Charitable Resource Announced for County

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An opportunity to establish a charitable endowment fund for Shelby County, and receive a $15,000 matching gift, was announced Wednesday, July 26, 2023, by community leaders at Hawkins Theater in Shelbina. Approximately 25 people attended the event.

The Shelby County Endowment Fund, held at the Community Foundation Serving West Central Illinois & Northeast Missouri, will serve as a permanent source of support for local needs and opportunities.

“We have formed a fund council made up of Shelby County residents,” explained Shelby County Fund Council Chair Nathan Hillard. “If we raise $15,000 in three years, the Community Foundation will provide a $15,000 match to root this Fund as a resource that will grow and support Shelby County for generations to come.”

Once the fundraising goal is met, the Shelby County Endowment Fund will benefit local charitable and public projects, programs, and organizations. As an endowment, it will continue to grow and generate new funds in perpetuity. Each year, the fund council will make recommendations for grants from the fund to strengthen communities in Shelby County.

“The Shelby County Endowment Fund is a way to ‘keep local money working for local causes,’” said Community Foundation CEO Catherine Meckes. “It’s a vehicle to preserve wealth in and for Shelby County. If everyone in Shelby County contributed just 5% of their wealth through their will to the Shelby County Endowment Fund, in 10 years it would generate grants totaling more than $250,000 each and every year. Imagine what that could achieve in Shelby County!”

In addition to Hillard, fund council members include Megan Crawford of Shelbina, Carrie Elsen of Shelbyville, and Rebecca Miller of Macon.  The fund council is seeking additional members to help with fundraising and future grant making. Residents interested in joining the fund council are encouraged to contact any of the current council members.

“If Shelby County has been good to you, why not pay it forward for future generations?” said Hillard. “The Shelby County Endowment Fund will help us keep our communities a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family.”

Among the 12 counties served by the Community Foundation, seven have already established their own successful County Endowment Funds, which are making significant contributions to various nonprofit initiatives within their respective communities.

The Shelby County Endowment Fund invites everyone to make a meaningful contribution of any amount to help achieve the $15,000 fundraising goal and receive the generous $15,000 matching gift.

The campaign has already seen a strong start, with more than $8,000 raised to date. The Fund Council gratefully acknowledges the support of Northeast Missouri Electric Power Cooperative – Northeast Power, Chariton Valley, Macon Electric Cooperative, Missouri Rural Electric Cooperative, Neighbors Bank, United State Bank, as well as several individual donors.

Gifts to the Community Foundation for the Shelby County Endowment Fund are tax-deductible as allowed by law. The Community Foundation Serving West Central Illinois & Northeast Missouri, is a not-for-profit organization with 501(c)(3) status.

Applications become available March 1 every year and are accepted until May 1.

To make gifts to support future grantmaking in Shelby County, or to learn more about the fund, contact: Nathan Hillard, [email protected], 660-651-2856.