Future Goals
1. The Foundation will engage donors to endow their philanthropy and create a lasting legacy through Named Funds with a current gift or bequest.
2. Our funding and leadership will improve the lives of families, children and adults in our community. Our special focus on children will contribute to their success in school and in life.
3. Discretionary and donor advised grants will continue to build healthy and vibrant communities in arts and culture, health improvement, civic engagement, elder services, housing and the environment.
4. Teen and adult volunteers will participate with us as grant makers and see the community in new ways.
5. Our Nonprofit Support Center will continue to strengthen and better connect the region’s nonprofit organizations.
6. Our scholarships will help more than 400 students attend college.
7. Professional Advisors will increase awareness of the benefits of giving through the Community Foundation.
Giving Opportunities
Our grant awards are made possible by the generosity of past donors who established permanent charitable funds with us during their lifetimes or by a bequest. With a gift of $10,000 or more, anyone may establish a named fund to create a meaningful and personal legacy. The Foundation allows donors to determine the purpose of the fund. They decide whether a fund is designated for particular charities, a broad area of interest, scholarship or donor advised. Gifts of any size are welcome and may be made to any of our more than 500 endowment funds, to provide grants and scholarships year after year. We especially seek help in these priority areas: Fund for the Arts & Humanities, General Scholarship Fund, Community Impact Fund, Water & Land Stewardship Fund, LGBT Partnership Fund and Youth Opportunity Fund. To discuss your giving options, please call Kelly Stimson at 508-755-0980.
Volunteer Opportunities
Grounded in the local community, the Foundation engages volunteers in several aspects of our mission. The nominating committee recommends new corporators for election each year, including members of business, education, government and the general community. Once elected, these members help with grant making, investment oversight, scholarship awards and fundraising for special projects. Area high school students are invited to apply to join Youth for Community Improvement, a special program for sophomores and juniors that engages students in learning about and providing grants to local nonprofit organizations. Professional Advisors, such as lawyers, accountants, trust officers, and financial advisors, play a special role in understanding the benefits of giving and the unique role of the community foundation in serving the needs of charitable-minded clients.
“The Foundation exists to understand and address our community’s pressing problems and opportunities. As one of the leading philanthropic organizations serving the region, the Foundation offers unparalleled knowledge, expertise and strong relationships that make it an invaluable resource to donors and nonprofits alike. The Foundation ensures that donors’ passions are expertly matched with programs that merit their support, while offering a number of training resources to non-profits through its Nonprofit Support Center. Through its Growing The Good campaign, the Foundation will be able to sharpen these tools, and continue its work in enhancing the community now and for the future.”
– Gerald M. Gates, Board Chair
