Wayne County Foundation Receives $1,500,000 GIFT VIII Matching Fund Grant

Wayne County Foundation has received a matching fund grant totaling $1,500,000 as part of the eighth phase of Lilly Endowment Inc.’s initiative, Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow (GIFT VIII). 
The funds from this portion of the grant will help grow the Foundation’s Unrestricted Grantmaking Fund. Unrestricted funds provide the flexibility to allocate resources where they are most needed or where they can have the greatest impact.
Qualifying matching funds raised to support the community foundation’s unrestricted endowment will be eligible for a $2(grantor)-to-$1(grantee) match from Lilly Endowment. 

“We are so pleased to have this opportunity. The Wayne County Foundation has a 45-year history of working with donors that care about our community to provide resources to ensure individuals and organizations thrive,” shared Rebecca Gilliam, Wayne County Foundation’s Executive Director. “The matching gift from Lilly Endowment coupled with local gifts will increase the amount of grant funding we have available each year”. 

Through GIFT VIII 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 $1,500,000 based on the population of the counties they serve. In 2023, Lilly Endowment launched GIFT VIII to help community foundations strengthen the towns, cities and counties they serve. Matching fund grants are one 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 quality of life in their communities.