VOL. 31 NO. 2
JULY 2021
L E G A C Y
Tuhey Pool
Where neighbors create legacies
LET’S TALK
The Community Foundation is designed to serve the community today, tomorrow, and always. When donors made the first gifts to the Foundation, they were thinking about the future of Muncie and Delaware County. As we partner with nonprofit organizations, we talk about the future, too. We have conversations with nonprofit organizations about their strategies for sustainability. We discuss what is needed to help them meet the challenge they are working to address. We have similar conversations with donors who choose The Community Foundation as a partner. We discuss their plans for philanthropy and support them as they put their plans in place. To practice what we preach, we are excited to share with you about The Board of Directors Endowment Fund. Under the direction of our board, this fund will support the Foundation’s operations and help sustain our organization today, tomorrow, and always. In this issue of Legacy, we’ll share more about partnerships and sustainability. Learn the many ways we partner with one local nonprofit, the Muncie Children’s Museum, to illustrate our desire for a healthy, wellsupported, and sustainable nonprofit sector. Read more about the Board of Directors Endowment Fund, and how you can support our sustainability. Join us as we say our goodbyes and hellos to board members and kick off our new board year. Kelly K. Shrock, President
BEYOND GRANTMAKING, THE VALUE OF NONPROFIT PARTNERSHIP
Make Believe Theater
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or nearly five decades, children in Muncie and the surrounding communities have come to learn and play at the Muncie Children’s Museum (MCM). Since our first year of grantmaking, 1986, The Community Foundation has supported MCM as one of many resources that make this community a place where people choose to live, work, and play.
Nonprofit organizations, like MCM, make an impact on the lives of the people who live here. A healthy, well-supported, sustainable nonprofit sector is essential. Through various programs, the Foundation aims to contribute to the strength of the sector. While grantmaking is often the most visible way The Community Foundation works with nonprofit organizations in our community, our relationships extend beyond that of funder and grantee.
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The Community Foundation is a resource,” said Kynda Rinker, executive director of Muncie Children’s Museum. “I can reach out and float ideas by their team. Sometimes there are opportunities to apply for grants. Other times they can connect us to tools and resources. Often they provide a listening ear and let us know that we aren’t going at this alone.”
A little over a year ago, just a month or so into the COVID-19 pandemic, Community Foundation president, Kelly K. Shrock, reached out to Kynda to check in on MCM. It was one of many conversations that Foundation staff members had with nonprofit organizations during the stay-at-home order. Foundation staff spent time listening to the needs of the nonprofits and making connections when possible to meet those needs. “Because of the nature of the museum and our capacity, we were closed from March 17 through July 8,” said Kynda, “Kelly called in those early days to check-in. She reminded me that we could access funds. It was a godsend at the time because we needed the money to continue operating while the museum was closed to visitors.” Incredible, Unforgettable, Bug Lab Experience!
benefiting children. It helps to know that there are partners, like the Foundation, that are willing to listen to what we need and provide funding for the basics needed to keep our organization moving forward.” The Community Foundation is fortunate to have a strong pool of unrestricted funds to award grants that support projects like those at MCM. However, funding isn’t all that nonprofits in our community need. The Foundation often Hometown Market partners with nonprofits to provide resources and tools to help strengthen their organizations. Beneficiaries of designated funds benefit from regular meetings and presentations that support peer learning on relevant topics, like board development, grant management, marketing and communication, and fundraising. Specialized training, like the CORE Fundraising Training, presented in 2019 and again this year, provides organizational leaders with in-depth opportunities to learn and develop fundraising plans for their organizations. Kynda was a participant in the first CORE Fundraising cohort.
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Through the fundraising training, I gained knowledge and skills to put to use at the museum,” said Kynda. “Even more than that, I built a circle of people that I can reach out to and partner with. Collaborations help strengthen what each of us does.”
The Foundation agrees with Kynda. It takes individuals and organizations working together to make things better. Through our existing programs and new opportunities on the horizon, The Community Foundation is looking forward to contributing to a healthy, well-supported, sustainable nonprofit sector in Muncie and Delaware County.
MCM is the beneficiary of five designated funds at the Foundation. Two of the designated funds were started by donors through their estate plans and provide automatic annual distributions to multiple organizations. Donors started two additional funds specifically to benefit the Muncie Children’s Museum in the names of the families that established the funds. The fifth fund, the Muncie Children’s Museum Fund, was established in the mid-90s as part of a capital campaign that funded the move of MCM from their original location on Walnut Street to their current home in the convention center. The Board of Directors of MCM at that time saw the value of a fund that could provide long-term sustainable support.
KEEP UP WITH THE MUSEUM
The Muncie Children’s Museum Fund, a designated endowment fund, provides annual unrestricted funding to MCM to ensure that basic operating expenses like facility costs are met year-to-year. “Those funds are amazing,” said Kynda. “I am so thankful for the donors who were able to look at the big-picture. You can give a one-time gift to a fund, and it will keep giving to the organization.” The Foundation manages 129 designated funds benefiting more than 100 organizations. Last year, designated fund distributions topped $1.2 million. Additionally, MCM has applied for grants from competitive grantmaking programs at the Foundation. Earlier this year, the Foundation awarded a grant to support updates to exhibits. In 2019, MCM received a grant to upgrade decade-old technology, including a server, staff computers, and the point-of-sale system for ticketing and the gift shop.
