As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Galesburg Community Foundation, it’s both humbling and inspiring to re ect on our journey. Over the past two decades, we have evolved from a local initiative into a thought leader on local, state, and national levels, exemplifying what a community foundation can truly provide for the region it serves.
Our growth has been nothing short of remarkable. We’ve seen our assets grow from $13 million to over $50 million, a testament to the incredible generosity and vision of our region. Our funds provide exibility in supporting the causes donors care about. With over 225 speci cally managed
donor intents, we ensure that gi s support donors’ philanthropic goals. is milestone year is a moment to celebrate our past yet look ahead to new possibilities. In this newsle er, you’ll learn about recent celebrations and future work and how they strengthen our ability to serve our region. We’re particularly excited to announce the largest estate gi to date from Anna Sophia Johnson, whose legacy will profoundly impact our region for years to come. Additionally, we’re formalizing our Farmland Retention Program, Land to Legacy, which aims to create a charitable legacy while preserving local farms in production agriculture.
David Erickson, GCF Board Chairman, and I also re ect on what it means to be a community foundation and how our growth has shaped the organization’s vision for the future. We remain steadfast in our commitment to supporting the causes that ma er most to our donors and our region.
As we look toward the future, I am excited about how we will continue to innovate and elevate our region. Our dedication to developing and encouraging the philanthropic e orts of people and organizations for a healthy region remains our guiding principle.
ank you for being an essential part of the Community Foundation and for your continued support.
Joshua D. Gibb / President and CEO
Current Galesburg Community Foundation Staff are pictured above. From left to right: Jillian Isaacson, Lori Kriegshauser, Shawn Hedden, Joshua Gibb, Sarah Grant, and Karsyn Bennett.
A LEGACY OF Generosity & Impact
Anna Sophia Johnson was raised on her family farm in Knox County. Her father, Carl, was a violin maker, and Grace, her mother, was a savvy businesswoman. Carl taught his daughter to play the violin and instilled a love for music in her at an early age. Anna became an accomplished violinist and performed with the Knox College Orchestra and Knox County Symphony for many years. Later, she became the longest-running subscriber to the Knox-Galesburg Symphony (KGS). Anna spent time working in the textile industry and as an art teacher. In addition to her love for the arts, Anna was ercely dedicated to the preservation of her family farm, halting anything that would interrupt the productive nature of the farm. “Anna was passionate, dedicated, and would do whatever it took to make sure that the causes she cared about were supported,” commented Bob Hennenfent, longtime business partner and friend.
As Anna cra ed her estate plans, it was crucial that her passions were supported a er her lifetime while maintaining her family farm’s dedication to production agriculture. rough careful estate planning, and the assistance of Galesburg Community Foundation, Anna’s wishes are being ful lled.
“A signi cant asset within Anna’s estate was acreage here in Knox County. e Community Foundation has accepted that acreage and will maintain ownership of the land. We are honoring the tenant relationship that Anna had, and we will use the income from owning and operating that land to ful ll Anna’s charitable interests,” explained Joshua Gibb, Galesburg Community Foundation President & CEO.
e income from the Johnson farm will directly support the notfor-pro t organizations that Anna chose during her lifetime and give Galesburg Community Foundation the ability to do grant-making that supports unknown needs within the region, speci cally within the arts community.
“When Anna was establishing her estate plans, she wanted to make sure that my family would be able to operate the farm and still support the causes she cared about a er her lifetime” shared Hennenfent.
Anna’s gi , valued at approximately $8.5 million, represents the larg-
““Anna once said, ‘Art is what makes life worth living. Art makes life beautiful.’ She wanted her gift to support organizations that made life more vibrant in our community,”
Lucas Wood, Executive Director, Knox-Galesburg Symphony
est estate gi in the Foundation’s 20-year history. Her legacy not only inspires but also sustains the organizations and causes she valued most, including the Knox-Galesburg Symphony.
“Anna’s generosity is transformative for both our organization and the community,” said Lucas Wood, Executive Director of the Knox-Galesburg Symphony. KGS is a local organization that will receive an annual grant from the Community Foundation because of Anna’s gi .
