Completing the Match Leads to Major Grantmaking

October 2020: Completing the Match Leads to Major Grantmaking

When Lilly Endowment Inc. announced the GIFT VII matching grant, a $2 to $1 match on unrestricted gifts up to $1 million, donors like Gordon and Pam Cox quickly made pledges to help The Community Foundation capture the match and increase community grantmaking.

The Community Foundation was able to offer a $2 to $1 match to unrestricted gifts beginning in 2018, thanks to a grant opportunity from Lilly Endowment Inc. GIFT VII would provide up to $1 million in funds to match donations and pledges from donors who chose to give unrestricted gifts.

The 2019 Foundation board of directors gave a big thanks when all matching dollars had been reserved through gifts and pledges.

When Gordon and Pam Cox heard about the opportunity to triple their contribution, they pledged a gift to the Gordon and Pam Cox Fund, a named unrestricted fund at The Community Foundation. Their pledge over three years (2018, 2019, and 2020) was one of GIFT VII’s first donor commitments. And when the Coxes made their final pledge payment at the end of the year, they helped the Foundation secure the last of the matching dollars.

Lilly Endowment launched the Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow (GIFT) program in 1990 to expand Indiana’s network of community foundations. Since the first GIFT program, The Community Foundation has captured matching funds to support unrestricted fundraising. These unrestricted funds support the changing needs of the community by funding grantmaking and other needed programs.

GIFT matching opportunities weren’t new to the Coxes. Gordon shared that while he knew of The Community Foundation, it was in 2002, during GIFT V, that he and Pam established the Gordon and Pam Cox Fund.

Gordon and Pam Cox

The timing was just right. Gordon, who was in the building on other business, happened to pass by the Foundation’s board room following a meeting. Then board member and friend of Gordon, Jack Buckles stopped him for a chat.

“Jack was the first guy who mentioned anything about The Community Foundation to me,” explained Gordon. “Jack was working on the pledge drive for the Lilly match. After he explained it to me, I said that I had a few bucks in the bank and decided to take advantage of the match to start a fund.”

Gordon and Pam had built a good life in the community. Pam grew up in Albany and graduated from Albany High School before attending Ball State University. Pam served as a registered nurse in Muncie for many years before retiring. Gordon was born and raised in Muncie. He graduated from Muncie Central High School before attending Ball State University and then Indiana College of Mortuary Science. Gordon went to work at Meeks Mortuary in 1966 and managed that business for 50 years before his son took over. Gordon partnered to grow a variety of other businesses across the community, too.

“When you have businesses in Delaware County, you support a lot of different things,” said Gordon. “I’ve invested in Delaware County and Muncie because it’s been good to me.”

The Coxes investment in The Community Foundation has paid off. Since 2002, the Gordon and Pam Cox Fund has been used to award 60 grants totaling more than $300,000 to support community libraries, after school programs, mentoring, and housing improvements for seniors, among other projects and programs aimed at enhancing the quality of life in Muncie and Delaware County.

Gordon shared that the Foundation’s endowment model was a key element in deciding to establish and grow their fund. In most cases, gifts to the Foundation are invested. A portion of the earnings makes annual grants. A portion goes toward Foundation operations. The remainder of the earnings are reinvested to grow the fund for greater future grantmaking.

“It’s important to understand that giving to the Foundation works a little different. The fund will be around to make a difference for a long time.”

NEW FUNDS

- Brown Family Charitable FundM

- Martin Luther King Dream Team Fund

- Muncie Animal Shelter Roof Fund

- Muncie Outreach Fund

- Muncie Power Products Community Impact Fund

- NAACP Muncie Branch Fund

- Dick Peck Fund

- Regina Bernadette Bence Peck Fund

- Robert and Janet Stratton Fund