OUR IMPACT: BUILDING A STRONGER STRONGER Wayne County BUILDING A

2021 Spring Grant Cycle

The Wayne County Foundation awarded $240,398 to 35 local nonprofit organizations through the 2021 Spring Grant Cycle. The funding was to support local programs or projects aimed to enhance the spirit of the community and improve the quality of life across Wayne County.

The Foundation’s grantmaking is made possible by income from unrestricted and endowed field-of-interest funds.

Challenge Match

For the past ten years, the Challenge Match has been supporting organizations by encouraging charitable giving in our community.

2021 marked the final time the Challenge Match program will be facilitated by the Wayne County Foundation. Initially, the program grew out of a need to assist local nonprofit organizations raise unrestricted operating dollars more efficiently through an annual campaign and to enhance the spirit of philanthropy in Wayne County. In the future, we look forward to providing funding in new ways to improve the quality of life in Wayne County!

A Commitment to Access

In December 2021, the Foundation pledged $200,000 over two years to the Indiana University East College Now program. The initiative, which was originally piloted in 2019, provides area high school students with the opportunity to take free college credit courses on the campus of IU East. The program is intended to bolster Wayne County’s educational attainment by introducing area students to the college environment earlier, and encouraging future academic achievement. In an effort to bridge the education gap, the program is designed to primarily serve first-generation college students or students from underserved families.

‘It has been a really great experience because I have had an opportunity to connect with my professor, get acclimated to the college classroom, and achieve a sense of independence.’

2021 GRANTMAKING by the numbers

$2,143,088 granted to enhance the quality of life in Wayne County.

$578,085 awarded to rising or returning college students from nearly 150 scholarships.

$488,422 distributed from 50 donor advised funds.

$275,000 matching funds offered through the Challenge Match.

$240,398 awarded to 35 local organizations through our Spring Grant Cycle.

$80,000 granted from the Vigran Family Foundation to over 40 different organizations. 21 new funds established at the Foundation.

In 2021, the Foundation awarded over $2.6 million in grants and scholarships. This represented an 8.6% increase over 2020.

Assisting Local Nonprofits

One of the many ways in which the Foundation came alongside local nonprofits in 2021 was facilitating our first ‘Accounting 101’ workshop. Nine different organizations participated in the four-month program, which was led by Foundation Chief Finance Officer Amy Waltz (pictured).

2021. What could have been another year of uncertainty turned into a fantastic year for Forward Wayne County (FWC). We didn’t let the pandemic distract our efforts and made strategic adjustments to continue our work. These adjustments allowed us to expand our role as a catalyst for community change and helped us engage multiple new partners and stakeholders.

To share just a few highlights…

Supporting Our Main Streets

Main Streets serve as the economic, cultural, social, and historical centers of Wayne County. They are the sign of a thriving community. In 2021, the Wayne County Foundation, through FWC, granted $28,000 to four local Main Street groups for improvements and beautification.

The groups awarded include Cambridge City Main Street, Heart of Hagerstown, Main Street Centerville, and Main Street Richmond.

“It has been exciting to see these groups come together, share their vision for their communities, and work hard to achieve their goals. And now their communities will visually benefit from their work.”

- Rebecca Gilliam Wayne County Foundation Executive Director

WHAT IS FORWARD WAYNE COUNTY?

Forward Wayne County (FWC) is a an initiative that serves as a catalyst for change in Wayne County. Moving forward under the Wayne County Foundation’s new strategic plan, Forward Wayne County is now a permanent role within the Foundation as the community leadership arm of its operations.

Throughout 2021, Forward Wayne County granted more than $45,000 back into the community for various projects and initiatives.