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“Our computer system was 10-years-old, and we were operating on a wing and a prayer that our server wouldn’t go down,” explained Kynda. “Many donors want to support exhibits or programming directly
Interested in visiting or supporting the Muncie Children’s Museum? facebook.com/MuncieMuseum munciemuseum.com 515 S High Street, Muncie, IN 47305
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AIMING FOR A MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE OF THE FOUNDATION As our role within the community continues to evolve, we have moved beyond solely a grantmaking organization and into a community leader and partner. Staff build relationships with nonprofit leaders. Through these relationships, we make connections, direct resources, and work together to contribute to larger community goals that enhance Muncie and Delaware County’s quality of life. We shared this work in our latest annual report – Serving the Community.
READ THE REPORT ONLINE
cfmdin.org/press-room For nearly 35 years, we have done this work through fund administration fees and The Unrestricted Fund of The Community Foundation. But just as we encourage our nonprofit partners to develop a sustainability plan, our Board of Directors saw the need for a fund to support our internal
sustainability. The Board of Directors Endowment Fund was established in 2018 to capture GIFT VII matching dollars. In 2020, Foundation Board members made qualifying gifts resulting in a $100,000 board engagement grant from the Lilly Endowment to benefit this fund. Through the Foundation’s spending policy, The Board of Directors Endowment Fund will produce funding each year to support general operations. This added sustainability will ensure that the Foundation can maintain knowledgeable and skilled staff, manage additional funds and programs, continue convening and connecting community groups, and extend into emerging fields to meet the community’s evolving needs.
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We want the Foundation to continue; and to continue to evolve,” said Carol Seals, who ended her term as board chair last month. “As we grow, we want to help in other ways. To be a strong leader in the community, we have to support ourselves too. That’s why I had this idea of starting the Board of Director’s Endowment Fund.”
Carol was instrumental in establishing the Board of Director’s Endowment Fund and setting its purpose to support long-term sustainability for The Community Foundation. While contributions to the Foundation’s Unrestricted Fund continue to provide the most flexibility to meet the community’s changing needs, we are also inviting you to support the Foundation’s sustainability with a gift to The Board of Directors Endowment Fund. To learn more about how you can contribute to the sustainability of The Community Foundation today or in the future, contact Kelly K. Shrock, president, at 765-747-7181 or kshrock@cfmdin.org.
2021 SECOND QUARTER COMPETITIVE GRANTS THE FOUNDATION AWARDS 10 GRANTS TOTALING $186K
We are pleased to announce that $186,384 has been awarded to 10 nonprofit organizations during the second Quarterly Competitive Grants Cycle of 2021. Ambassadors for God’s Creatures
received $5,000 to address the pet overpopulation in Delaware County by offering financial assistance for spay and neuter services to low-income pet owners.
American Legion Post 19 received $24,089
to bring the restrooms in the facility up-to-code and handicap accessible.
East Central Indiana Regional Partnership, Inc. received $5,000 to market
the 10-county East Central Indiana region, including Muncie and Delaware County, for new business investment and talent attractions.
Indiana Youth Institute received $4,795 to provide professional development and networking opportunities to youth-serving professionals in Delaware County.
Little Red Door Cancer Agency received $12,500 to provide nutrition supplements to cancer patients in our community.
Second Quarter Competitive Grants have been awarded from The Unrestricted Fund of The Community Foundation and the following funds:
Motivate Our Minds received $25,000 to
Gary Addison Fund, Stefan and Joan Anderson Unrestricted Fund, Ball Corporation Community Betterment Fund, Edmund F. and Virginia B. Ball Fund, Bassett Family Fund, Louisa and Waldo Beebe Unrestricted Endowment Fund, Jane Harrell Buckles Fund, Gordon and Pam Cox Fund, John and Janice Fisher Quality of Place Endowment Fund, Linda and Connie Gregory Fund, Julian and Suzanne Gresham Fund, Jane E. Hughes Fund, KAKATU Foundation/David and Joanna Meeks Fund, Laura Stanley Keppler Fund, Ellen Lacey Fund for Companion Animals, Francis Lafferty Fund, Jeff and Beth Lang Fund, John and Katherine Littler Fund, Michael O. and Nicole T. Lunsford Fund, Mid-West Metal Products Fund, Jon and Barbara Moll Fund, MutualBank Charitable Foundation Fund, Ontario Systems-Wil Davis and Ron Fauquher Fund, Jim and Mary Rosema Fund, Shafer/Muncie Power Products Legacy Fund, Jeanne and John Smith Fund, Daniel and Catharine Stewart Fund, Robert and Janet Stratton Fund, Charles and Claudia Sursa Unrestricted Named Endowment Fund, David and Mary Jane Sursa Fund, Gary and Amy Thomas Fund, Wayne E. and Carolyn K. Thomas Fund, and Faye Wingate Fund
Minnetrista received $30,000 to expand the Bob Ross Experience exhibit.
provide after-school academic enrichment programs and summer literacy programs to 175 children in Muncie and Delaware County.
