oak park community foundation, 2012

Wednesday Journal, October 24, 2012 B1Special Advertising Section Your Community FoundationYour Community Foundation

The Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation is a public non-profit corporation as described in Section

501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. All contributions are tax deductible to the maximum amount allowable for gifts to a public charity.

It is a local resource for people of all means to make a lasting difference in the community causes they care about. The central purpose of the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation is to serve the needs and philanthropic aims of donors who wish to better their community, now and in the future. We do this by providing donors with flexible, efficient, and tax-effective ways to ensure their charitable giving achieves the greatest possible impact.

The Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation builds substantial endowment funds for our community through contributions large and small. Because the contributions are endowed, they are never spent. Instead, they are permanently invested to produce income. The income earned is used to help meet the community’s charitable needs, according to donors’ interests and the current opportunities and aspirations in the community. So your gift to the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation continues to benefit your community forever.

The Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation supports new or current programs of other non-profit organizations and agencies. It serves as a neutral convener, bringing diverse opinions and players together for the good of the whole community. In this way, our Community Foundation serves as a catalyst for addressing issues facing a community.

We are governed by a local board of directors chosen for their knowledge of Oak Park and River Forest and designed to be representative of a broad cross-section of these communities. Our board members have expertise in the many

areas of management necessary to carry out the stewardship functions of the Foundation.

The Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation represents a wide variety of ideas and interests of individual donors who have united in a common purpose - the bettering of our community for present and future generations.

-Mark Sitzman, President

Your Community Foundation

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Community Foundation Assets Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial CharitableTrust

Representatives from organizations receiving grants from Community Foundation funds in 2011

Mark Sitzman, Board President

■ Community Foundation Assets■ Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial Charitable Fund

B2 Wednesday Journal, October 24, 2012 Special Advertising SectionYour Community Foundation

Dear Friend,The Oak Park River Forest (OPRF) Community Foundation is proud of our distinguishing services provided to Oak Park and River Forest. We treasure our donors, nonprofits and other stakeholders who join with us to enhance the livability of our communities. As you will read, our unique value to Oak Park and River Forest allows us to be a part of a community of people connected through strong neighborhoods, local businesses and institutions, nonprofits, places of worship, splendid social activities and philanthropy. Through one contribution or connection to the Foundation, you can leverage your investment in our community and multiply the impact of your gift.

Your impact is created in a variety of ways — through the creation of field of interest funds, donor — advised, designated, agency funds, and scholarship funds — you are able to establish your or a loved one’s legacy in perpetuity. Additionally, we work with financial advisors to assist you in your charitable giving.

Thanks to individual contributions and support for the Oak Park River Forest Community Foundation’s Annual Fund and the Communityworks Fund, this year the Community Foundation has been able to grant awards in the amount of $443,088 to 41 organizations such as the Collaboration for Early Childhood Care and Education, Sarah’s Inn, IMPACT and Seven Generations Ahead. Together with our fund holders we have granted more than $600,000 in scholarships for 300+ students in the 2011-2012 year.

The Foundation’s is committed to nonprofit excellence. As such, we provide services to nonprofits such as “Using Technology on a Limited Budget” and “Successful Grantwriting” for local nonprofit staffs and boards helping them to maximize their resources and effectiveness. Fostering the sustainability of our local nonprofits, this year we also developed a financial analysis that identified real cost saving opportunities for each individual organization, ranging from 10 to 40 percent.

Valuing shared leadership, the Foundation has convened community members and experts to create the OPRF Continuum of Learning in support of the Success of All Youth,

a Communityworks focus area. This continuum provides developmental targets for youth from birth to 18 years of age. As a step toward implementation, we’ve provided initial funding for the District #97 International Baccalaureate program for all middle school students. This program challenges students to embrace and understand the connections between traditional subjects and the real world, and to become critical and reflective thinkers.

Starting in its third year, The Future Philanthropist Program provides local high school juniors and seniors opportunities to learn the fundamentals of philanthropic leadership. These students learn how to develop and evaluate requests for funding, conduct site visits, review proposals and then award in the community $25,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations serving young people.

Thanks to your investment in the Foundation, contributions are enhanced by the breadth of the Foundation’s partnerships. For example, our partnership with the Brennan School of Business at Dominican University has now graduated forty-five local leaders in its Community Leadership Program, positioning these informed individuals to assume greater leadership roles in government, business and nonprofits serving our residents. A new group of participants have just begun their study in this ongoing program.

