A local foundation that provides charitable grants to benefit the community has kicked off a fundraising campaign to increase its capacity for doing so.
Heritage Fund — The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County has started The 100 Campaign, which has a goal of raising $200,000 for its Community Fund, a pool of money that can be distributed to serve any need.
Half of the target amount involves 100 residents donating $1,000 or more to the fund. Those donations will be paired with $100,000 generated from 10 lead donors who contribute at least $10,000, according to the Heritage Fund.
“The 100 Campaign engages a new demographic of donors and increases their commitment to philanthropy by empowering them to invest in the future of their community,” Heritage Fund President and CEO Tracy Souza said.
Heritage Fund will invest the campaign’s funds and a larger pool of assets to grow its grant-making capacity through compound interest and provide funding for projects, programs and nonprofit organizations that address pressing community needs now and in the future, the organization said.
Souza said the idea for The 100 Campaign started in Heritage Fund’s Development Committee about six months ago.
Committee members discussed how to engage the next generation of donors and how to grow the fund. They thought a $1,000 donation would be feasible and appealing for interested younger donors, while at the same time asking for larger donations from a handful of people with longer ties to the organization, Souza said.
“There’s been a lot of excitement about it,” Souza said, noting that the idea was well-received by Heritage Fund’s board.
It’s possible donations end up exceeding $200,000, she said, because of people giving more than the suggested amounts.
What the community’s needs will be in the future are not known, but being prepared to meet them is important, said Lora Mount, chair of The 100 Campaign and member of the Heritage Fund Development Committee.
“What we do know is that we are committed to this community. The 100 Campaign is an opportunity to demonstrate that commitment, to pool our resources and to play a part in a better future,” Mount said.
Donors to The 100 Campaign will receive an invitation to a special event on June 12, 2038 to celebrate the growth of the Community Fund and share ideas about current and future grants, the foundation said.
“It’s going to be a lot of fun to see how far we’ve come 20 years from now, not only as a community but as individuals, professionals and families. Think of it as a class reunion — but for civic-minded community members,” Mount said.
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For more information about The 100 Campaign of Heritage Fund – The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County, or to contribute, contact Kristin Munn at 812-376-7772 or [email protected], or go Heritage Fund’s website, heritagefundbc.org.
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