I am excited to announce that the Community Foundation is once again issuing an Endowment Building Challenge!
This challenge is an opportunity for nonprofit organizations in Scott and Rock Island counties to earn matching funds from the Community Foundation to increase their current endowment or to establish a new fund at the CFGRB.
Nonprofits that raise $15,000 in new gifts for their endowment at the Community Foundation qualify for a $5,000 matching grant for their endowment fund. Alternatively, nonprofits may raise $30,000 and qualify for a $5,000 match with the option to add it to their endowment or use the match for current operations. During the 2012 Endowment Challenge the CFGRB will award up to $100,000 through 20 grants on a first come, first serve basis.
Only unrestricted endowments held by organizations may participate in this Challenge. Funds restricted to a specific purpose do not qualify for the Challenge.
Gifts to your organization’s endowment fund must be made by at least 10 donors to be considered for a Challenge Match grant. This Challenge provides the perfect opportunity to talk to your donors (or potential donors) about making their first endowment gift or to consider making a larger than normal gift to your endowment, as their gift will leverage additional dollars for your organization’s endowment fund. Donations to your fund must be received by the Foundation by December 31, 2012. Pledges and planned gifts do not qualify for the Challenge.
More information about this Challenge will be available at the upcoming Endowment Partner Meetings on Wednesday, March 21 – 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Thursday, March 22 – 8:30 a.m. to Noon at the Outing Club in Davenport, IA. I strongly encourage nonprofit staff and board members to attend one of the Endowment Partner Meetings especially if you plan to participate in the Challenge. Each session will include the same information so you will only need to attend one session. Items covered at the meetings will include:
- Recent changes in endowment fund reporting, distributions and spending policies
- The Foundation’s new grant-making strategy
- Ways to increase gifts to your endowment and how to engage your board and staff in your endowment-building campaign
To attend one of our Endowment Partner Meetings, please RSVP by March 19th to (563) 326-2840 or to lindseywheeler@cfgrb.org.
Issuing this Challenge is just one way for us to say “thank you” for the tremendously important work that is carried out every day by Quad City nonprofits. We are proud to support you in your efforts to create a better community.






