What’s in our name?
One of the hardest parts of working for a community foundation is in the name. Explaining what we do is a challenge. But this week, November 12-18, we are joining with more than 750 other foundations across the county to celebrate Community Foundation Week. This week we get to share what we do and what’s behind our name.
First, some history. In 1914, Frederick Harris Goff founded the Cleveland Foundation right here in the Buckeye State. Goff’s background in legal and banking made him the ideal candidate to bring in this new era of philanthropy. More than 100 years later, community foundations exist worldwide. We are blessed enough to have a community of philanthropists in Hancock County who agreed with Goff on the value of giving together.
Our model is simple. A community foundation raises funds and grants the funds to nonprofit organizations. What The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation offers is threefold: a Donor Engagement team that can help you fund causes you’re passionate about by facilitating gifts of cash, stock, insurance, property and more; a Finance & Investment Committee and Finance team with decades of expertise to ensure your gift is prudently invested and grown; and a Community Engagement team that is connected to nonprofits across the community so we can help you contribute to the causes you care about.
As a community, we’re better when we work together. That includes our philanthropic giving. Our community foundation is uniquely situated to improve Hancock County by implementing innovative solutions and creating powerful partnerships. In a way that few other institutions can, community foundations work to support efforts to help the places we call home flourish now and forever. Our mission is to improve the quality of life for all in the community. Every dollar that comes to the Foundation will grow and eventually go back to the community with greater impact.
As we enter the giving season, millions of people from every background will give back to the communities that have supported them. They’ll also look to ensure that their heartfelt giving will have the most impact. That’s why so many of them will choose to give to a community foundation.
A gift to your local community foundation is an investment in the future of your community. Every gift makes a difference, no matter the size. We like to say that community foundations are “here for good.” At The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation, we don’t think about the next election or business cycle, we think about the next generation and the next after that.
That can seem a daunting task, but it’s one that we all share. During Community Foundation Week, I hope you’ll join us in recognizing our collective impact and the difference we can make together. Click here to learn more about the work we do to improve the quality of life for all in the community every day.
This editorial was originally printed in The Courier Monday, November 15, 2021.
