Land, Health, Community
Land, Health, Community (LHC) is the Foundation’s primary and largest grantmaking program and reflects the Lumpkin family's historic connection and commitment to the community. A minimum of 50 percent of its annual grantmaking budget is spent on projects in East Central Illinois. Through Land, Health, Community we work toward a long-term vision of holistically healthy communities.
We make grants in East Central Illinois that reflect our vision:
- Our community has a strong local food system and agricultural economy, resilient businesses, and amenities that attract new businesses and retain local talent. We are prosperous.
- Our community is physically active, values healthy eating, and prioritizes overall wellbeing. We are mentally well and physically fit.
- Our community has strong leadership and the capacity for collaboration. We are socially engaged.
- Our community works to conserve, protect and preserve the natural environment. We value the natural beauty of the area.
The Land, Health, Community program will only have one grant cycle in the fall of 2024. Letters of Inquiry are now being accepted until August 2, 2024.
Applications will be invited by August 9. Pre-submissions for review are due by August 30. Complete applications will be due September 6, 2024.
All LOIs and Applications are accepted online only.
Click here for a list of recent grantees.
Mental Health
We have now expanded the program's focus to include efforts that contribute to mental wellness through individual and community engagement with the natural environment. Researchers have posited that “contact with nature is associated with increases in happiness, subjective well-being, positive affect, positive social interactions and a sense of meaning and purpose in life, as well as decreases in mental distress.” Source: https://www.apa.org/monitor/2020/04/nurtured-nature.
Specifically, we aim to fund programs that:
- Demonstrate and promote a connection between engagement with nature and positive mental health outcomes;
- Create opportunities for youth and young adults to disengage from technology and engage in outdoor programs and activities designed to improve their mental wellness;
- Support mental health practitioners by increasing opportunities for self-care or personal renewal;
- Provide opportunities for those impacted by trauma (i.e., foster youth) to engage in nature-based healing activities.
While the list above is not exhaustive, it is representative of our overarching belief that sustained, meaningful engagement with nature can result in positive mental health outcomes for all.
Geographic Areas of Interest
We encourage applicants from organizations across East Central Illinois. We give preference to rural organizations and those operating in Coles and the surrounding counties. We are especially interested in programs or projects that connect communities.
Focus of Support
Successful proposals will represent a synergy of as many of the following aims as possible:
- Promote personal health through widespread availability and consumption of healthy, affordable food;
- Support mental wellness through individual and community engagement with the natural environment;
- Grow the local agricultural economy, sustaining and creating new viable farm and farm-related businesses;
- Develop, promote and scale innovative green practices that add productive value to farms while protecting the land for future generations; and,
- Encourage community engagement and collaboration, policy development and research around agriculture and rural development.
Grant Seeker Support
We encourage prospective grantees to contact us to discuss their potential proposal and its possible fit with our guidelines. In addition, we offer to review applications prior to the final submit date and give suggestions for how the application might be improved. Information about the pre-submit review process is provided when an organization is invited to complete a full application.
Please direct inquiries on the Land, Health, Community to:
Christina Krost
Program OfficerPhone: 217-234-2076
Email: christina@lumpkinfoundation.org
