The Community Foundation of East Central Illinois continues to improve the quality of life for residents living in its service area. This month, the Foundation was pleased to award nearly $90,000 in grant funding to 30 organizations through their Community Commitment Grants.
The Community Commitment Grants are awarded to nonprofit organizations annually for the purchase of durable goods or capital items not typically covered by other granting bodies. The grants are funded primarily by the annual earnings from endowment funds established by donors with the Community Foundation.
Organizations apply for the Community Commitment Grants and a committee of community members and members from the Community Foundation’s Board of Trustees visit the organizations and meet to award funding based on several criteria, including greatest need.
Banks, Bridgewater, Lewis Fine Arts Academy, Boys & Girls Club of Danville, Champaign County Farm Bureau, Champaign County Health Care Consumers, Champaign County History Museum, Champaign-Urbana Schools Foundation, Church Women United Clothing Center, Community Resource & Counseling Center, Crisis Nursery, CU Fair, Cunningham Children’s Home, Danville Family YMCA, Developmental Services Center, Dove, Inc., Dwelling Place of Vermilion County, Education Justice Project, FirstFollowers Reentry Program, Forest Preserve Friends Foundation, Habitat for Humanity of Champaign County, Homestead Corporation, Hoopeston Multi Agency Service Center, Land Connection, Peer Court, Inc., Piatt County Mental Health, Prairie Air Inc/WEFT, Salvation Army of Champaign County, Sarah Bush Lincoln Peace Meal, Sola Gratia Farm and Survivor Resource Center.
The Community Commitment Grants are just one part of the Community Foundation’s annual granting. Last year, Champaign County Crime Stoppers, Mahomet Area Youth Club, Promise Healthcare, The Land Connection and The Refugee Center all received funding for their staff and board members to use toward professional development through the Community Foundation’s Capacity-Building Microgrants.
Community Foundation President and CEO, Joan Dixon said, “As the size of our available granting dollars has grown, our granting strategy has evolved to reflect our commitment to using our donors’ dollars wisely to make sustainable differences in our area. We believe the combination of grants we offer serve as tools that will yield measurable and lasting impact results from our investment.”