“Anna Sophia Johnson’s gi embodies the spirit of our community and the profound impact of thoughtful philanthropy. Her dedication to preserving the arts and maintaining her family’s farmland will continue to enrich Knox County for generations. We are deeply honored to carry forward her legacy and ensure that her vision for a vibrant, thriving community endures,” said Gibb.
Scan the QR Code with your cell phone to view a video of Anna’s story or visit youtube. com/@yourgcf.org
Land to Legacy Farmland Retention Program
With the gi from the Anna Sophia Johnson estate, Galesburg Community Foundation is proud to formally announce the launch of our farmland retention program, Land to Legacy. Designed to retain one of our region’s greatest assets, the farmland retention program helps donors preserve the legacy of their farmland and supports the causes they care about in perpetuity.
“Agricultural land is considered a piece of family heritage. Many times, it is di cult for people to lose the connection they have with the land as they pass it on from generation to generation. Galesburg Community Foundation o ers a great opportunity for that asset to stay local and for the proceeds from that asset to continue to serve needs in the community.” - David Erickson, Board Chairman.
rough this program, Galesburg Community Foundation can retain ownership of the land and maintain the farm in production agriculture. Income generated from the farm can bene t charitable causes determined by the donor.
e Community Foundation has a wide range of knowledge about the needs in the region and specializes in helping donors nd a good philanthropic t for their gi . Whether it be supporting a particular nonpro t, or bene ing a speci c program within a charitable organization, all of it can be accomplished with a gi of farmland.
Additionally, if a longstanding relationship exists between the donor and a tenant, that arrangement can be maintained, keeping locally generated wealth local.
Farmland is such an important resource in our region. When a farmer or landowner is thinking about estate planning, it is possible that their land can sustain a family legacy, continue to be locally farmed, and also benefit the community after their lifetime,” commented Sarah Grant, Director of Development
To learn more about Land to Legacy, our farmland retention program, contact Sarah Grant or Joshua Gibb at 309.344.8898.
3 Counties, 1 Mission
For the last twenty years, Galesburg Community Foundation has proudly served the region of Knox and Warren Counties. Community foundations develop and encourage local philanthropy to positively impact a region. We’re excited to bring the unique resources that Galesburg Community Foundation provides to Henderson County.
In celebration of the addition of Henderson County, we recently partnered with the Twomey Foundation and the Cavins Family Foundation Fund to award $100,000 to thirteen Henderson County charitable organizations. Organizations can use the grant for any need they may have, including general operations.
We look forward to learning more about the good work happening in Henderson County and are thankful for the charitable partnerships allowing us to begin this important work.
Roseville Community Fund: Investing in Our Future
By 2030, 2.5 billion dollars will transfer from one generation to the next in Knox, Warren, and Henderson Counties. Community Funds are a way to ensure that local wealth remains local and creates a permanent source of nancial support for the communities of Alexis, Knoxville, Monmouth, Roseville, and Williams eld.
e Roseville Community Fund, guided by a local advisory board, supports the services and needs of the Roseville community. Last spring, the fund held a series of rural vitality meetings to identify areas of improvement in the community. During these meetings, downtown beauti cation was highlighted as a key priority. is led to the development of the mural located on the side of the Ta inger Building, as a part of the Buchanan Center for the Arts’ annual public art initiative.
e project was designed and painted by Buchanan Center for the Arts artist Rebecca Quick and was developed and supported in partnership with the Illinois Arts Council, the Roseville Community Fund, and McDonough Power Operation Round Up.
To learn more about the Roseville Community Fund, or to donate, visit yourgcf.org/Roseville.
Artist Rebecca Quick showing the design for the mural
Utilizing the power of partnership” Community Philanthropy:
JG: I hope people see the Community Foundation as a place where thought leadership happens. Where collaborative conversations can begin. Galesburg Community Foundation is a place that can be trusted by people who know they want to support a community but may not know how to get started. e DNA of the Community Foundation is responsible, thoughtful, and stable. And as more and more people learn what we do, I hope they join in increasing the opportunities that stability can bring to the region.
How has philanthropy/generosity impacted our region in the last 20 years?
GFoundation develops and encourages the philanthropic e orts of people and organizations for a healthy region. We o er a unique take on philanthropy, utilizing the power of endowment to help ensure that the causes you care about are supported forever.
