Heritage Fund: New Look, New Direction, Same Commitment
Heritage Fund is unveiling a new direction and a new look.
The HF Board of Directors, in preparation for the community foundation’s 50th birthday in 2026, has taken the opportunity to step up to a new vision and mission based on a well-known set of community values and is celebrating this new direction with a new look as well.
Heritage Fund is constantly exploring, evaluating, and prioritizing how best to use its resources. After a full year of strategic work, it has set a new mission to: Inspire Generosity; Gather and Grow Community Leaders; and Act with Impact.
This new direction builds from almost half a century of working to make Bartholomew County the very best county of its size in the US. Heritage Fund —The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County was established as a gift to the community with funds made available to celebrate the United States bicentennial in 1976.
The foresight of the first board in establishing the local community foundation was phenomenal. It gave the community a permanent place to gather funds that would be available to address community challenges — in perpetuity. Since 1976, more than 150 board members have generously offered their time to direct the resources of the foundation to the most important issues facing the community throughout the years.
Continuing that spirit, Heritage Fund recently hosted its first Community Leadership Convening. More than 80 community leaders came together to meet each other and brainstorm around the foundation’s newly defined Impact Areas: Downtown Vibrancy; Youth Development; and Art, Culture, and Architecture.
The key findings from these sessions will help direct Heritage Fund resources for the next several years.
Input included a desire to:
Downtown/Art, Culture, and Architecture
- Increase the variety and amount of downtown programming at an affordable price so that everyone can participate
- Focus on the stewardship of our architectural treasures and promote the economic development associated with these unique assets
- Have more festivals and programs that highlight diversity within the community
- Capitalize on our terrific park system, especially the People Trails
- Have more art (music, sculptures, etc.) to enhance the downtown, as well as more seating
Youth
- Prioritize affordable, accessible, and high-quality childcare options for families
- Offer better support for children and teens with mental health challenges
- Provide increased space and activities for youth and families, especially safe places and programming for teens
- Enhance support for diverse children and ensure these children are represented with teachers, mentors, community leaders, books, and curriculum in our community
Attendees also expressed interest in ongoing opportunities to meet and network.
"Heritage Fund will plan to host additional Community Leadership Convenings—at least annually," HF President and CEO Tracy Souza said. "The agendas will vary by topic and in the balance of structure and social time."
Heritage Fund also took the April event as an opportunity to launch a vibrant new look created by Chicago graphic designer Anna Mort of MVP (a Mort Valicenti Project). The new design honors the foundation's history with an updated and welcoming take on the Bartholomew County Courthouse. Mort drew inspiration from the architecture, warm brick, and oxidizing copper roof of the building in developing her current and classic design.
About Heritage Fund
Heritage Fund was formed in 1976 as a community foundation with the purpose of continuing a legacy of giving by providing an opportunity for all citizens to make gifts and establish charitable funds to benefit the local community. Our mission is to inspire generosity, gather and grow community leaders, and to act to ensure that Bartholomew County is an exceptional place for all to live, learn, work, and play.