In the early 1990’s, a group of Daviess County citizens gathered to create our community foundation. For several years, those leaders worked to organize and in 1993, Daviess, along with Perry and Gibson County Community Foundations became affiliates of the Community Foundation Alliance, which also consisted of community foundations in Vanderburgh and Posey counties.
But, with the success of the Daviess County Community Foundation resulting from those who have given treasure, time, and talent to the Foundation throughout its history, bringing control of the Community Foundation back to Daviess County is why local leaders began the process of separating from the Community Foundation Alliance in July so that the Community Foundation serving Daviess County becomes a stand-alone community foundation.
“Our reasons for becoming self-standing, independent of the Alliance, are singularly focused on local involvement and control at every level,” says Joe Singleton, who served as President of the Daviess County Services Committee and is now serving as President of the Board of Directors of the new community foundation, called Our Community Foundation, Inc. “That means local governance; local approval of grants, scholarships, and funds; local management of communications; and local oversight of finances and investments. We believe that being a local Community Foundation is the best way to truly serve our community both in this stage of our history and in the years to come.”
“Our affiliation with the Alliance has served our community well to this point, but was never viewed as a permanent arrangement,” says Singleton who worked side-by-side with one of the initial Community Foundation organizers, Jay Myers. “All throughout our history, the goal of operating as a stand-alone Community Foundation has been something Board members have considered and reviewed. Our decision to separate this year is based on a clear understanding of what we could achieve on our own, research of how other Indiana Community Foundations are operating without an affiliation, the willingness and enthusiasm of our Board members to serve, and a vision of a local community foundation serving future generations in Daviess County.”
“The time is right.”
Singleton said Our Community Foundation is organized as a nonprofit in Indiana and in August, the Board filed the required IRS Form 1023 to obtain tax exempt status as a 501(c)(3) organization. The next big goal for the Foundation will be achieving National Standards Accreditation for Community Foundations.
“Our Community Foundation embraces these standards and is committed to achieving official accreditation. Doing so requires that we carry out many different Community Foundation functions to show our ability to operate. We expect to apply for and achieve National Standards Accreditation in early 2023.”
In addition to Singleton, longtime Community Foundation director, Mary Smith is part of the local team and is serving as Executive Director, along with 17 other Board Directors from across Daviess County who hold a variety of leadership positions in the community. They are Scott Arthur, Chance Berry, Jodi Berry, Merle Callahan, Shannon Dalton, Kirsten Emmons, David Frette, Carolyn Jones, Paula Jones, Alex Knepp, Cindy Mason, Linda Myers, Steve Peterson, Dee Ryan, Travis Schaffer, Joe Singleton, Peg Stephens, and Joe Wellman.
“We are setting the stage in Daviess County for a Community Foundation with a new, impactful role in our community,” says Singleton. “The meaningful work we are doing right now will positively impact Daviess County, not only for our friends and neighbors today, but for generations to come.”
“Our reasons for becoming self-standing, independent of the Alliance, are singularly focused on local involvement and control at every level,” says Joe Singleton, who served as President of the Daviess County Services Committee and is now serving as President of the Board of Directors of the new community foundation, called Our Community Foundation, Inc. “That means local governance; local approval of grants, scholarships, and funds; local management of communications; and local oversight of finances and investments. We believe that being a local Community Foundation is the best way to truly serve our community both in this stage of our history and in the years to come.”
“Our affiliation with the Alliance has served our community well to this point, but was never viewed as a permanent arrangement,” says Singleton who worked side-by-side with one of the initial Community Foundation organizers, Jay Myers. “All throughout our history, the goal of operating as a stand-alone Community Foundation has been something Board members have considered and reviewed. Our decision to separate this year is based on a clear understanding of what we could achieve on our own, research of how other Indiana Community Foundations are operating without an affiliation, the willingness and enthusiasm of our Board members to serve, and a vision of a local community foundation serving future generations in Daviess County.”
“The time is right.”
Singleton said Our Community Foundation is organized as a nonprofit in Indiana and in August, the Board filed the required IRS Form 1023 to obtain tax exempt status as a 501(c)(3) organization. The next big goal for the Foundation will be achieving National Standards Accreditation for Community Foundations.
“Our Community Foundation embraces these standards and is committed to achieving official accreditation. Doing so requires that we carry out many different Community Foundation functions to show our ability to operate. We expect to apply for and achieve National Standards Accreditation in early 2023.”
In addition to Singleton, longtime Community Foundation director, Mary Smith is part of the local team and is serving as Executive Director, along with 17 other Board Directors from across Daviess County who hold a variety of leadership positions in the community. They are Scott Arthur, Chance Berry, Jodi Berry, Merle Callahan, Shannon Dalton, Kirsten Emmons, David Frette, Carolyn Jones, Paula Jones, Alex Knepp, Cindy Mason, Linda Myers, Steve Peterson, Dee Ryan, Travis Schaffer, Joe Singleton, Peg Stephens, and Joe Wellman.
“We are setting the stage in Daviess County for a Community Foundation with a new, impactful role in our community,” says Singleton. “The meaningful work we are doing right now will positively impact Daviess County, not only for our friends and neighbors today, but for generations to come.”
The logo design below is for the Community Foundation and is one of several designs being considered. The designs are being created by art students in Jenilee Counsil’s class at Washington High School.
