E-Newsletter - October 2017

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October Is Champion Month

Research has shown that a child who has savings for college or career training is 3 times more likely to attend college/vocational training and 4 times more likely to graduate than those who do not. Blackford County chose to help students get started with that education plan by initiating the Blackford County Promise program in 2016. At that time, all kindergarten through third-grade students were invited to open a CollegeChoice 529 savings account. Read more

High Priority on Youth

In 2017, 67% of grant funds went to youth programs. The Blackford County nonprofit organizations that requested grants from the Blackford County Community Foundation in 2017 focused much of their programming on our local youth. These are organizations that may primarily work in developing art opportunities or improving the health and well-being of community members. Yet the groups work often at developing special programs that target improvement in the lives of youth. Grants also focus on four other broad categories: community development, arts and culture, education, health and human services. For a list of the most recent grants awarded, see here.

BCCF Has National Standards Accreditation

We’re really ready now to serve you in the most responsible and professional way. The Blackford County Community Foundation was certified as meeting the requirements of the National Standards for Community Foundations program in late June. The first-time application for the Foundation was an eighteen-month process. This accreditation program is one that has been initiated and designed by community foundations across the United States as all community foundations seek to improve their philanthropic services to their own communities. Accreditation is voluntary and applications are evaluated by reviewers who are themselves part of a wide national network of community foundation associates. National accreditation sets the standards for individual community foundations in their operating processes, making sure that those foundations reach high legal and ethical standards in their relationships with their donors, grantees, and communities. Accreditation is renewable annually.