1 Taylor Street, Chester, IL, 62233 618.826.5000 Ext. 221 foundation@randolphcountyil.gov
What if you could change the future?
What if you could make Randolph County a happier and healthier place for your children and their children?
about us
OUR VISION: The Community Foundation of Randolph County's Board of Directors will work to inspire positive transformation for the residents and assets in our community.
The Community Foundation of Randolph County uses philanthropy, community development, and economic development to help individuals, businesses, and organizations reinvest in and help Randolph County communities. That is the heart of your Community Foundation.
The Community Foundation builds wealth for future scholarships and community projects. You can make a gift or an endowment to the Good Deeds Fund, the Scholarships Fund, or the James I. Brockmeyer (JIB) Memorial Scholarship Fund.
The Community Foundation of Randolph County, chartered in Randolph County, is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization recognized by the United States Internal Revenue Service, the Illinois Secretary of State, and the Illinois Attorney General. Any contribution to the Foundation is a tax-deductible, charitable donation.
Board members volunteer their time and talent.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Amy Barbeau, Prairie du Rocher
Chris Blechle, Chester
Michele Cross, Wine Hill
Shea Haury, Sparta
Melanie Johnson, Sparta
Mary Koester, Red Bud
Allyson Lintker, Sparta
Christopher Martin, Chester
Stephanie Martin, Chester
Robert Myerscough, Evansville
Drew Dethrow, Steeleville
COMMITTEES
Executive Committee
According to Foundation By-laws, the Executive Committee shall have and exercise all of the authority of the Board of Directors in intervals between board meetings, the responsibility of managing the Community Foundation of Randolph County, work as a liaison to the community, serve as a counsel for the president, and coordinate the work of the full board.
Christopher Martin, President
Michele Cross, Vice President
Melanie Johnson, Secretary
Drew Dethrow, Treasurer
Investment & Finance Committee
The Investment & Finance Committee is responsible for the overall stewardship of the Community Foundation of Randolph County's endowments, assets, and investment management services.
The Committee monitors the accuracy of the financial records, oversees the annual budget, ensures compliance with federal, state, and other requirements related to finances, and serves as the audit committee of the Community Foundation of Randolph County on behalf of the Board of Directors.
Drew Dethrow, Chair
Robert Myerscough
Shea Haury
Marketing Committee
The Marketing Committee determines the marketing and advertising strategies, tactics, and essential messages of the Community Foundation.
Stephanie Martin, Chair
Christopher Martin
Mary Koester
Nominating Committee
The Nominating Committee identifies suitable, county-wide candidates to serve on the Board of Directors.
Chris Blechle, Chair
Michele Cross
Allyson Lintker
Southwestern Illinois Regional Leadership & Development Committee
The Southwestern Illinois Regional Leadership and Development Committee (Regional Leaders) is a wholly independent committee operating within the Community Foundation of Randolph County. While sharing some members, both groups have separate, but similar missions.
Since its inception, the Regional Leaders have awarded thousands of dollars in scholarships to high school students and helped with community projects like rebuilding the Historic Fort Kaskaskia Shelter House overlooking the Mississippi River.
Chris Blechle, Chester
Michele Cross, Wine Hill
John Falkenhein, Sparta
Brooke Guthman, Murphysboro
Melanie Johnson, Sparta
Shea Haury, Sparta
Mariah Bargman, Chester
become a donor
Giving Enhances Randolph County
Anyone can be a philanthropist, and we work hard to make giving meaningful and easy for donors. Giving in any amount to our community is an expression of your goals, values, and love for Randolph County. We value supporting the causes that mean the most to you.
The Community Foundation wants to be your partner in philanthropy. We assure you that your valuable gift, regardless of size, will make the most significant impact possible.
Here is how the Foundation helps you support the future of Randolph County:
• By accepting a wide variety of gift types (cash, stocks, life insurance, annuities).
• By endowing funds so that your charitable wishes create a permanent legacy.
• By administering the funds. You get the joy of giving while we do the research, paperwork, grant follow-up and reporting.
• By offering two fund types. You can name a fund in memoriam, or for any good reason, and then target the Scholarship Fund or the Good Deeds Fund.
Using the Community Foundation affords you the most efficient, flexible, and convenient means to support your charitable interests. It is local, low cost, flexible, and secure.
A Named Endowment Created By You Is Like Having Your Very Own Private Foundation, Without The Burdens
We take care of all of the administrative services you would have to employ separately, including the annual audit, IRS filings, grant evaluation and compliance, and financial reporting.
Additionally, your endowment benefits from being invested with other Community Foundation endowment assets, resulting in lower investment fees and greater investment diversification. We can help you establish an endowment that will maximize both your tax advantages and your impact on the community.
Finally, you direct us regarding the degree of anonymity or recognition you require and the degree of specificity in grantmaking. You can create an endowment to be named for a family member or loved one, in honor of, or as a memorial. You can direct the grants as broadly or narrowly to issues you care about, or to wherever the needs are the greatest.
what are endowments?
Endowments are a way for you to forever provide for the people, organizations and places that you care about. When you establish an endowment through a charitable contribution to the Community Foundation of Randolph County, we do not spend your gift; we save it and invest it wisely.
THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF ENDOWMENTS
THE SCHOLARSHIP FUND
THE GOOD DEEDS FUND
Scholarship fund
INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE
The Scholarship Fund helps Randolph County students pursue higher education. Organizations, families, and individuals can establish a scholarship endowment with the Community Foundation and define the eligibility and selection criteria. For example, a field of study, academic or athletic achievement, community service experience, or career intentions. Scholarship Endowments may also honor or memorialize a loved one by awarding a grant to students who mirror the person's traits or achievements.
