the graduating Class of 2025.

In establishing the Community Foundation nearly 50 years ago, our founding Board of Directors and donors knew that change would be a constant force in Polk County, as it is in any community. As local needs evolve over time, our area's collective efforts and strategies to meet those needs have, in turn, adapted. Programs and organizations devoted to the shared mission of improving our quality of life have come and gone. And yet, an enduring spirit of community continues to provide steady support to the people, places, and institutions that make up what we call home.

As always, we're grateful for the seasons and cycles that mark our growth and ongoing work of Building Community together.

Now is the perfect time to be thinking about your organization's grant-seeking strategy for 2025. Our 1st Quarter applications will open in the fall and be due in early January. We welcome the opportunity to continue conversations with nonprofits about how the Foundation can support your critical work to benefit our community.

Contact us to learn more about potential funds that could be a good match for your projects and goals in the new year.

The Unrestricted Fund of the Polk County Community Foundation is perhaps the most distinctive element of our organization. Unlike many philanthropic institutions, the Foundation has the rare privilege of stewarding nearly half of its assets to address the needs of the community as they change over time. The Foundation's creation in 1975 was introduced with a six-page "Questions & Answers" publication that spoke to the unique role it sought to play in improving the quality of life in our community:

"Community needs come and go...unpredictably. And just as new needs are always arising in the life of a community, old needs are constantly changing or disappearing.

There has been a great need in Polk County for a permanent, flexible charitable agency that can give permanent relevance to your gift to the life of your community. This is only one aspect of the value of the new Polk County Community Foundation, but is an important one."

Over the past five decades, many generous donors who value our community have contributed to the Foundation’s unrestricted grantmaking funds. Some choose to have named Unrestricted Funds and some add their gifts or bequests to the general Unrestricted Fund.

Donations of all sizes become part of the general Unrestricted Fund when donors instruct and trust the Community Foundation to use their donations “to help in any way” or “at the discretion of the Board.” Memorial gifts to the Community Foundation are added to the Book of Memory Fund, which is an Unrestricted Fund, and names are inscribed in the Foundation’s Book of Memory.

A Note for Donors

Articulating your philanthropic goals or choosing the ideal causes to support can be a daunting task. Many new and experienced donors alike have been inspired by the variety of funds that are already at work in the community through the Foundation. Some may resonate with your desired areas of support, providing a model for making your own charitable dreams come true.

We'll continue to feature funds that might be appealing to our community of donors in future newsletters. In the meantime, if you’re interested in starting a new fund or contributing to existing funds like the one highlighted above to allow it to have an even greater impact, please reach out to our President & CEO, Sara Bell at 828-859-5314 or sbell@polkccf.org.

The Foundation was pleased to award Outreach a 2023 grant to support enhancements to its food pantry programs, including the Edible, Accessible, Time Saving (EATS) program. EATS takes the food Outreach receives from TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program) and turns it into actual meals, providing everything clients need (recipes, all ingredients required, including spices) to make 2-3 dishes each week! Check out the video below to learn more about the program.

Our own Town of Columbus was the destination for WSPA's most recent Zip Trip, which featured many projects and organizations supported by the Foundation, including the Polk County High School Band, the Polk County History Museum, the Columbus Farmers Market, the House of Flags Museum, and Veterans Park. Click on the videos below to watch!

It's often said that volunteers are the lifeblood of our community, but did you know that giving back could add years to your life? We recently came across an article entitled "Volunteering would feel good even if it didn’t have health benefits. But it does" which confirmed yet again why it's so important to get involved wherever your time and talents allow. Research consistently highlights the remarkable health benefits of volunteering, from boosting positive emotions to alleviating loneliness and fostering a strong network of social support. There's also strong evidence that communities with a culture of volunteerism are healthier.

At the Foundation and in organizations across our area, volunteers make our missions possible. On our scholarship and grantmaking committees, and among our Board of Directors, it's common to hear that the critical work of standing in for donors, evaluating the merits of applications, and making funding decisions that will improve the quality of life in our community is equally challenging and rewarding. So too is the work of building trails, putting on community events, or helping residents get the the services they need to thrive. However you're able to lend a helping hand to others, thank you. To your health!

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and the Foundation is again honored to support the 10th Annual Walk & Remembrance with a grant to Aspire Polk County in partnership with Do Not Lose Hope. The event will be held Saturday, September 21, 5:00-7:00 pm at Harmon Field in Tryon.

Did you know that September is also Library Card Sign-Up Month? Our community has a rich library history, which the Foundation has been honored to support over the years with generous donor funds. Check out ways you can join and learn more about our local libraries in September and every month of the year.

The 2024 Conference for North Carolina’s Nonprofits is designed to offer strategies, experiences, and connections that are valuable for every nonprofit staff member, board member, volunteer, and supporter.

Join the North Carolina Center for Nonprofits on October 22-23 at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel and Convention Center in Research Triangle Park to connect with nonprofit colleagues, learn from experts and practitioners, and share insights that will recharge our work and our sector.

Limited grant funding from the Polk County Community Foundation is available to support local nonprofits in attending the conference. Contact us to learn more.

The Community Foundation is pleased to offer grants to our local nonprofits on a rolling basis to join or renew membership with the Center, which offers a growing number of valuable Member Benefits. Contact us to learn more about how to take advantage of this opportunity.

The Saluda Grade Trails Conservancy is officially under contract to purchase a 31-mile rail corridor for a proposed rail trail running from Upstate South Carolina to Western North Carolina. The conservancy now has one year to complete due diligence and secure remaining funds needed for the purchase.

Following an in-depth, year-long engineering and economic impact study on the proposed Saluda Grade Trail, the firm TPD, Inc. joined Saluda Grade Trails Conservancy partners to present findings at two public meetings. If you were unable to join us, you are invited to view the presentation slides.

Our offices got a refresh this summer and we're thrilled to be back in a new space that's optimized to better serve our community, including a new gallery of photos documenting some of the projects and places our work has impacted over the years. If you haven't been in lately, please feel free to drop by and check it out. We'd love to see you!