As National Community Foundation Week approaches, the Community Foundation of Dickinson County reflects on 27 years of generosity, growth, and the extraordinary power of a county investing in its own future.
What if something you did today could change the life of someone you will never meet? A gift made today could help a student attend college fifty years from now, preserve a beloved community tradition, or strengthen a hometown for generations to come. For twenty-seven years, the Community Foundation of Dickinson County has helped turn possibilities like these into lasting impact.
As communities nationwide celebrate National Community Foundation Week, November 12–18, the Foundation reflects on its beginnings, its remarkable growth, and what that growth means for Dickinson County's future.
When our story began.
In 1999, a group of civic-minded Dickinson County residents recognized that preserving the communities they loved would require more than good intentions. Their vision established the Community Foundation of Dickinson County with an endowed fund of $250,000.
More than a decade after its founding, the Foundation managed approximately $9 million in assets in 2014. Today, that figure has grown to more than $31 million, an increase of approximately 250 percent. Since its establishment in 1999, the Foundation has distributed more than $20 million in grants and scholarships throughout Dickinson County.
Growing the Foundation Means Growing Its Capacity to Serve
The Community Foundation of Dickinson County’s mission reflects a broad responsibility: "to connect donors with their charitable giving priorities, serve as a resource for local non-profit organizations, and provide leadership to the communities." It is a mission that continues to evolve as Dickinson County grows and its needs change.
Today, a 15-member volunteer Board of Directors, supported by six committees, provides leadership and oversight. Under the direction of Executive Director Elizabeth Weese, a professional staff of four includes Director of Operations and Strategy Haley Jones, Director of Grants and Scholarships Jen Parks, and Marketing and Communications Coordinator Sara Baier. Together, they manage the daily responsibilities of charitable fund administration, donor relationships, investments, scholarships, grants, and community initiatives.
Behind every dollar entrusted to the Foundation is an expectation of responsible stewardship. Meeting that responsibility requires knowledgeable professionals, strong systems, thoughtful leadership, and organizational stability to serve the community not just today, but decades into the future. Like the charitable funds it manages, the Foundation itself must be built to last. Investing in the right people, technology, and operations are necessary to carry out its mission which has a responsibility to protect the community's investment and ensure it is managed with the care it deserves. The Foundation's growth is therefore measured not only by the assets it holds, but by its expanding ability to serve donors, support nonprofit organizations and respond to community needs.
More Than a Place to Give
A community foundation connects people who want to make a difference with the causes that matter most to them. Donors can support existing charitable funds, establish funds reflecting their personal passions, or create lasting legacies through planned gifts.
Endowed funds are particularly powerful. By investing in charitable gifts for the long term and distributing a portion for charitable purposes, these funds can provide ongoing support while preserving resources for future generations.
Through scholarships, grants, community funds, and charitable partnerships, the Foundation supports education, local nonprofits, community development, and improves quality of life throughout Dickinson County.
Its work also extends into innovative initiatives such as Invest Dickinson County, which uses local Impact Investing to advance economic opportunity, and SOLIDGROUND, a farmland legacy program helping landowners explore ways to preserve their agricultural heritage while supporting charitable causes.
Other initiatives demonstrate the Foundation's commitment to leadership beyond grantmaking. Donate Day unites residents, businesses, and nonprofits through collective giving. Scholarship Connection provides students with guidance and resources beyond scholarship awards, while partnerships with local nonprofits increase awareness and strengthen community connections.
Together, these efforts reflect an important distinction: a community foundation does more than distribute money. It identifies needs, builds partnerships, connects resources, and helps transform ideas into action.
The Power of a Community That Gives Together
Perhaps one of the most meaningful aspects of a community foundation is that philanthropy is not reserved for the community members with the most wealth. A person does not need to establish a million-dollar fund to make a difference. When a thoughtful gift of any amount is given and carefully managed, the impact can reach far beyond the original intention. A student may reach their educational goals with the help of scholarship, a small nonprofit can continue serving its neighbors, and projects can inspire community members to work
together when they believe their hometowns deserve something more. These are stories that make community foundations unique. They connect yesterday's generosity with today's opportunities and tomorrow's possibilities.
The Next Chapter Is Still Being Written
As the Community Foundation of Dickinson County celebrates National Community Foundation Week, it does so with gratitude for those who first imagined what a community foundation could mean for Dickinson County. Gratitude for the donors who have entrusted their charitable dreams to the Foundation, and for the board members, nonprofit partners, volunteers, and community leaders who have helped turn those dreams into meaningful action. And gratitude for generations of residents who continue to believe in the future of their communities.
Our greatest accomplishment cannot be captured on a balance sheet. It is found in the lives improved, opportunities created, organizations strengthened, and communities made better because someone chose to give. Those who established the Foundation in 1999 could not have known every challenge or opportunity Dickinson County would face. They simply believed the future was worth preparing for. Twenty-seven years later, that belief continues to shape our work. The recipient of a donation may never know the donor who made it possible. The donor may not live to see the difference. But the good they set in motion will still be there.
For good. For ever.
About the Community Foundation of Dickinson County
The Community Foundation of Dickinson County connects donors with the causes they care about, serves as a resource for local nonprofit organizations, and provides leadership to strengthen communities throughout Dickinson County. Through charitable funds, grants, scholarships, and community partnerships, the Foundation helps turn generosity into lasting impact for current and future generations. For more information, visit www.communityfoundation.us or contact the office 785-263-1863.