Candy Yoder retiring from Community Foundation, but transitioning to new role Dallis Miller also retiring after career in accounting May 2, 2024 ELKHART — Two key team members are retiring from the Community Foundation of Elkhart County. Candy Yoder, who joined the Community Foundation in 2018, will leave the role of Chief Program Officer at the end of 2024. However, she will remain with the foundation part-time as a co-leader of Building Strong Brains, the early childhood initiative that is focused on creating the conditions for all young children in Elkhart County to thrive. Dallis Miller, who joined the Community Read More »

Community Foundation raising $2.375 million to activate the grant March 21, 2024 Community Foundation of Elkhart County has received a matching fund grant totaling $3.75 million as part of the eighth phase of Lilly Endowment Inc.'s initiative, Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow (GIFT VIII). The Community Foundation will use the funding to grow the fund that supports discretionary grantmaking to nonprofits in Elkhart County and to complete the outdoor park portion of Tolson Center for Community Excellence. Qualifying matching funds raised to support the community foundation's unrestricted endowment, totaling $1,375,000 will be eligible for a $2 (grantor)-to-$1 (grantee) match from Read More »

January 18, 2024 ELKHART — Four new team members joined the Community Foundation of Elkhart County as the new year started and another joined late last year. Guy Fisher is the new program officer for Career Pathways, one of three primary program areas at the Community Foundation. In this role, Fisher will work to improve the quality of life for Elkhart County residents by generating, developing, and supporting career advancement and educational opportunities. The Career Pathways area includes a large scholarship program that awards $2.5 million in scholarships annually. Fisher served as director of financial aid at Bethel University and Read More »

December 19, 2023 ELKHART, Indiana — Committee members overseeing the Well Foundation’s Greatest Need Fund awarded $185,290 in grants to improve health in Elkhart County. The Well Foundation Committee met in November to make this year’s awards from the Greatest Need Fund, which offers unrestricted grants to support community initiatives dedicated to helping Elkhart County citizens live longer, healthier lives. “The Well Foundation, also known as Goshen Hospital & Health Care Foundation, is pleased to continue our mission of supporting health-related projects and organizations in the Elkhart County area,” said Jane Erickson, president of the committee that includes many volunteers Read More »

Eight local students awarded substantial scholarships December 15, 2023 The Community Foundation of Elkhart County is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2024 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships for Elkhart County. The three students who will receive full-tuition scholarships at any Indiana college or university are: ●    Jenna Harlan of Fairfield High School ●    Kennedy J. Troyer of Northridge High School ●    Cesar Vela of Goshen High School Each Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship provides for full tuition, required fees and a special allocation of up to $900 per year for required books and required equipment for four years. The scholarship Read More »

December 12, 2023 The Community Foundation of Elkhart County has received a $90,000 planning grant as part of the eighth phase of Lilly Endowment Inc.’s initiative, Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow (GIFT VIII). With the grant, the community foundation will expand the work of Building Strong Brains, an effort to help young children in Elkhart County be poised for success. The Community Foundation of Elkhart County is one of 92 community foundations and affiliate funds in Indiana receiving planning grants through GIFT VIII. These grants are designed to help community foundations collaborate with local partners to engage broad and diverse Read More »

The Annual Celebration marks another successful year October 26, 2023 The Community Foundation of Elkhart County’s Board of Directors approved $2,195,705 of new grants to nonprofits and programs throughout Elkhart County. The grants were given in the categories of placemaking, kids and families, and career pathways, reflecting the priorities of the Community Foundation. The organization is helping lead two community initiatives and grantmaking is supporting the efforts of Connect in Elkhart County, focused on expanding Elkhart County’s trail network, and Building Strong Brains: Elkhart County’s Early Childhood Initiative. The board met on Thursday, October 19, prior to the Community Foundation’s Read More »

Groundbreaking event June 22, 2023 marks move toward trail completion MIDDLEBURY, Indiana — The final 2,900 feet of a 17-mile trail will soon be under construction. The completion of the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail is underway. Trail advocates, government leaders, and those who have been instrumental in Elkhart County’s longest and most-used trail gathered Thursday to break ground on the final section near C.R. 35 and C.R. 20. In 1989, local cyclists began working to establish a trail on an abandoned railroad corridor from Goshen to Middlebury to Shipshewana. Hard work and investment resulted in the pathway that is used by Read More »

May 24, 2023 The Community Foundation of Elkhart County continues to be among the top-ranked foundations in the United States, according to the latest CF Insights Annual Survey. The annual survey, which in the past was called the Columbus Survey, gathers information from nearly 200 community foundations. Half of those are in the Midwest. The survey ranks foundations in four areas: assets, number of transactions, gifts per capita, and distribution rate (the percentage of assets that are granted). The most recent survey covers Fiscal Year 21, which for the Community Foundation of Elkhart County was July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021. “We Read More »

May 3, 2023 MIDDLEBURY, Indiana — Seeing the impact of the work at Stable Grounds led Lindsy Diener-Locke to nominate the nonprofit for its second grant from 100 Women Who Care Elkhart County. Jane Allen, the retired Middlebury Community Schools superintendent who is helping lead and grow Stable Grounds, told the women gathered for the March meeting of the giving circle about what’s happening. The subsequent vote resulted in a $10,000 grant from the women who are part of 100 Women Who Care. Stable Grounds uses miniature horses and donkeys to provide therapy to young people in need. In its Read More »