Rooted in humble beginnings to preserve the Old Town Hall, the Huntingburg Foundation quickly established itself as a Community Foundation. It continues to grow charitable giving, cultivate permanent resources, and harvest positive growth for our residents. Between 1995 and 2010, annual generosity has allowed over $1.8 million to the charitable good of our community through grants disbursed from annual earnings of the endowments.
A community foundation builds public partnerships that connect donors with nonprofits and community projects. They enhance the lives of our home communities for years to come. As a grantmaker, community foundations ensure grants meet donors’ interests; as a steward, provide professional investment services; as a resource developer, cultivate permanent assets; as a philanthropic advisor, providing information to help donors achieve their community objectives; and as a community leader, stimulating dialogue and decision-making that help define common goals and solve crucial problems.
Established in 1977, the primary mission was to preserve the then dilapidated Old town Hall and to identify a use for the facility. A Citizen’s Advisory Committee, appointed by Mayor Dale Helmerich, was charged with identifying uses and working toward restoring the building. Phyllis Menke, chairperson of the committee and also the 1975 Bicentennial Committee, coordinated efforts to bring together the nation’s birthday celebration and the Old Town Hall restoration.
For fifteen years, the Committee, which became the Huntingburg Foundation, focused on restoring the Old Town Hall through grant funding and local fund-raisers. In December 1990, the structure was rededicated and opened to serve the public. Soon thereafter, the Foundation became aware of the Lily Endowment’s Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow (GIFT) program. The foundation was successful in all five phases of Lily’s GIFT and Taking Stock programs. With these matching funds, it was possible to expand its mission and become a vehicle by which donors could invest their charitable dollars for the good of the community, now and well into the future.
Since the beginning, our board of directors has believed the presence of a strong community foundation is key to future growth and stability of our communities. As a key stakeholder in our positive growth and investor in our quality of life, thank you for the first 30 years of success.
