Community foundations power regional growth, fill gaps in funding
In the heart of the Midwest, where steel mills meet sand dunes, a quiet but powerful movement is shaping the future of the Region. Community foundations are making a difference one grant, one scholarship and one act of generosity at a time.
Community foundations may not always be in the spotlight, but their influence runs deep. They are key players in addressing local challenges and supporting grassroots initiatives. They respond to emerging needs with agility and care, preserving the character of the Region’s cities and towns.
“Community foundations are place-based organizations that pool local generosity to strengthen the community and drive economic growth, building a stronger, more resilient future,” said Maggi Spartz, Unity Foundation of La Porte County founding president. “They do so by providing a vehicle for people to set aside funds for causes they care about … forever.”
The Lilly Endowment’s GIFT program in 1990 sparked the creation of community foundations across the Hoosier state. GIFT stands for Give Indiana Funds for Tomorrow. Phil Sprague, Unity Foundation founding board member, called it “the most brilliant philanthropic initiative since the Carnegie library program.” Sprague passed away in 1999, but his legacy lives on with a community fund that supports charities.
Community foundations are primarily funded by donations from individuals, often ordinary people wanting to leave their legacies like Sprague. Some make gifts every year. Others wait until they don’t need the money anymore and donate all or part of their estates.
“What makes community foundations unique and different than other charities is that we invest the funds raised and use the annual earnings to forever fund community development activities,” Spartz said.
While each foundation reflects the character of its own community, they all harness local generosity and turn it into lasting impact. From urban centers to rural counties, these organizations are proving that real change starts close to home — with people who know their communities best.
In the profiles that follow, we take a closer look at five community foundations across Northwest Indiana. They are driving progress, addressing challenges and investing in the future of their hometowns. Through decades of committed giving, strategic partnerships and a strong belief in local potential, these foundations have become community-driven cornerstones of progress.
Porter County Community Foundation
“We often think of community foundations as having three pillars: building and managing permanent endowments, making grants from those endowments and providing leadership to improve our communities,” said Bill Higbie, Porter County Community Foundation president and CEO.
The Porter County Community Foundation acts as a bridge between donors, the causes they care about and community needs.
“First, we help people who care about their community support their favorite causes forever through endowments,” Higbie said. “Second, we help nonprofit organizations by providing funds to help them serve our community in their own unique and important ways.”
The endowments fuel a range of initiatives — from essential equipment for volunteer fire departments to projects like the new Boys & Girls Club in Valparaiso. The foundation also has supported organizations such as the Quilts of Valor Foundation and Call-A-Ride, a volunteer transportation service.
Since its founding in 1996, the Porter County Community Foundation has awarded over $45 million in grants and scholarships to organizations and students in the community.
“A standout example that comes to mind is the gentleman who died leaving Porter County Community Foundation as the beneficiary of his estate, enabling the foundation to establish four endowment funds,” Higbie said. “One of those funds, Seeds of Promise, sets aside $100 for the post-secondary education of every baby born to a Porter County family.”
The foundation’s current strategic focus is early childhood development, especially from prenatal to age 3. This has led to the creation of First Things First Porter County, a division that brings together community partners to provide comprehensive support to families during these critical years of brain development.
“Our role is to steward permanent capital that will be here forever so that future generations will benefit from the philanthropy of those who live here today,” Higbie said.
Jasper Newton Foundation
Founded in 1991, the Jasper Newton Foundation is a keystone of charitable giving and community development in Jasper and Newton counties.
Originally two separate organizations — the Jasper Foundation and the Newton County Community Foundation — they merged in 2018 to create a unified force for philanthropy.
The Jasper Newton Foundation connects residents of both counties with causes they care about through coordinated investments and strategic grantmaking. The foundation empowers local people to come together and solve local challenges every day, leaving a long-term impact and legacy in the community.
“The most impactful level of giving is through the Driving Home program, which is a 10-year strategic plan designed to identify opportunities and help support organizations and community groups with projects that enrich Jasper and Newton counties,” said Brienne Hooker, Jasper Newton Foundation executive director. “Driving Home has provided multiple successful major projects for the two counties.”
The program has funded the revitalization of the Hazelden Estate, expansion of the Remington Community Park and the Newton County student conservation internship program. Each project is designed to enrich local life, foster community connection and respond to evolving needs.
The foundation tailors its grantmaking to meet pressing community concerns — ranging from housing and energy assistance to food insecurity and senior care. However, in a region with fewer financial resources and donors, rising demand for support puts pressure on available funds.
“Thankfully, Indiana community foundations have an ally in Indiana Philanthropy Alliance, our membership organization, that supports us all with funding through Lilly Endowment to support the GIFT team and through the advocacy work that IPA staff does each year,” Hooker said.
Despite challenges, the foundation remains a steadfast resource in uncertain times. It stands as a critical pillar of support, proving that even small communities can build a strong, lasting legacy.
“We will continue to have to prove our value, which is very real and important in smaller, rural communities, where fewer humans with less power to give makes our endowments a long-term reliable source of grants,” Hooker said.
Community Foundation of Elkhart County
Established in 1989, the Community Foundation of Elkhart County began with a shared vision for long-term community good.
