Marion County Endowment Fund Celebrates Twelfth Annual Community Grants

The Marion County Endowment Fund Council recently celebrated its twelfth year of grantmaking through the Community Foundation’s Community Grant program.

The awards, totaling $16,500 from the Marion County Endowment Fund, will support causes the Marion County Endowment Fund Council members, donors, and community members care about. Through the Community Foundation’s Community Grant program, these awards were further bolstered with other grantmaking funds to total more than $53,000 in support.

During the celebration, council members and local nonprofits highlighted the impact of local giving and the role philanthropy plays in strengthening the community. These grants support local nonprofit organizations working to build a stronger Marion County.

This year's grant recipients include:

1.     Embrace Children and Families - General Support

2.     CHART Teen Task Force - Sexuality Education in Northeast Missouri Schools

3.     Harvest Outreach Ministries - General Support

4.     Main Street Palmyra - Patio @ Flower City Project Support

"Every grant we award traces back to a donor who believed Marion County's future was worth investing in. Each year, that belief translates into grant support to nonprofits doing essential work in our community,” said Lydia Ahrens, Marion County Fund Council Chair.

The Marion County Health Department was also awarded a 2026 Community Grant, which was funded in part by the HOMEBANK Fund, advised by the Marion County Endowment Fund Council.

The Community Foundation’s Community Grant program provides financial support to nonprofit projects and operations throughout a 12-county service area through an annual application process. This year, including grants from County Endowments,92 total regional nonprofits received a total of$370,286.28in grant awards.

As a permanent charitable fund, the Marion County Endowment Fund exists solely to support local nonprofit organizations, focusing on children, families, and community betterment. Since 2015, the fund has awarded over $40,000 in grants to 22 nonprofits, making a difference in the lives of Marion County residents. Led by a local advisory council, the fund provides annual grants in the areas of arts & education, health & human services, and community betterment, ensuring lasting impact through sustainable philanthropy.

For more information about the Marion County Endowment Fund, contact us at the Community Foundation at (217) 222-1237 or outreach@mycommunityfoundation.org.