Founded in 2000, the Edon Area Foundation exists to enhance the quality of life for all citizens of the Edon and Blakeslee areas, now and for generations to come, by building community endowment, addressing needs through grant making and serving as a leader, catalyst and resource for charitable giving.

The Edon Area Foundation currently has the following Named Funds:

What is an endowment?
An endowment is a pool of money or fund that provides income for the continuing maintenance or on-going support of an organization or program. An endowment is designed so that the original gift of the donor is not spent, only the income the original gift generates is spent. An endowment should be thought of as permanent.

People give THROUGH the Edon Area Foundation not TO the Foundation.
The Edon Area Foundation is here to serve you. The foundation exists in cooperation with the Bryan Area Foundation to administer charitable gifts in accordance with the wishes of donors. The Edon Area Foundation will continue to meet your charitable goals long into the future. What is important to donors is what is important to the foundation. The Edon Area Foundation will work with you to provide for your favorite church, school or other charitable organization no matter where those organizations may be located.

The Edon Area Foundation will…
•  Honor the spirit and intent of each donor’s gift.
•  Exercise leadership and promote partnerships that build better communities and enhance the
   quality of life.
•  Meet emerging community needs through effective, visionary and sensitive grant making.
•  Work in harmony with the Bryan Area Foundation to assist donors by serving as a permanent
   resource for receiving and administering charitable gifts in a prudent manner.
•  Act as a catalyst for improvement and a resource for people and organizations that have a
   charitable desires
•  Develop, promote and encourage philanthropy

How does an organization apply for a grant?
The foundation makes grants to projects done by or through 501 (c) (3) organizations as determined by the Internal Revenue Service as well as duly recognized governmental departments. Grants are not generally made for projects which have already occurred, debt retirement, general operating expenses, or for annual campaigns. With the exception of a very few educational awards, grants are not made to individuals or for a specific individual’s direct benefit or for purely personal needs. The foundation encourages proposals for programs that address needs within Edon, Blakeslee and the immediately surrounding area; however, our service area is not limited geographically.  Potential donors are strongly encouraged to call the foundation prior to submitting a full proposal to discuss the appropriateness of Edon Area Foundation funding.

How often are grants awarded?
Grants may be awarded four times during the year, in December, March, June, and September.

What types of funds can donors establish?

Donors may make contributions in any amount. Any gift received that is not designated as an addition to an existing fund or used to establish a specific fund is placed in the EDON AREA FOUNDATION GENERAL FUND. Donors may make gifts to the GENERAL FUND over a period of time to reach the minimum amount required to establish a specific fund.

One of the advantages of a community foundation is that it provides a vehicle for all citizens to contribute to the betterment of their own community. This means that gifts of all sizes are encouraged, appreciated, and important. Gifts of any size may be made to any of the foundation’s existing funds.

One can either contribute to an existing fund or create a new fund. With gifts of $5,000 or more, a donor has the opportunity to create a named fund.

Seven different types of named funds are possible:

Community Funds
Gifts to the community endowment fund provide the most broad-based support to the community over the years.  Community funds are unrestricted so they provide the foundation’s trustees the most flexibility in grant making.  New opportunities and challenges await, and gifts to the community fund position the foundation to meet the emerging needs of our community.  Gifts to the community fund may be made in any amount.  Donors may wish to establish a “named” community fund with a gift of $5,000.

Scholarship Funds
Scholarship funds provide financial support for the continuing education of students. Organizations or individual donors specify the restrictions for eligibility (such as course of study, school the student will attend, or high school from which the student is graduating) within foundation guidelines.

Designated Funds
Designated funds provide financial support to a specific qualifying organization. Donors establish this type of fund when they want to provide a permanent income stream to a church, school, or other favorite charity.

Project Funds
Project funds are established as a partnership between the foundation and an organization for a short-term charitable project. Funds of this type are not endowment funds. Under normal circumstances, project funds will be depleted as the designated project is finished. This is the only type of fund in which contributions are spent.

Field of Interest Funds
Field of interest funds support a specific area of the donor’s concern, such as education, the arts, youth services, the elderly or the disabled. The foundation uses income from these funds to benefit programs or organizations within the field of interest.

Endowment Funds
Endowment funds are a form of a designated fund where the donor is a nonprofit agency or organization contributing funds to provide current income and long-term security for its operation.

Endowment funds may be established by either an individual donor or qualifying charitable organization. The Bryan Area Foundation has the unique ability to hold assets for a charitable organization in a named endowment fund and annually distribute a set percentage back to the not-for-profit organization to meet its needs.

Donor Advised Funds
Donor advised funds provide convenience and flexibility by enabling donors to support their favorite charities in both lean and profitable years through the foundation. A donor receives a tax deduction in the year in which the gift is made, and is able to suggest distributions to specific charities over a longer period of time. Donors often choose this kind of fund (as well as designated funds) to remember their alma maters, churches, and other favorite charities.

I am not originally from Edon. I want to help the area I came from. Can the Edon Area Foundation help me?
Yes. A donor may establish a Field of Interest Fund to benefit a particular community. It does not matter where that community is. Donors may establish Scholarship Funds that benefit students graduating from or attending any school. Designated Agency Funds can benefit an organization of the donor’s choice regardless of where that organization is located. The goal of the Edon Area Foundation is to HELP YOU provide for the community, church, school, or other charitable organization that is important to YOU.

I would like to establish a fund. What do I do next?
Call the Bryan Area Foundation at (419) 633-1156. Mitchell Owens will work with you or your organization to meet your specific needs. There are many ways to establish a fund within the Edon Area Foundation. Mitchell can share with you ways that offer the maximum benefit to you and to other donors.

Officer
John Toner, President

Members
Susan D. Allomong
Michael Krill
Jo Ann Luce
Mose Mohre
LaRue Reitzel
Estel Wyrick, Jr.

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