This is Community Foundation Week – the perfect opportunity to kick-off this series to get to know the Rush County Community Foundation (RCCF) by explaining our mission and roles in the community.

Community Foundation 101

Let’s start with the basics. What is a community foundation? The official definition says, “a tax-exempt, publicly-funded nonprofit with a long-term goal of building a permanent source of money to benefit a specific geographic region.”

An easy way to think of it is that we help donors support the causes that matter most to them in Rush County by awarding grants to nonprofits and scholarships to students. We also work with various local groups to make positive change for the community. The end result is to improve life for everyone in Rush County today and always.

Think of our purpose as a three-legged stool – we serve donors, award grants and scholarships and provide community leadership.

Endowed Funds

Using donations to create grants and scholarships is easy to understand. But how does that work forever? This is where endowed, or permanent, funds come in.

Donations are organized into funds. RCCF has more than 200 funds. Each fund has its own purpose and set of regulations determined by the founding donor.

Here’s how the support from those donations lasts forever. Money is placed in endowed funds and is carefully invested. The earnings are used to create grants and scholarships. The original donation remains invested to keep earning more money for more grants and scholarships. Forever.

A donation received in 1991 is still supporting good work today! And it will always. You can’t make a bigger impact.

Want to learn more? Contact us by email info@rushcountyfoundation.org or phone (765)938-1177. Stop by our office at 117 N. Main Street in Rushville. We’re always happy to answer any questions you might have.