“A community foundation exists to inspire generosity and connect those gifts to opportunities that strengthen the place we call home,” said Pete McCown, Community Foundation of Elkhart County president. “We steward resources with care so they can be used to meet both today’s needs and tomorrow’s challenges.”
Over the years, the foundation has grown to manage over $500 million in assets, ranking among the top 50 community foundations in the nation and the top 200 worldwide.
The foundation serves the people of Elkhart County, supporting children and families, building career pathways and fostering a vibrant community.
The foundation has bolstered a variety of impactful projects, such as student scholarships, capital improvements for nonprofits, family strengthening programs and expanded opportunities for youth. Notable community projects include the development of Wellfield Botanic Gardens, the construction of the Tolson Center for Community Excellence and the Pumpkinvine Trails Coalition, which expands the county’s trail network.
“Elkhart Health & Aquatics is a powerful example,” McCown said. “Five institutions, with community support and donor generosity, came together to build a place where health, competition and connection thrive. This facility serves thousands and reflects what collaboration makes possible.”
Robust community foundations become even more essential in times of economic uncertainty. In the face of funding cuts, nonprofits are sweating to stretch every dollar.
“When government or other funding is reduced, donors often step in through the community foundation to provide alternative support,” McCown said. “We continue to see the extraordinary generosity of donors who believe in this community. Together, we are ensuring that vital services continue and that our community’s momentum is not lost.”
Legacy Foundation
The Legacy Foundation was established in 1992 by a group of community leaders who saw the need for a dedicated, local organization to promote philanthropy and address Lake County’s evolving needs.
What began as a small community foundation has grown into a trusted partner for nonprofits, donors and civic leaders.
“We continually assess the most pressing issues facing Lake County and work alongside partners to develop sustainable solutions,” said Kelly Anoe, Legacy Foundation president and CEO. “Legacy Foundation focuses on economic development, quality of place and community health outcomes. We are also deeply focused on strengthening civic engagement and building inclusive communities.”
Through the generosity of a wide base of donors, Legacy Foundation has awarded over $50 million in grants and scholarships to nonprofit organizations and individuals since its founding. In 2024, it provided $5.2 million in grants to nonprofits and $1.5 million in scholarships to local students pursuing higher education.
Legacy Foundation has funded hundreds of projects that touch almost every Lake County resident in some way. Its grants have strengthened food assistance programs, improved public safety, enhanced parks and public spaces and supported environmental initiatives. The foundation leads initiatives of its own, including scholarship programs, neighborhood revitalization and civic engagement efforts.
Over the past two years, Legacy Foundation has partnered with 14 local nonprofits through a special matching grant initiative. The organizations worked collectively to raise funds for projects designed to make Lake County a better place to live, work and play.
“Through this collaboration, we helped alleviate food insecurity, supported the expansion of local higher education programs and strengthened the arts and cultural opportunities that enrich our Region,” Anoe said. “The success of this initiative demonstrated the power of collective giving and collaboration in driving meaningful change across diverse sectors of our community.”
By combining financial support, education and advocacy, Legacy Foundation is helping to ensure that the community’s safety nets remain strong.
“We believe that when residents have a voice and a sense of belonging, our entire Region thrives,” Anoe said.
Unity Foundation
In 1992, groups from Michigan City and La Porte sought to form their own community foundations. They ultimately combined to unite La Porte County and the surrounding region. Thus, the Unity Foundation was born.
As La Porte County’s community foundation, it manages $50 million in assets, administers more than 350 charitable funds and has distributed nearly $29 million through direct grants and scholarships.
“The successes we have are often built over years of planning, cultivating relationships and understanding community needs,” said Spartz, who is retiring at the end of 2025. “Recently we had two significant successes. We earned a $3.6 million grant from the Lilly Endowment to open the door to housing in La Porte County. By partnering with our regional community foundations and others in Lake, La Porte and Porter counties, we earned a $20 million grant for placemaking in our Region. Those are huge and will help transform our Region.”
Unity Foundation is partnering with its community foundation friends in Lake and Porter counties to take advantage of the improved South Shore Line and connect it to neighborhoods and natural amenities, like Dunes National Park.
“We also partner around supporting entrepreneurs via NWI BizHub,” Spartz said. “Small businesses are 80-plus percent of our businesses here. If they are thriving, so is our Region.”
The NWI BizHub was started as a partnership of several community foundations and sparked by Lilly Endowment Inc. grant. The website offers resources for entrepreneurs.
Through strategic investment, partnerships and long-term vision, Unity Foundation continues to play a critical role in building a stronger, more resilient future for La Porte County and Northwest Indiana.
Lasting impact
As Northwest Indiana continues to evolve — navigating economic shifts, demographic changes and new opportunities — its community foundations remain steadfast in their mission: to serve, support and strengthen the Region. Their impact is not always loud or headline grabbing, but it is deeply felt — in classrooms, neighborhood centers, public parks and homes.
By connecting passionate donors with the pressing needs of communities, these foundations are building resilience and a shared vision for a better future. Their work is about more than distributing grants — it’s about nurturing connections, empowering residents and creating opportunities that last for generations.
In a time when local solutions are more important than ever, community foundations are proving that meaningful change can start right here — close to home, fueled by neighbors who care and built to last. •
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