Community Foundation Celebrates 10 Years and a Future of Better Giving
Current and Past Board of Directors Celebrate IRCF's 10th Birthday!
Indian River Community Foundation is ten years old. The organization celebrated this milestone with a 10th Birthday Luncheon at the Vero Beach Museum of Art that featured testimonials from Gifford Youth Achievement Center and St. Francis Manor, a Spirit of Philanthropy award presented to John and Kathi Schumann, keynote remarks from wealth legacy coach and author Kristen Heaney, birthday cake and some “school spirit” courtesy of the “Pride of the Treasure Coast,” Vero Beach High School Band’s drumline.
Since its establishment in 2008, the Indian River Community Foundation has consistently ranked among the fastest growing new community foundations in the country. By the end of 2018, the Community Foundation will have recorded more than $100 million in philanthropic contributions. “While this may not be a surprise given the generosity of our community’s residents, it is an impressive total for such a young community foundation that began with $1 million in start-up capital from 52 Founders,” said Jeff Pickering, President and CEO.
Beyond growing, the Community Foundation has done a lot of good for the local community and beyond. In recent years, the organization has topped the list of the most active grantmakers among all US community foundations. By the end of 2018, the Community Foundation will have awarded more than $50 million in grants, 80 percent of which support Indian River County charities. “Since most of the Community Foundation’s grants are awarded from donor advised funds, these statistics really demonstrate the generosity of our clients,” said Pickering.
“I consider the Community Foundation as a valuable resource to living donors,” said Neill Currie, the Community Foundation’s board chair. “We help our clients find comfort that they are making the wisest choices with their charitable dollars.”
As a testament to how comfortable clients are with its mission and services, more than 40 individuals and families have already chosen to entrust Indian River Community Foundation with their charitable legacy by making a planned gift from their estates. The Community Foundation’s Alma Lee Loy Legacy Society honors these generous commitments, and represents a sacred obligation to use this philanthropic capital for good, forever.
“As for the future, Indian River Community Foundation will continue to grow by helping generous people to simplify their donations and give to the causes they love through donor advised funds, “said Pickering. “If we do this job well, more people will be inspired to work with us to create and leave a charitable legacy to support the causes they care about forever through permanent endowments. We are off to a good start, and believe it can only get better.”
Indian River Community Foundation was established in 2008 with a mission of building a better community through donor-driven philanthropy. With assets approaching $50 million in 160 charitable giving accounts, the Community Foundation and its clients have awarded approximately $50 million in grants, mostly to nonprofit charitable organizations located in Indian River County, Florida. For more information visit www.ircommunityfoundation.org