SERVING OUR COMMUNITY Dear Friends, Pivot. In these uncertain times. New normal. Unprecedented. All in this together. 2020 brought a host of buzzwords as we worked to respond to the changes in the world around us. While you likely grew as tired of hearing them as we did, they helped us frame how the Foundation was able to respond to our community during the year. In this annual report, we aim to share the full story of 2020. You’ll read about our plans at the beginning of the year, our response to the community through the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Foundation’s future direction. As you join us by reading the stories in this report, you’ll enjoy a month-by-month account of 2020. We share how the Foundation could pivot from life in the office to working at home while still connecting with donors, nonprofit organizations, and community partners. We tell a story of how, even in these uncertain times, the Foundation could provide graduating seniors with scholarships to ensure their continued education. You’ll see photos of our community in a new normal, with friends and neighbors donning masks and standing six feet apart. We share a story about unprecedented community investment with the Foundation offering its first recoverable grant to support a loan program for small businesses. And we show that we are all in this together. It takes the whole community to make
a difference, from donors sharing financial resources to the nonprofit organizations providing vital services and the community members in need partnering with organizations to improve their circumstances. In 2020, while the community faced challenges, it also saw successes. The Community Foundation completed the GIFT VII match from Lilly Endowment, resulting in more community grantmaking for many years to come. Nine new funds were established to support community causes. We also said many goodbyes and hellos. On our Board of Directors, we said goodbye to Linda Gregory, who continues to serve on the Foundation’s Grants Committee, and welcomed Dave Heeter. We also celebrated the retirement of Cheryl Decker, administrative services officer, and welcomed two new staff members, Trina Bowling, finance officer, and JoAnna Darda, administrative assistant. The year wasn’t easy, but we are glad the Foundation could be a constant in the community during the tumultuous time. The Community Foundation continues to be here today, tomorrow, and always. Here’s to a brighter tomorrow,
Kelly K. Shrock, President
Carol E. Seals, Chair, Board of Directors 3
