The Lumpkin Family has a proud history of supporting arts and educational institutions in their communities.  These organizations contribute significantly to a community’s quality of life in themselves and members believe they play a fundamental role in inspiring innovation and creativity in our economy.

We accept applications through the Regional Grants Program for youth-based arts and/or mentoring programs from organizations in communities where Lumpkin family members live. Members are particularly interested in programs that target disadvantaged young people between grades eight and ten because we understand this to be a critical period in formulating a positive life view and establishing good decision-making patterns.

We accept applications from educational institutions in east central Illinois, especially Coles County through The Lumpkin Family Fund.

The Lumpkin Family Fund also considers grants to support community access to the arts throughout east central Illinois radiating out from Coles County.

All requests will be evaluated on how well they accomplish one or more of the following:

• Support the creativity of nonprofit organizations by seeding new projects and encouraging experimentation and innovation;
• Support organizations demonstrating outstanding leadership in their field or community; 
• Promote the effectiveness of organizations and the nonprofit sector by supporting planning, learning and the professional development of staff and board leaders;  
• Facilitate collaboration across traditional organization or sector boundaries for community benefit; and, 
• Develop public understanding of issues and promote philanthropic support necessary to address issues of community importance.

• Eastern Illinois University, $2,000,000, as a match to endow cultural events at the Doudna Fine Arts Center and to provide talented school children in the area with opportunities to learn from internationally recognized artists.

Program Timetable

• Organizations may submit applications for The Lumpkin Family Fund and Regional Grants as seen in our calendar.

Inquiries

Please direct inquiries on The Family Fund Arts & Education to:
Bruce Karmazin
Bruce@lumpkinfoundation.org
217-234-5915

Please direct inquiries on the Regional Grant Program to:
Annie Hernandez
Annie@lumpkinfoundation.org
217-234-5702

Going Deeper:

We made the commitment in our recent strategic plan to go deeper in our involvement in the Arts.  For example, we brought the founder of the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program to Mattoon to encourage the creation of murals here in Mattoon.  And we are leading a process to assess the potential for the creation of an arts center in Mattoon together with local partners.  We also accept applications through the Lumpkin Family Fund that increase access to the Arts for people in East Central Illinois radiating from Mattoon.