LAWRENCEBURG, Ind., April 5, 2019 – It didn’t take long for contributors to match the $102,000 set aside by the Dearborn Community Foundation (DCF) for its 12th annual Double Your Donation endowment matching campaign.
The goal of the 12th annual matching campaign was to encourage more individuals, organizations and businesses in our community to participate in philanthropy through endowment at the Foundation, said Fred McCarter, DCF Executive Director. “As usual, generous donors quickly took advantage of this unique opportunity to double the difference they make in Dearborn County,” he said.
The matching program began on April 1 and all of the funds were matched that same day! The City of Lawrenceburg and DCF provided the matching funds.
DCF matched $1-for-$1 contributions made to new or existing endowments – doubling the original donation by contributors. Contributors made donations to 47 different endowment funds, including seven new endowments, during the matching campaign. The overall endowment at the Foundation grew by $204,000, when the new contributions are combined with the $1-for-$1 match.
The new endowments: Brittany Kelly Black Memorial Scholarship Fund – supports the Brittany Kelly Black Memorial Scholarship at South Dearborn Dollars for Scholars; Cory Lewis Memorial Scholarship Fund – supports the Cory Lewis Memorial Scholarship at South Dearborn Dollars for Scholars; Gentrup-Fogle-Denning Military Scholarship Fund – supports the Gentrup-Fogle-Denning Military Scholarship at Lawrenceburg High School; Jim Thayer Memorial Scholarship Fund – supports the Jim Thayer Memorial Scholarship at South Dearborn Dollars for Scholars; Kevin Lynch Community Impact Fund (donor-advised fund) –supports charitable purposes/organizations; Maddin-Beall Family Fund (donor-advised fund) – supports charitable purposes/organizations; Myles Alig Memorial Fund (donor-advised fund) – supports charitable purposes/organizations.
DCF’s endowments provide scholarships for students and grants for charitable organizations and causes in perpetuity, McCarter said. “The contributions by donors are greatly appreciated. It’s important to note that the matching program would not have been possible without the generous support of the City of Lawrenceburg and the DCF Board of Directors,” he said.
MORE MATCHING DOLLARS AVAILABLE THROUGH LILLY’S ENDOWMENT’S GIFT VII
Donors should also inquire about other endowment matching opportunities through Lilly Endowment, Inc.’s GIFT VII initiative. With the GIFT VII match, eligible donors can triple their donations (a $2-for-$1 match) to Unrestricted Endowment Funds, and receive a 50-cents-on-the-dollar match for donations to any other type of new or existing endowment fund. To learn more about DCF and other endowment matching opportunities, call 812-539-4115, stop by the office at 322 Walnut Street in Lawrenceburg.
DCF was established 21 years ago to provide a way for members of the community to realize their philanthropic goals. DCF, a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt public charity, helps donors’ dreams come true by safeguarding endowments for the community through contributions large and small. Grants awarded by the Dearborn Community Foundation support the needs and interests in Dearborn County in the fields of Art, Culture and Humanities, Community and Public Benefit, Education, Environment and Animal Protection, Human Services, Public Safety and Youth Programs. In January 2009, DCF received the nation’s highest philanthropic standards for operational quality, integrity and accountability: the seal of approval from the National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations Program operated by the Council on Foundations (COF), a national professional association based in Washington, D.C. DCF was reconfirmed for the National Standards by the COF in 2014.