And these are just a few highlights of what we are able to do as your community foundation.

Whether you send a gift, become a fund holder, or participate in meetings convened by the Community Foundation, your help is always most welcomed. Thanks to you the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation is able to address community aspirations. We hope this report gives you pause to reflect on your connection to the Community Foundation and why we all love this place we call home. Together we strengthen our community through philanthropy.

If you would like more information about the foundation we encourage you to call us at 708-848-1560 or visit us at: www.oprfcf.org. We’re on Facebook, too, at: www.facebook.com/OPRFCF

Sincerely,

Sophia Lloyd, Executive Director

PRESIDENT

Mark Sitzman

VICE-PRESIDENT

Susan Conti

SECRETARY

Marcia Preston

TREASURER

Matt Grote

PAST-PRESIDENT

Mena Boulanger

COUNSEL

Case Hoogendoorn

BOARD

Thomas Dwyer

Clare Golla

Emlee Hilliard-Smith

John Houseal

Clarmarie Keenan

Virginia Martinez

Boyd McDowell

Sheila Price

Pravin Rao

Mary Jo Schuler

Douglas Stewart

Michelle Vanderlaan

Stacey Williams

Gary Wood

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Sophia Lloyd

STAFF

Alejandra Ibañez, Program Officer

Sara Kalish, Donor & Grants Officer

Henry Kranz, Marketing Director

Cathy Craddock, Administrative Assistant

2012 Board of Directors

NSSealblackThe National Standards Seal by our name indicates official confirmation from the Community Foundations National Standards Board. It is your guarantee that we have met the most rigorous standards in philanthropy. It affirms our commitment to financial security, transparency and accountability. It says our grantmaking includes an open, competitive process designed to address the changing needs of our community.

Cathy Craddock, Alejandra Ibańez, Sophia Lloyd, Sara Kalish, Henry Kranz

Excellence in Philanthropy Awards are presented to the Outstanding Philanthropist, Chatka Ruggiero; to the Outstanding Business, Greenplan Management, Bill and Bob Planek; and to the Outstanding Youth Group, Oak Park-River Forest High School’s Tau Gamma at the Foundation’s Celebration of Philanthropic Excellence earlier this year.

Wednesday Journal, October 24, 2012 B3Special Advertising Section Your Community Foundation

CommunityworksCommunityworks is a community driven partnership directed by a board of interested citizens addressing the success of all youth through quality education, building an environmentally healthy community, and developing tomorrow’s community leaders today. The activities of Communityworks are funded by the Communityworks Endowment, a $ 6+ million asset providing as much as $500,000 in strategic funding to the community each year.

Continuum of LearningThe Communityworks Success of All Youth Working Group has crafted a Continuum of Learning to provide a framework for child development from birth through 12th grade recognizing that Oak Park and River Forest is a community that meets the diverse educational needs of its youth. The committee works with schools and others to build a common and comprehensive continuum identifying developmental goals at three stages – birth through 3rd grade, 4th through 8th grade and 9th through 12th grade. Within each stage, specific child and family, service and system-based outcomes provide evaluative measures. The scope of this continuum and the broad based support for its use makes it a significant strategic planning tool for improvement in all areas of a child’s development.

PlanItGreenDeveloped through the Communityworks

Partnership, PlanItGreen serves as the Environmental Sustainability Plan for both Oak Park and River Forest. The goals are to develop

and implement strategies for each of nine topic areas – including Energy, Waste, Water, Transportation, Food, Education, Community Development, Open Space and Ecosystems, and Green Economy. Now in its implementation phase, plan accomplishments and updates can be found at: www.sevengenerationsahead.org/index.php/programs/planitgreen/

Community Leadership ProgramTo develop tomorrow’s leaders today, Communityworks devised a training opportunity for emerging leaders in our community. The program, commissioned by Communityworks, has evolved into a partnership with Dominican University’s Brennan School of Business.

