Community Foundation of Southern Indiana Announces New $2-for-$1 Matching Opportunity to Triple Local Impact

NEW ALBANY, Ind. – The Community Foundation of Southern Indiana (CFSI) is inviting individuals, families, and businesses to make an even greater investment in the future of Clark and Floyd counties through a new $2-for-$1 matching opportunity that will permanently strengthen local grantmaking for generations to come.

Every $1 contributed to eligible unrestricted endowed funds at CFSI is currently being matched with $2 through Lilly Endowment Inc.’s Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow (GIFT IX) initiative. The matching opportunity will remain available through June 30, 2028, allowing donors to triple the impact of their gifts while building permanent charitable resources that help address Southern Indiana’s greatest needs.

Lilly Endowment created the GIFT initiative in 1990 to help local communities in Indiana develop the philanthropic capacity to identify local needs and challenges and work with other organizations and residents to help their communities thrive. Through GIFT IX, Lilly Endowment has allocated up to $271.5 million to support Indiana’s community foundations in growing their financial resources and further strengthening their ability to address their community’s highest-priority challenges and opportunities.

Unlike gifts designated for a specific organization or purpose, unrestricted endowed funds provide the flexibility to respond to changing community priorities as they emerge. Earnings from these permanent funds support grants that improve quality of life throughout Clark and Floyd counties in countless community areas, such as community development, education, and health and human services.

“Every community faces challenges we can’t predict years in advance,” said Linda Speed, CFSI President and CEO. “Growing our Community Impact Fund ensures we’ll always have the flexibility to invest where our community needs us most. This matching opportunity allows every donor to create three-times the impact while strengthening Southern Indiana’s future.”

Southern Indiana donors demonstrated the power of collective philanthropy during the Foundation’s previous matching opportunity, contributing more than $1.5 million that generated a total of more than $4.5 million in permanent charitable resources for the Community Impact Fund through matching dollars. Those endowed assets continue to support grants that strengthen local nonprofits and improve quality of life throughout Clark and Floyd counties. As community needs continue to grow and evolve, this new matching opportunity allows donors to build on that momentum while expanding the Foundation’s ability to respond to future challenges.

“Building our unrestricted endowment means building our community’s ability to be flexible in response to future issues,” Speed said. “Whether it’s investing in affordable housing, supporting local nonprofits, or funding innovative solutions, unrestricted resources allow us to make strategic investments where they can have the greatest impact.”

While the Foundation’s unrestricted resources have grown steadily since 1991, demand for flexible grant funding continues to increase as nonprofit organizations respond to evolving community needs. Expanding the Community Impact Fund and other unrestricted endowed funds ensures the Foundation can continue providing meaningful support to the organizations and initiatives that strengthen Southern Indiana.

To learn more about the $2-for-$1 matching opportunity or to make a gift, visit the Community Foundation of Southern Indiana’s website – www.CFSouthernIndiana.com/gift9 – or call (812) 948-4662.

About Lilly Endowment Inc.

Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based, private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly Sr. and sons J.K. Jr. and Eli through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. While those gifts remain the financial bedrock of the Endowment, the Endowment is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff, and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion, and maintains a special commitment to its hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana.

About CFSI

The Community Foundation of Southern Indiana was founded in 1991 as the region’s partner, resource, and steward in philanthropy. The Foundation manages nearly $179 million in charitable assets and approximately 275 individual funds – each of which supports the unique charitable intent of the donor who established the fund. Annually, the Foundation awards millions in grants and scholarships and is a National Standards certified community foundation. For more information about the Community Foundation, contact 812-948-4662 or visit www.cfsouthernindiana.com.