Joshua Gibb, President & CEO, and David Erickson, Board Chairman, of Galesburg Community Foundation, re ected on the unique work of Galesburg Community Foundation and its impact on the region over the last twenty years.
How has the Community Foundation’s purpose evolved since its inception?
DE: Initially, the Community Foundation was very focused on healthcare, providing health services or scholarships for those pursuing the medical eld. But we learned that there is so much more to a healthy community than healthcare alone, and we now include the areas of art, education, and social services in our de nition of a healthy community. is has been very purposeful for not only the Community Foundation but the region that it serves.
JG: In the rst strategic planning session for the Community Foundation, we knew what a Community Foundation was, but we didn’t know how to get from where we were to where we could be. So, we started thinking about
what it really means to be a healthy community. We discussed that a healthy community was robust with arts, access to education, ample physical activity, and a health care system that supported its people. at conversation was a turning point and a solid foundation for our work, giving us the platform to take the next step of measured growth in terms of what philanthropy can do for a region..
What unique value does the Community Foundation o er compared to other charitable organizations or initiatives?
JG: e Community Foundation is unique because of our emphasis on partnership. By working closely with our donors, and nonpro ts, we leverage each other’s strengths which can create a signi cant impact. rough a collaborative approach, we can nd true success and di erentiation from other charitable initiatives.
DE: e Community Foundation is a problem solver for our region. We gure out ways to make things happen to bene t the community. We help people strategize their ideas, in a way that is useful in the community, and we use endowment to ensure that causes have permanent resources available to them. By doing these things, the Community Foundation has become a gi to the local community, o ering support and opportunities like never before.
How would you like to see the Community Foundation expand and sustain its impact over the coming years?
JG: Over the last 20 years, millions of dollars have been invested back into the region through the power of endowment. is money has fed families, clothed people, brought educational opportunities, built buildings, and so much more. But we also bring people into these processes and help them be involved; by providing connection and opportunity we have made it possible for people to contribute to the causes they care about.
DE: e Community Foundation takes a positive approach to all its giving and involvement in the community. People want to be a part of something positive and growing, and GCF creates that opportunity for this region.
What do you wish more people knew about the Community Foundation?
DE: e Community Foundation is something everyone can be involved with. It does not ma er what the size of the gi is; using the power of endowment and consistently giving is what is impactful for both people and communities.
JG: e Community Foundation is there when you need it. I want people to know that whatever point of life they’re in and whenever they need us, we will be here and ready to answer questions to help them achieve their philanthropic goals.
246 E Main Street, Suite 101
Galesburg, IL 61401
www.yourgcf.org
309.344.8898
GALESBURG COMMUNITY FOUNDATION STAFF
Joshua Gibb, President & CEO
Sarah Grant, Director of Development
Shawn Hedden, Director of Finance
Jillian Isaacson, Director of Grants & Programs
Karsyn Benne , Communications Manager
Lori Kriegshauser, Administrative & Special Projects Coordinator
COMMUNITY TREASURES STAFF
Jessica Riggs, Community Treasures Manager
Jordan Holcomb, Community Treasures Assistant Manager
Laurie Sykes, Community Treasures Cashier
Reach out to any of us at 309.344.8898 or info@yourgcf.org
Illinois Gives Tax Credit in 2025
Beginning in 2025, the Illinois Gives Tax Credit will incentivize up to $100 million in new charitable giving over the next 5 years by authorizing a 25% state income tax credit for charitable donations to eligible permanent endowment funds managed by dozens of quali ed community foundations across Illinois. e program will be administered by the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR).
Endowed funds at community foundations provide a predictable source of revenue for a wide range of nonpro t organizations. “By incentivizing endowment gi s through Illinois Gives, we are creating a permanent funding stream to sustain our local nonpro ts for generations to come,” said Joshua Gibb.
Similar tax credit programs in other states have increased both the number of donors and total charitable dollars given. Taxpayers eligible for the Illinois Gives Tax Credit include individuals, corporations, partnerships, and trusts. For individual taxpayers, Illinois Gives provides new tax relief for those who do not itemize their taxes.
“We are excited to share more about Illinois Gives with our region and to explain how this incentive will impact our nonpro ts. e Community Foundation has many endowment funds that can bene t from these gi s and we’re happy to help donors both support the causes they care about and take advantage of this new tax credit,” added Gibb.