Meeting monthly with local representatives from village government, schools, nonprofit organizations, social service agencies, hospitals and banks, participants get an exclusive behind-the-scenes introduction to the unique challenges facing the communities of Oak Park and River Forest. Working in teams, participants study and develop solutions for some of these challenges. Participants establish the network of contacts necessary for serving as effective community leaders. They work with Brennan facilitators to develop skills in creative problem-solving, motivating teams, conflict resolution and strategic planning. The Program is open those living or working in Oak Park and River Forest. For more information see: www.dom.edu/bsb/programs/community_leadership_program/index.html

Future Philanthropist ProgramNow in its third year, the Future Philanthropist Program provides young people with opportunities to engage young people directly in the important role of philanthropy in the community. High school juniors and seniors become critical decision makers in the process of allocating financial support to nonprofit and public organizations serving youth. Participants research and evaluate the impact of their decision making on solving youth problems in the community.

Students from Oak Park and River Forest High School District #200, Trinity High School in River Forest Fenwick High School and Walther Lutheran who live in Oak Park or River Forest are eligible to apply. Fifteen Seniors and an equal number of Juniors are engaged in the program this academic year. Each spring, the Future Philanthropists give $25,000 in grants to organizations they have evaluated in support of young people in our community.

WLIPWomen Leaders in Philanthropy Women Leaders in Philanthropy began in 1995 to recognize the impact women have on bettering the quality of life in Oak Park and River Forest through philanthropy.

The mission of the Women Leaders in Philanthropy is to inspire, educate and respond to the needs of the community through philanthropy. Women Leaders in Philanthropy empower and cultivate, and recognize women as philanthropic leaders and volunteers within their communities.

Women Leaders in Philanthropy support the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation by enhancing philanthropy, supporting nonprofits, creating meaningful collaboration, reinforcing bonds through social networking, and providing philanthropic education for the next generation of women leaders.

The work and contributions of Women Leaders in Philanthropy support the charitable causes of the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation.

“It is a way to support the community as a whole, rather than just one organization.” --Julia Faust

If you are interested in joining or would like information more about Women Leaders in Philanthropy, please visit: www.oprfcf.org/women.html or call Sara Kalish our Donor Services Officer at 708-848-1560.

P A R T N E R S H I P

COMMUNITYworks

CONTINUUM OF LEARNING

Activities Initiated Through The Community Foundation

“It is a way to support the community as a whole, rather than just one organization.” -Julia Faust


The purpose of the

Oak Park-River Forest

Community Foundation is

to inspire philanthropy and

to steward the community

toward sustainability and

well-being.

- Established in 1959 to

address resources for

community needs

- Managed by a board of

community members

- A 501(c)3 nonprofit

organization


Endowments last. Endowments provide for the future—of the community, of your favorite cause or organization. Endowments are the bedrock of the Oak Park-River Forest

Community Foundation.

An endowed fund means that the original gift principal is not touched, but it is invested prudently to produce income. Funds from the income are leveraged and reinvested back into the community. In essence, the funds become a savings account which grows and can benefit the community or a specific organization in perpetuity.

Contributing to or establishing an endowed fund means taking the long view of the future. Donors who support endowed funds are making a valuable commitment to our community and to generations to come. Many local nonprofit organizations rely on proceeds from endowment funds to support ongoing programs, and this support becomes an important balance and base when

other contributed income fluctuates due to economic changes.

The Community Foundation manages its own endowment, which helps our operations and helps us award grants to worthy organizations, and we also manage endowments for thirty-four other organizations. By pooling endowment funds, we can obtain a better rate of return than an individual organization could, and we can provide financial oversight that relieves the organization’s board from this task.

While it takes a significant gift to establish a new endowment fund, once a fund has been established for an organization, gifts of any size may be made to supplement the principal and help the endowment grow to better serve future generations.

We manage endowed funds for a variety of organizations providing services to our community. Here are the organizations with endowments managed by the Foundation—

Endowments: A Lasting Legacy

Oak ParkHead Start

C O U N S E L I N G C E N T E RBUILDING HEALTHY MINDS, FAMILIES & COMMUNITIES

THRIVE


If you are considering making a charitable gift, we offer:- a way to donate once to support a variety of charitable causes, consolidating your charitable giving

- a local resource to create and grow a donor advised or donor directed fund

-a local resource to create and grow a scholarship fund

- an avenue to create memorial gifts

- ways to make a gift that extends beyond one’s lifetime

- forums to address community aspirations

-connection to the services and impact that local nonprofits have

If you are a nonprofit we offer:- endowment fund management

- grants to support general operations and new services

- seminars to build skills and knowledge

- opportunities to address community needs as partners

- a way to interest new donors in your work

- a neutral convening/ meeting space

If you are a lawyer, accountant, financial advisor, we offer:- lower investment fees than other charitable giving options

- no obligation discussions with you and your clients

- broad knowledge base to make effective use of charitable gifts

- greater flexibility when it comes to IRS regulation of our donor advised funds

- gift acceptance policies that permit us to accept cash, publicly traded securities, real estate, life insurance policies, closely held stock, art and other unique assets.