Muncie Land Bank received $25,000 to offset costs associated with acquiring and maintaining vacant, abandoned, and blighted properties in the City of Muncie for public and private development.
TeenWorks, Inc. received $25,000 to support the wages of 75 teens in a summer program that provides paid work experience, professional development, life skills training, and career and college exploration.
YMCA of Muncie received $30,000 to provide summer day camp programming for elementaryaged children that focuses on learning loss and reducing the achievement gap suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
MUNCIE, IN PERMIT NO. 807
P.O. Box 807, Muncie, IN 47308 Phone: (765) 747-7181
Confirmed in compliance with National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations.
2021 DAVID SURSA LEADERSHIP AWARD “Greg believes in the theatre’s mission. He believes that it’s essential that there be places of quality entertainment, available to all kinds of people, that will help them develop and maintain a sense of pride in their hometown.” - Laura Williamson, Executive Director of Muncie Civic Theatre
FINALISTS GREG HUFFMAN Muncie Civic Theatre
• Heather Williams, ecoREHAB • Mia Johnson, YWCA Central Indiana • Claudia Sursa, Greater Muncie, IN Habitat for Humanity
Legacy is a publication of The Community Foundation of Muncie & Delaware County, Inc.
MEMORIALS AND HONORARIUMS
The following individuals were remembered or honored through gifts to The Community Foundation from February 1, 2021 to May 31, 2021.
Memorials
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Millie Abram Tiny Adams Gary Alexander Joanne Baur Kenneth Oren Beard Robert P. Bell John Blackburn Patrick Botts Toni Cecil Reed Cheesman Mike Dague Patsy Donn Jim and Eleanor Faulkner Barbara Gephardt Ann Gishler Rex Goen Hurley Goodall Hurley and Fredine Goodall Muggs Gooden Clarence W. Gullion Kathy Hammer Mary Jo Hickman Gregory Hill Wanda Quinn Isenbarger Dorothy S. Johnson Laura Stanley Keppler Ellen Lacey Carl Lambert Susan Land Judy Lewellen John B. Lotz Gary Lee Miller Pat Mills Edna Mullinax Carol Pinckney Mary Melva Ratchford
Charles E. Rector Dr. Roch
Cathy Schrecongost Dianne Shafer Ed Siler
Dixie Smith
Jeanne Smith Ruth Smith
Joanne K. Spurgeon Dylan Stafford Danny Taylor Joan Taylor
Jody Snyder Wagner Bill Wakeland Rex Waldo II Jim Warrner
Gilbert John Weden Fred Wenger
Ben Grady Williams David E. Yoos
Honorariums Mary Ann Beard
Cornerstone Staff Jim Finan
Micah Maxwell Jim McClain Cathy Miller Kelly Shrock
Kent Shuff and Steve Fennimore
Masterworks Chorale’s Valentine’s Day Streaming Concert
GIVE BY MAIL
GIVE ONLINE
Send your donation to P.O. Box 807, Muncie, IN 47308
Visit cfmdin.org to make your donation
WELCOME NEW BOARD MEMBERS
The Foundation welcomes Derron Bishop and Mia Johnson to our Board of Directors. Derron is associate dean of the Indiana University School of MedicineMuncie. Mia is the chancellor for Ivy Tech Anderson. Derron and Mia both also serve on the Foundation’s Scholarship Committee. We would also like to thank retiring board members Gary Thomas and Kathy White for their years of leadership and service.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Trent Dowling, Chair Magi Kirkpatrick Sikora, Vice Chair Casey Stanley, Secretary Ermalene Faulkner, Treasurer
ADVISORY BOARD
John W. Anderson Jr. Judy Benken Chris Day Mark A. Ervin Jaime Faulkner Ronald K. Fauquher Olivia Fellows Molly Flodder
PAST CHAIRS Stefan S. Anderson Jack E. Buckles Wilbur R. Davis Mark A. Ervin Ronald K. Fauquher Suzanne Gresham Jeffrey R. Lang John D. Littler Carol E. Seals Steven M. Smith Charles V. Sursa David Sursa, deceased Marianne Vorhees
Derron Bishop Sara Shade Hamilton Dave Heeter Mia Johnson Carol E. Seals
Michael B. Galliher Keith Gary Linda Gregory Tom Heck Thomas J. Kinghorn Jeffrey R. Lang John D. Littler Chris Miller
Lathay Pegues Daniel Stallings Rob Tyler Marianne Vorhees Leland Wilhoite Kathy White
STAFF
Kelly K. Shrock, President Carly Acree-King, Program Officer Trina Bowling, Finance Officer JoAnna Darda, Administrative Assistant Marcy Minton, Senior Program Officer Kallie Sulanke, Community Engagement Officer Amy Tuttle, Communications Administrator
PROFESSIONAL COUNCIL Steven D. Murphy, Legal Council
