Heritage Fund – The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County has received a grant of $1 million as part of Lilly Endowment Inc.’s seventh phase of its Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow (GIFT) initiative.

Heritage Fund officials say they can use this matching fund grant to build its financial assets and support charitable activities. They explain that at least two-thirds of the matching fund grant must be designated to support the growth of Heritage Fund’s unrestricted endowments, which over time will provide flexibility to help the foundation to meet community needs. The Endowment will provide $2 for every $1 contributed to Heritage Fund’s unrestricted endowments during the matching period, October 1, 2018, through December 31, 2020.

Heritage Fund may choose to designate up to one-third of the matching fund grant to support the foundation’s own operating needs or specific community or charitable projects. The Endowment will provide 50 cents for every $1 that Heritage Fund raises during the matching period for these purposes.

“Heritage Fund has been grateful for its partnership with the Lilly Endowment since the first GIFT program in 1990. Thanks to the generosity of Bartholomew County residents, Heritage Fund has successfully completed GIFT I, II, III, IV, V and VI, bringing in more than $16 million in donations and matches from the Lilly Endowment. We are confident that GIFT VII will be equally successful,” said Tracy Souza, Heritage Fund president and CEO.

GIFT VII will focus on Heritage Fund’s Community Fund, its unrestricted endowment, which supports its grant-making for important efforts such as:
• Council for Youth Development Bartholomew County
• IUPUC School of Nursing and Mental Health Counseling Program
• Elevate Ventures regional entrepreneurial development partnership
• Columbus Home-buyer Program in partnership with SIHCDC, Lincoln-Central Neighborhood Family Center and BCSC’s C4 program
• Hauser Junior-Senior High School Agriculture Department greenhouse renovation project