Western Indiana Community Foundation

The Western Indiana Community Foundation (WICF) is a public charity founded in 1990 by a group of local citizens who wanted to pool donated money for community betterment. It serves western Indiana, primarily Fountain County and Vermillion County, and operates through four distinct affiliate funds: the Attica Community Foundation, the Covington Community Foundation, the Southeast Fountain Community Foundation, and the Vermillion County Community Foundation. Each affiliate covers a specific geographic area, generally aligned with school district boundaries. The foundation's work centers on three tasks: investing donated funds so they generate earnings for grants and scholarships; distributing grants and scholarships in line with donor intent; and providing philanthropic services to donors, including planned giving and legacy society support. WICF manages endowments for each affiliate, accepts donations, and runs a competitive grant program with published guidelines and applications. It also administers a scholarship program with high school and college-level awards, a college funding estimator, and renewal processes for returning students. WICF is led by CEO Taylor Powell, and its staff includes Kim Eaton, who assists organizations with grants and navigating other funding sources. The foundation maintains a website at wicf-inc.org, publishes news and publications, and offers donor advisory and philanthropic services. As a community foundation, it is a tax-exempt public charity rather than a private foundation, and it is not publicly traded. Its mission is to support prosperity, expansion, and enhancement for the citizens of its service area, continuing the vision of its founders.

The Western Indiana Community Foundation was founded in 1990 by a group of citizens who wanted to use donated monies for the betterment of their communities. The foundation was established as a public charity and has since grown to include four separate and distinct affiliate funds that serve specific geographic areas, generally aligned with school district boundaries: the Attica Community Foundation, the Covington Community Foundation, the Southeast Fountain Community Foundation, and the Vermillion County Community Foundation. These affiliates cover Fountain County and Vermillion County in western Indiana. From its inception, the foundation has focused on three basic tasks: investing donated funds so that they are productive and a portion of earnings is available for scholarships and grants; distributing grants and scholarships in accordance with donor intentions; and providing philanthropic services to donors, including planned giving and legacy society support. The foundation's board, investment managers, accountants, and attorneys help ensure financially sound and professional management. Over the years, WICF has expanded its grantmaking and scholarship programs, offering online grant guidelines, applications, and a college funding estimator. It has also developed a philanthropic services program to help donors achieve their charitable goals, with an emphasis on strategic impact and personal involvement. The foundation continues to operate as a community foundation, connecting donors with causes and supporting the prosperity and enhancement of its service area.

• 1990

  Foundation founded as a public charity by local citizens.

• Four affiliate funds established: Attica, Covington, Southeast Fountain, and Vermillion County Community Foundations.

A local philanthropic partner providing flexible, donor-centered giving and community grantmaking in western Indiana.

• Endowment funds

  Permanent funds invested to generate earnings for grants and scholarships.

• Grants

  Competitive grants awarded to organizations in the service area.

• Scholarships

  Scholarships for high school and college students, including renewals.

• Philanthropic services

  Donor advisory, planned giving, and legacy society services.

1. 1Western Indiana Community Foundationwicf-inc.org
2. 2Aboutwicf-inc.org
3. 3Philanthropic Serviceswicf-inc.org
4. 4Wikidatawikidata.org