We believe that well managed, mission-driven nonprofit organizations produce more effective and sustainable programs. When organizations work collaboratively on matters of common concern they accomplish more, give greater voice to their concerns, have a deeper impact on their clients and, ultimately, create stronger, more vibrant communities.  We are committed to making grants to support nonprofits in building their leadership and working together on issues impacting the communities we care about.

We accept applications through the Lumpkin Family Fund that address organizational capacity or encourage civic engagement and community leadership.  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.

Examples of past grantees that fit current guidelines:

• Little Theatre on the Square, Sullivan, $10,000, to hire a consultant to assist in the formation of a cooperative effort of theatre organizations in the region called COTO (Coalition of Theatre Organizations).
• Faith In Place, Chicago, $15,000, to create a Central Illinois Office in Champaign to engage area congregations in ecological stewardship, collaboration and the development of public understanding for important conservation issues.
• Prairie Rivers Network, Champaign, $5,000, to complete an online communications and social media development project that will lead to an online engagement program for the organization.

Program Timetable

• Organizations may submit applications for The Lumpkin Family Fund noted in our calendar.

Please direct inquiries on The Family Fund Engagement and Community/Nonprofit Organizational Leadership to:

Annie Hernandez
Annie@lumpkinfoundation.org
217-234-5702