Rush County Community Foundation

1993

First year individual funds were established.

1994

The first grant from the Rush County Community Fund was awarded to Rush Memorial Hospital for purchase of new lights in the emergency room.

1995

Rush County met Lilly Endowment Inc.’s GIFT Phase I match of $1 million.

Thanks to the building donation from Terry Smith, President of Norwest Bank, RCCF found a permanent home at 117 North Main Street Rushville, IN.

The first scholarships were awarded from established endowments: $8,750 was awarded from the Frank & Frances Hilburt Scholarship Fund.

1996

The first grant cycles occurred: $13,523.91 was awarded to eight community organizations, including grants to local volunteer fire departments for equipment and new windows for the Rush County Historical Society.

Fund distributions totaled $45,024. 

1997

Lilly Endowment Inc. continued to support our community foundation by offering a third GIFT program valued at $1 million. The Board of Directors chose to allocate $250,000 towards Foundation programs and $750,000 towards a community project that would benefit residents of Rush County.

Grants awarded to community organizations more than doubled in 1997. More than $27,500 was given to 15 local organizations to assist with a variety of needs and improvements.

1998

Lilly Endowment Inc.’s GIFT Phase III Initiative community projects were chosen:

• $600,000 to assist with the development of a new community swimming pool (Waggener Community Pool)
• $75,000 to restore and renovate the Rush County Historical Society’s museum
• $75,000 for a new roof and additional repairs to the Rushville Library

The first Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship was awarded.

Grant awards continued to increase: Nearly $55,000 was awarded to 22 local organizations, providing essential equipment and improvements for local fire departments, the Rush County Boys and Girls Club, and the Senior Citizens Center (among others).

1999

Another Lilly Endowment Inc. GIFT Phase IV was offered to raise $100,000 for operations, matching $3 for every $1 raised.

The RCCF Board of Directors recommended and approved the following projects:

• $250,000 for improvement to the Community and Root Building at the Rush County Fairgrounds
• $250,000 to Boys and Girls Club of Rush County for building addition
• $150,000 for facility improvements at 4-H Horse and Pony grounds
• $50,000 for a new roof for the Salvation Army
• $50,000 for improvements to the Rush County Senior Citizens Center

2000

RCCF was able to build an addition for a conference room and to make changes to our existing building because of Lilly Endowment Inc. grant funds.

Lilly Endowment Inc. GIFT Phase IV goals were met by raising $450,000 from donors.

2001

Local organizations and projects continued to receive funding from our community grant funds: $67,000 assisted projects for parks in Rushville, New Salem, and the Veteran’s Memorial Park, The Heart of Rushville, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and other deserving organizations.

2002

Local scholarship endowment funds continued to increase, benefiting local students in their pursuit of higher education.

Grants were awarded to 8 community organizations, benefiting local 4-H clubs, the Rush County Schools, and the Rushville Police Reserve Unit.

2003

Distributions from local endowed funds totaled $53,856 and assets continued to increase.

Seven grants were awarded to assist the needs of local community non-profit organizations.

2004

RCCF provided 18 grants in 2004, assisting in:

• Helping the Nature Center grow and prosper
• Getting the Lifelong Learning Center started
• Helping the Leadership Academy hold its first sessions

2005

RCCF was awarded a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.’s newest initiative, Sustaining Resource Development. The grant was designed to assist Foundations in obtaining self-sustainability.

More than $49,000 was awarded in grant funds, enhancing the opportunities 18 local organizations could provide in the Rush County community.

Stagg’s Dairy Treats hosted their first annual Rush County Community Foundation Day, donating 10% of proceeds to RCCF.

2006

Marked a year of celebration.

RCCF celebrated 15^th years of giving to Rush County. Black and Gold ribbons were placed on projects throughout Rush County that RCCF had helped make possible.

The Rushville St. Patrick’s Day Committee selected RCCF as one of their beneficiaries of their annual St. Patrick’s Day event

2007

Grants were given to support an emergency command unit for Rush County Emergency Management and handicap playground equipment for the Rushville Parks Department.

2008

More than $61,000 was given via community grants, making the following possible:

• Installation of street lights in Milroy (via Milroy Economic Development)
• Renovations at the Rush County Conservation Club
• A new monument at the veterans section of East Hill Cemetery (via Rush County Veterans Memorial Foundation)
• Renovations to enable Rush County Community Assistance to open

2009

Among others, notable grants were given supporting the Rushville Street Department recycling initiative, Blue River Community Harvest, Inc., and the Rush County Sheriff’s Department K-9 unit.

2010

We were able to help our community by distributing over $217,000 in grants, scholarships and individual fund payouts from funds established with RCCF.

2011

$43,000 in local grant funds were awarded, beneftting a number of organizations, including several local volunteer fire departments.

2012

Distributions from 2012 assisted a number of cemeteries, Rush County communities, the Rush County Youth Group Workcamp, Rushville Riverside Park Amphitheater concert series, Changing Footprints, and the Indiana State Police K-9 Teams.

2013

More than $400,000 in distributions from 2013 benefited students pursing post-secondary education, the Rushville Public Library, local youth organizations, and the Rush County Agricultural Association… among many, many other Rush County non-profit organizations.

RCCF’s total of local scholarship monies distributed topped $1 million dollars.

2014

For the first time in over a decade, Lilly Endowment offered another GIFT program. GIFT VI provided $500,000 in matching funds.

$365,000 was awarded in fund distributions.

Total fund payout surpassed $8 million dollars.

We were able to help our community by distributing over $539,200 in grants, scholarships, and individual fund payouts from funds established with the Foundation.