Awards Presented for Achievements in Philanthropy
Senator Dan Coats (R-IN) and Helen Monroe were among those recognized during the Indiana Philanthropy Alliance (IPA) statewide conference on June 7-8, attended by over 250 private, corporate and community foundation leaders and others connected to philanthropy in Indiana. During the conference, IPA recognized outstanding leaders of Indiana philanthropy. Sen. Coats received the 2016 Public Policy Champion of Philanthropy award in recognition of his outstanding support of charitable giving. Monroe, a lifelong champion of Indiana community foundations, was presented with the Sagamore of the Wabash by Gov. Mike Pence. Nancy Doemel of the Montgomery County Community Foundation was the recipient of the Hazelett Award for Leadership in Grantmaking; and Judy Johnson of the Washington County Community Foundation was given the Spirit of Youth Philanthropy Award.
As a member of Senate Finance Committee, Sen. Coats has consistently been supportive of maintaining the charitable deduction, making the private foundation excise tax a flat tax and making the IRA rollover permanent. He voted yes for last year’s PATH Act, which made the rollover permanent, as well as other extenders that support the nonprofit sector. Sen. Coats has introduced the Notice Act in Congress, which requires the IRS to provide written advance notification prior to revoking an organization’s tax exempt status.
Clay Robbins, CEO of Lilly Endowment Inc., with Helen Monroe
Helen Monroe received the Sagamore of the Wabash award for her tremendous dedication to community foundations in Indiana. Monroe worked closely with the Lilly Endowment Inc., to design the Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow (GIFT) initiative in 1990, which continues to support the growth and success of Indiana community foundations. She has spent the last 25 years travelling the state, educating and inspiring boards and staff in every county. Indiana now has a robust system of community foundations, with a foundation or affiliate in every county.
Nancy Doemel, Montgomery County Community Foundation
Nancy Doemel, founding member of the Montgomery County Community Foundation in Crawfordsville was named the recipient of the 2016 Hazelett Award for Leadership in Grantmaking. Throughout her career, Doemel has shared her grantwriting and fundraising knowledge through her leadership role with the Montgomery County Leadership Academy, Crawfordsville Main Street, the Crawfordsville Community Center, the Darlington Community Center, Montgomery County Free Clinic, the Economic Health Committee of the Montgomery County League of Women Voters, the Wabash Avenue Presbyterian Church and the Sugar Creek Quilt Guild. She was also the catalyst in helping establish the Women’s Legacy Fund at the foundation.
Judy Johnson, Washington County Community Foundation
Judy Johnson, Executive Director of the Washington County Community Foundation received the Spirit in Youth Philanthropy Award for her outstanding leadership and support of youth engagement in philanthropy in Washington County. Under her guidance, the Washington County Community Foundation established a youth philanthropy endowment which now stands at $253,000. Johnson works with her youth council to help young people understand the grantmaking process, learn how to be successful at fundraising and to identify ways youth can incorporate service projects into existing programs.