Kosciusko County Community Foundation received a matching fund grant totaling $1.5 million as part of the eighth phase of Lilly Endowment Inc.’s initiative, Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow (GIFT VIII).
The Community Foundation will use the funding to grow our unrestricted endowment fund, which the Community Foundation uses to respond to local needs in the areas of human services, civic projects, arts/culture, environmental, recreation, education and health, according to a news release from KCCF.
Qualifying matching funds raised to support the Community Foundation’s unrestricted endowment will be eligible for a $2 (grantor) to $1 (grantee) match from the Endowment.
“We are so grateful that Lilly Endowment is giving our donors the opportunity to triple the impact of their gifts to our unrestricted endowment and as a result triple their impact,” said Stephanie Overbey, CEO at the Community Foundation.
Through GIFT VIII Lilly Endowment has awarded matching fund grants totaling $133.8 million to community foundations serving all 92 of Indiana’s counties.

Eligible community foundations submitted proposals requesting grants ranging from $100,000 to $15,000,000 based on the population of the counties they serve.
In 2023, Lilly Endowment launched GIFT VIII to help community foundations strengthen the towns, cities, and counties they serve. Matching fund grants are one of several funding opportunities designed to help community foundations promote longterm viability, further strengthen their abilities to lead, encourage board engagement and support and develop strategic efforts to enhance the quality of life in their communities.
To donate visit https://www.kcfoundation.org/donors/donatenow/ and select “Community Funds” for the Fund Designation.