Foundation announces $300,000 initiative

Monday, December 11, 2006
Putnam County Community Foundation Board of Directors display $300; 000 representing the amount of money going to support local non-profit organizations over the next two year's from the Foundation.  Holding the "money" are (from left) Laurie Robertson Hardwick; John O'Hair; Therese Cunningham; Dorothy Crawley Richards; Sue Murray; Ginger Scott; Darrel Wiatt; Murray Pride; Max Nichols and Lou Fontaine.

The Putnam County Community Foundation has appropriated $300,000 for its Non-Profit Capacity Building Initiative during the next two years.

The initiative provides $250,000 in matching funds for endowments benefiting local 501c3 non-profits, churches and units of government, including schools and libraries, and $50,000 to host monthly educational sessions where organizations can learn about fundraising, board governance and strategic planning.

"A hallmark of a great community is a thriving non-profit sector," said Eric Wolfe, Community Development Director for the Community Foundation. "This initiative provides education and tools, including matching grants, so our non-profit community is top-notch and supported forever."

Eleven organizations have already been awarded a cumulative total of $51,000 in endowment matching funds. Those organizations include the A-Way Home Shelter, Crisis Pregnancy Center, Family Support Services, Friends of the Library, Friends of the Park Association of Putnam County, People Pathways, Putnam County Museum, Roachdale Community Garden, Russellville Community Center, Sycamore Trails RC&D, and the United Way of Putnam County. Anyone interested in having their endowment gifts to these organizations matched, should contact the Community Foundation. Applications for the next round of endowment matching grants will be available in late January.

Contact the Community Foundation to be on the list to receive an application.

The monthly educational sessions, called the Learning Series, are conducted on the fourth Monday of each month, except July and December, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. in the Walden Inn and include lunch and training materials. The cost is $7 per person. There is a 50-person maximum for each session, so register early by contacting the Community Foundation office. The next session will be Jan. 22.

The Putnam County Community Foundation is a nonprofit public charity established in 1985 to serve donors, award grants, and provide leadership, enriching the quality of life and strengthening community in Putnam County for this and future generations. For questions about the Non-Profit Capacity Building Initiative, call Eric Wolfe at 653-4978 or visit www.pcfoundation.org.

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