Together with the Southwestern Illinois Regional Leadership & Development Committee, the Community Foundation has awarded thousands of dollars in scholarships to Randolph County students.
GOOD DEEDS FUND
MEETING THE NEEDS OF A CHANGING COMMUNITY
Unrestricted endowments to the Good Deeds Fund are endowments whose earnings are not designated or restricted to an organization or specific purpose. These funds are free to support a program of perpetual grant-giving designed to respond to the changing needs of Randolph County. Distributions from the Good Deeds Fund will be available and awarded to the community by application, at the discretion of the Community Foundation Board of Directors.
SUSTAIN AND SUPPORT LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS
Designated funding specifically names the organization or charitable purpose that will receive funds from the endowment. Donors may appoint more than one organization or mission. The use of the awards can be broadly or narrowly defined. For example, grants can be distributed to your organization annually to support operations, or to support specific projects.
CONNECTING VALUES TO OPPORTUNITIES
Field-of-interest endowments to the Good Deeds Fund designate an issue or area of need to receive grants. The donors identify their area of interest, and the Foundation will award grants to organizations and programs in Randolph County that serve that interest or concern.
As the Good Deeds Fund grows, Randolph County organizations may apply for matching grants for causes and community projects. Grants funded through the Good Deeds Fund will begin once sufficient wealth makes it possible.
SPECIAL PROJECT FUNDS
Special project funds may be established by the Board to support a specific charitable activity or community project that is consistent with the priorities of the community and the purpose of the Foundation.
the daniel aaron martin memorial scholarship
In 2022, Stephanie and Christopher Martin chartered the Daniel Aaron Martin Memorial Scholarship. Daniel Aaron Martin was a promising sculptor and artist. He was attending art school when he was stricken with adult-onset schizophrenia. The Daniel Aaron Martin Memorial Scholarship brings light to those who suffer the condition and to a young man whose life was abbreviated by this chronic disorder.
James I. Brockmeyer
FIRST RESPONDER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Two Randolph County organizations combined resources to establish the James I. Brockmeyer First Responder Memorial Endowment. Chester Police Officer and Firefighter James I. "JIB" Brockmeyer lost his life in the line of duty on October 28, 2016.
The Regional Leaders provided the seed money. The Community Foundation of Randolph County manages the endowment. You can help build this endowment by sending your tax-deductible gift to the Foundation.
Historic Village of Prairie du Rocher
In 2017, the Foundation helped raise more than $60,000 to assist with levee issues in the Historic Village of Prairie du Rocher. In 2018, the Foundation helped the Village of Prairie du Rocher author a multi-year strategic plan, which you can view here.
COVID-19 Assistance
During the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, the Foundation, in concert with The Southern Illinois Community Foundation, secured a no-match grant of $38,000 to help Randolph County’s most needy. Funds were distributed to Western Egyptian E.O.C. to help with food, rent, mortgage and utility assistance, the Sparta Food Pantry at Westminster Presbyterian Church, and the Chester Area Christian Food Pantry.
SHELTER HOUSE
In 2018, the Foundation, with other partners and many generous donors, helped gather more than $100,000 to rebuild the Shelter House at Fort Kaskaskia. The Shelter House, located in the French Colonial Historic District, was destroyed by an accidental fire on October 31, 2012.
In 2019, the Foundation took on the task of raising $16,000 to refurbish the knee walls surrounding the Shelter House. The masonry for both the shelter house and the knee walls was expertly restored by Fithian Brothers Masonry of Red Bud using original river stones and matching concrete. Our sincerest thanks to three generations of the Fithian family for ensuring that the shelter, the knee walls, and the overlook wall, will be enjoyed by our community and future generations of Randolph County visitors.
all gifts are important
Gifts Come In All Shapes And Sizes. ANY Amount Is Meaningful And Valuable
The Community Foundation strives to offer a variety of giving options so that your donation can say something unique about you! You can give via cash, check, or money order. You may mail your tax-deductible contributions to the Foundation. You may also place your gift electronically HERE.
You may ask your employer to deduct an amount from your pay and have your employer forward those funds to the Foundation.
You may also consider the gift of long-term appreciated securities, which is deductible at full fair market value and capital gains tax. Gifts of real estate can include homes, condominiums, apartments, undeveloped land, or farmland. Donations of long-term appreciated real estate offer tax advantages similar to appreciated securities.
You may also consider the gift of long-term appreciated securities, which is deductible at full fair market value and capital gains tax. Gifts of real estate can include homes, condominiums, apartments, undeveloped land, or farmland. Donations of long-term appreciated real estate offer tax advantages similar to appreciated securities.
Remembering your community in your will is easy. You may leave a percentage share of your estate, or specify a dollar amount or assign a life insurance policy and beneficiary rights to the Community Foundation. The charitable tax deduction will be for the present cash value of the policy. If the donor continues to pay annual premiums, these too are tax-deductible.
The IRA that helps you and your spouse face retirement years can later be reduced by income, estate, and even excise taxes before it reaches your hands. By naming the Foundation as the plan beneficiary, you can ensure that all the assets will continue to benefit your community. The future benefit to the Foundation will be the face value of the policy. If you are the beneficiary of a trust which pays you a regular income, you may assign a portion of this income to the Foundation. You pay no further tax on this income and may take an income tax deduction for the value of your gift.
Please Consider Giving to Your Community Foundation of Randolph County Today.
Thank You for Your Generosity!
