Marshall County Community Foundation Awards $121,660 in Grants

Grants supporting new, innovative projects throughout the county

The MCCF announced the first round of 2019 grants from the Foundation’s Community Fund and the Ralph C. Vonnegut Jr. Fund during an awards presentation held Wednesday, April 10, 2019. 

Twice each year, nonprofit organizations are invited to submit funding for collaborative projects. MCCF Grants Committee members evaluate the proposals, with special interest in new and collaborative projects, and conduct site visits during a competitive application process.

“As we award the Spring grants today, I want to highlight an exciting way everyone in this room can help provide even more grants to Marshall County nonprofits,” said Linda Yoder, Executive Director of the Marshall County Community Foundation. “The Lilly Endowment is offering a 2:1 match – called GIFT VII -- to gifts donated to the Community Fund. We have the opportunity now to add an additional $500,000 to the Community Fund! The larger we can grow the Community Fund, the more money we will have to grant to innovative, exciting new projects in our communities – the types of projects that are represented today in our Spring grants cycle.”

“You can learn more about the 2:1 match and how you can contribute at www.marshallcountygives.org/GIFTVII or please, contact our offices with any questions you may have. A 2:1 match like this does not come often,” Yoder continued. “This is an incredible opportunity to help Marshall County take flight!”  


Community Fund Grants:

Community Fund endowment funds are the most flexible and responsive of the Foundation’s over 370 funds in addressing current and emerging needs. Grants from unrestricted endowment funds typically support projects focusing on the arts, education, health and human services, recreation and the environment.

The first grants from unrestricted funds at MCCF were awarded in 1995; since then MCCF has awarded over $3.9 million in total grants to the community from these funds alone. The growth of unrestricted funds now enables MCCF to award more than $223,000 to nonprofit organizations on an annual basis.

In addition to the MCCF Community Fund, several named unrestricted funds also support new and emerging needs in Marshall County. These funds include the Barbara and Ralph Winters Community Fund, the Brian and Patricia Kitch Family Community Fund, the C & M Overmyer Unrestricted Endowment Fund, the iAB Financial Bank Community Fund, the John and Kay Finlay Community Fund, the Philip and Sylvia Bieghler Community Fund, and the Paul and Carol Nye Community Fund.

During the Spring 2019 grant round, $117,628 was awarded to 15 nonprofit organizations in Marshall County for the following projects:

  • American Legion Post 27: $5,000 to bring the Traveling Vietnam Veteran Memorial Wall to Marshall County.
  • Argos Youth League: $6,350 to purchase items for youth baseball fields and one new baseball pitching machines.
  • Beaman Home: $5,000 to purchase a vehicle to transport Beaman Home clients to appointments in Marshall, Fulton and Kosciusko Counties.
  • Cultivate Culinary: $5,000 to support an innovative food rescue program and build necessary capacity for new partnerships in Marshall County to reach hungry families with nutritious food.
  • Intrepid Phoenix: $14,500 for program support for individuals in recovery from drug and alcohol addictions.
  • La Paz-North Township Fire Department: $1,750 to help purchase one water suit for the fire department to aid in cold water rescues.
  • Marshall County 4-H Fair Association: $10,620 to purchase tables for use during 4-H Fair and other events.
  • Marshall County Habitat for Humanity: $20,000 to help build affordable homes in Marshall County for families in need of assistance and participating in the unique and proven Habitat for Humanity model.
  • Maxinkuckee Players: $1,000 to support a summer production of the 1950 musical Guys and Dolls.
  • Plymouth High School band: $1,000 to help in the purchase of new band uniforms for the students.
  • Tippecanoe Improvement Association: $15,000 to assist in the development of a new Community Park.
  • Town of Bourbon: $1,040 to support the cycling community with a bike repair station, bicycle rack and places to rest for bicyclists.
  • Wild Rose Moon: $16,794 to further develop production facilities, purchase necessary equipment.
  • Women’s Care Center: $6,000 to support the programs Healthy Babies and Building Kids with Character for underprivileged/at-risk pregnant women and young children.

Ralph C. Vonnegut Jr. Grants:

The Ralph C. Vonnegut Jr. Fund was established to provide annual funding for environmental, educational, or recreational projects directly related to Lake Maxinkuckee. This grant cycle, $6,942 was awarded and presented to:

  • Lake Maxinkuckee Environmental Council: $6,500 to replace the Kline Wetland Levee, an important project to protect Lake Maxinkuckee’s waters far into the future.
  • Sea Scout Ship 1901: $442 to purchase equipment to start a ship and attend the World Scout Jamboree.