01 Nov ANONYMOUS DONOR OFFERS MATCHING GIFT
An anonymous donor has agreed to donate $.50 for each dollar contributed up to $35,000 for the McPherson County Community Foundation (MCCF) unrestricted fund between now and December 31, 2013.
The purpose of the anonymous gift is to help MCCF complete the GROW II endowment challenge offered by the Kansas Health Foundation. The GROW II program matches all gifts to the unrestricted or public health funds at a rate of $.50 for each dollar up to $500,000. To date, MCCF has raised qualifying gifts to receive $313,386 of the available challenge from the Kansas Health Foundation.
“This anonymous offer means a gift has gone from the $.50/dollar match offered by the Kansas Health Foundation to a dollar for dollar contribution for our unrestricted pool of funds,” states Becky Goss, President/CEO. “The unrestricted community fund is our best resource for providing annual grants that meet the community’s needs.”
Income earned by unrestricted funds allows the community foundation to engage in long-term solutions to problems like hunger and homelessness; to respond quickly to civic emergencies; to build families and inspire artists; to educate, inform and uplift. As conditions change, so do the type of grants awarded.
Examples of local grants awarded from the unrestricted Community Fund include: the McPherson Optimist Club Gifts Intended for Teens program; assistance to Meals on Wheels; an early learning program for the McPherson Public Library; a child identification program in Lindsborg; Family Life Link through the McPherson Family Life Center; and Second Life Building materials for the ReUse It Center.
Since 2009, $37,000 has been awarded to area organizations from the fund. For the 2014 fiscal year, the community foundation plans to award $34,000. Organizations are encouraged to apply through the online application at www.mcphersonfoundation.org.
Donors are encouraged to send gifts marked “Matching Gift Challenge” to the McPherson County Community Foundation at 206 S. Main, McPherson by December 31, 2013. For questions, contact Becky Goss at 620.245.9070.
The mission of the McPherson County Community Foundation is to serve the common good for its residents, building strong communities by engaging people in philanthropy and developing a permanent endowment to provide resources, now and for generations to come.