Johnson County Community Foundation (JCCF) has received a matching fund grant totaling $3 million as part of the eighth phase of Lilly Endowment’s initiative, Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow, or GIFT VIII.
JCCF will use $2.1 million for unrestricted endowment building and $900,000 for their Capital and Capacity Building Community Projects Grant Program. The application for the grant program opens online on June 5 and is due July 1 by 4 p.m.
Qualifying matching funds raised to support the community foundation’s unrestricted endowment will be eligible for a $2-to-$1 match from the endowment while qualifying matching funds raised for community projects and programs or capacity-building activities will be eligible for a $1-to-$1 match, according to JCCF.
“A $3 million matching grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. isn’t just about the money; it’s about the transformative ripple effects it creates. Together, we’re not just making an impact; we will be able to support our community for generations to come,” Kim Kasting, president & CEO of Johnson County Community Foundation, said in a statement on the grant.
Through GIFT VIII, the Lilly Endowment has awarded matching fund grants totaling $133.8 million to community foundations serving all 92 of Indiana’s counties. Eligible community foundations submitted proposals requesting grants ranging from $100,000 to $15 million based on the population of the counties they serve, according to the endowment.
In 2023, Lilly Endowment launched GIFT VIII to help community foundations strengthen the towns, cities and counties they serve. Matching fund grants are one of several funding opportunities designed to help community foundations promote long-term viability; further strengthen their abilities to lead, encourage board engagement, and support and develop strategic efforts to enhance the quality of life in their communities, according to the endowment.
