Matching Grant Opportunities Allow Flexibility For Local Charitable Group

The Marshall County Community Foundation is inching closer to receiving some major grant funds.

The Lilly Endowment announced a matching funds grant challenge in 2014. The Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow (GIFT) grant is designed to give charitable organizations a bit of flexibility in how their funds are used. According to a press release, local communities have raised around $130-million for communities in the state.

Marshall County will be able to receive $500-thousand if it can reach its matching funds requirement by March 31st, 2016. Officials with the Marshall County Community Foundation say there is still an additional $157-thousand to raise.

Executive Director Linda Yoder says once the goals are met, the Marshall County Community Foundation will have $1.2-million to invest in the community. Each community foundation around Indiana has designed its own challenge and task for the funds.

The dollar-for-dollar match is designed to help community endowments increase their ability to respond to local needs from year-to-year.