Heartland Community Foundation establishes new funds

On this episode of the Post Podcast Heartland Community Foundation executive director Sarah Meitner stops by to share updates from the foundation.

Transcript:

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James Bell 

The Heartland Community Foundation has opened four new funds over the summer, Executive Director Sarah Meitner stops by to share some of the details on this episode of the Post Podcast.

 

Sarah Meitner 

It's been kind of a quiet summer, but we have added four new funds to our list of funds. And what that means is basically Well, these are all funds that we manage, they are all designated for something charitable. So a fund can be opened by an individual donor like yourself, or an individual business that has charitable interests, or an organization and we manage Oh, I think there's about 30 organization funds currently. And these are the nonprofits in town that we know and love the nonprofits that are serving the community boots on the ground. You know, ones like the heath Arts Council, the community theater, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, the Hdc, I'm forgetting a whole bunch, because there's a lot but but you get it, these are their endowed funds. And what that means is that it's money that's been set aside by them, or a donor for the purposes of being endowed and kept for later. So in their endowed portion, it is invested right alongside all of our other funds. And that power of investment allows it to grow. And over time, the more that it grows, the more that they can grant to themselves. So the other funds that we have, we make grants out of as an as an entity, our grants committee make grants out of, to any number of organizations that apply for a grant, when it's their own fund, the money only goes back to them. And they use the investment income on it as a as a as a budget item as a line item as a as a revenue income stream that's generally pretty consistent. And that's the kind of thing that a nonprofit can really appreciate. When it's hard to fundraise for things like salaries or rent or other operating expenses, stuff that's not like real glamorous and easy to sell to a donor to help to help raise money for. So for some of these organizations, that's a pretty big deal. And they depend on that, that money, whatever amount it is to help pay for the programs that they offer and the services that they offer. So we had four new ones added this summer. And I'm really excited for them because it is showing an interest in sustainability that is maybe new or a little different. So I want to tell you what those four are, and invite our listeners to visit our website at Heartland Community foundation.org To see the full list of funds, you know, they can see which other organizations have won with us. And they can donate right there on the website anytime. And they pick right who they want to go to. And they can leave a comment if they like and it goes right to that organization. So the four new ones. One was actually the Hays med Foundation. And there's this little different because they have their own I mean, they're an entire they're they manage their own funds that are endowed. However their designation their nonprofit classification is a little bit different. That makes it hard for them to take in gifts that are Ira rollovers or stock transfers, things that can be more easy or easily feasible or are performed through the through the Community Foundation. So that's what their fund is primarily going to be used for. And then it can, it can still be designated by a donor if it's for a specific department at the hospital. But we can accept those gifts that they previously have had difficulty accepting. So very excited about that partnership. Another one is the lift up wakeeney fund and it's our first organization fund in wakeeney. And it is the there's a group of very dedicated, hardworking community members who are doing their best to get their hands dirty and clean up Balkany. And they have started a fund so that they can invest in projects with it that are important to the long term sustainability of the community. And so I'm super excited about that. It's already over 20,000 in it. And so, you know, the more it grows, that one is actually partially endowed and partially kept in a reserve so that they can, if they have a project that is, you know, five to $10,000 they're not limited by only granting out that that investment income, they can actually invest some of the principle. The third one is the let's grow Victoria fund. And this is actually also a little different. It's a provisional Fund, which is thrown a whole lot of lingo out yet, but this is this is the group of folks that are in Victoria work Hang on the rest home project. So this is going to be used as their pass through their fundraising fun, their main pot of money as they are seeking donations and working to grow the money that it's going to take to make those construction updates and renovations to the former rest home. So that one, we have a fundraising goal and I can help support them in those efforts. And you know that when I'm so excited, that project is just amazing.

 

James Bell 

I've got to write about that and speak with Jeff. And yeah, that's

 

Sarah Meitner 

neat project and it and it sort of leads me to the the fourth one, the Atlas County Historical Society. I don't know anything about that. And they were just here, I just saw mantle even. But they, you know, they're gonna have a location, a satellite office or a satellite facility at that rest home. But they also have a board that's very interested in sustainability. And they reached out about an endowed fund something to show the community that they are here for the long haul, and they're willing to invest in themselves. So you know, it's all very cool. It's all very exciting. I know, there's others out there on the horizon. The only one distinction that I want to make because it is United Way kickoff time, and the United Way funds go to all of these organizations as well, the differences in the two and what we do and what they do, if they're I liken it to, they're more of a checking account, the day to day where the savings account were the ones for saving for later and for long term. So we need both both are so important, and the organizations depend on both. But sometimes it's hard for donors to understand the overlap. So there you go, tried to make it simple for you.

 

James Bell 

That works. Very cool. Um, you know, before we run out of time here, we gotta hit on this as well, of grant applications. Are you currently in a window? I think last time you were here, you were wrapping up the window with your app.

 

Sarah Meitner 

Yep, we are getting ready to launch our fall window. It opens September 15. Closes November 15. I had two calls already yesterday with prospective applicants. So the people are ready for it. They're they're getting hungry. They're waiting for it. So the good news is that that application, as always, is can be found on our website. And we've actually made it easier. We've removed about five to six questions that just made it a little bit longer or a little bit tougher to understand the questions I probably got called about the most. But you know, I'm excited about that, because it just removes a couple more barriers toward obtaining some some money for projects that these charitable groups really need. So look for that September 15. It closes November 15.

 

James Bell 

Okay, and all that information, again, available on your website, right? It should

 

Sarah Meitner 

be updated, but the application could definitely be found on their website. And all of those donor all of those fun names, those accounts are the full list is that our website as well.

 

James Bell 

Very cool. Worst case scenario, they can find your phone number there, right. Always calm.

 

Sarah Meitner 

Yes. And I'll tell them about all of our wonderful friends because we do have some, some really special and awesome What's it What's that again? Heartland Community foundation.org