- availability to spend as much time with you and your client to set up a giving program that fulfills all their charitable and tax objectives.

And because the Community Foundation is here, Oak Park and River Forest have: - a neutral partner to convene citizens to address issues

- a base of financial support for many local nonprofits

- unique ways to link donors to needs

- the ability to bring new funds in to the community

- an organization able to attract grants from other foundations

- a catalyst for organizational change to meet current needs

- flexibility in supporting activities and programs as opportunities arise

Adding Value to Our Community

Choosing to Join Women Leaders in Philanthropy

Strengthening Our Community Through Philanthropy

My family has lived in Oak Park for 20 years, my children grew up here and we continue to live in this wonderful community.

I have learned that you don’t have to be rich to be a philanthropist. Through pledging, I can make a contribution that is manageable.

My participation in the Women Leaders in Philanthropy has a meaningful impact on local services. These community services are more important now at a time when many families are financially stressed.

With a gift or pledge to give $5000, a donor can become a member of Women Leaders in Philanthropy, supporting the Community Foundation’s

endowment. To to learn more about Women Leaders in Philanthropy or to discuss other ways you can make a lasting gift to the community,

please contact us.1049 Lake Street Suite 204 Oak Park,IL 60301 708-848-1560 WWW.OPRFCF.ORG

Virginia Martinez

Putting for Philanthropy in support of the Pleasant Home Endowment fund, a newly

established fund at the Community Foundation during Oak Park’s A Day in Our Village, 2012


The Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation provides a way for your gift to have impact locally.

But how did this unique community asset get started?

In the late 1950’s concerned citizens inspired the creation of the Community Foundation. Moore Peregrine, Bob Follett, Art Thorpe and others got together to create a community fund. The initial goal was to improve derelict housing. Residents had seen a grand Victorian home along Oak Park Avenue deteriorate. Although that house was demolished before sufficient funds could be raised to save it, a small group of civic leaders and key donors forged ahead to create an organization that looked beyond housing to a broader desire to preserve the integrity of our villages.

The Foundation was originally a charitable trust among five local banks, each agreeing to hold funds and to use the money for local causes. An initial meeting was held on December 10, 1958. Soon after, key leaders of Oak Park and

River Forest met the Oak Park Club to celebrate the Community Foundation’s official launch. At that meeting, Luther Replogle noted, “Our Board of Directors is confident that the Foundation will be of great help in solving community problems and aiding many worthy projects in the years ahead.”

In 1996, the trust was restructured as a not-for-profit. This change provided greater flexibility in the Foundation’s ability to accept gifts and manage funds. With that shift, the board also changed. Originally, the board comprised one member from each of the five founding banks. Today, it includes nineteen community leaders selected for their expertise in areas such as finance, law, nonprofit management, business, and other skills.

And assets have grown, thanks to the community’s generosity and the Foundation’s strategic planning, to more than $22 million. These assets :

• Provide a stable endowment base for many local nonprofits;

• Provide strategic funding through grants for nonprofits serving our citizens;

• Fund more than $600,000 in scholarships each year;

• Help us work toward achievement of community aspirations such as the success of all youth, environmental sustainability and community leadership.

Thanks to the foresight of past community leaders, we are able to provide philanthropic leadership today. We facilitate new approaches to philanthropy. We serve as a convener to address emerging issues and facilitate opportunities for positive outcomes. We bring together a broad array of donors, government officials, and nonprofit and business leaders to develop collaborative approaches. The Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation is a catalyst for growing philanthropy – increasing philanthropic dollars and actively encouraging a spirit of giving. As always, our aim is to strengthen the community through philanthropy.

How did the Community Foundation Begin?

FUNDS at the Community Foundation

Advised Arthur S. Replogle Oak Park Memorial FundAthena’s Silverland Desserts Fund for Women & GirlsBarclay & Associates Charitable FundC. Stuart Edwards Fund Carpenter Family Charitable FundChatka Ruggiero Charitable FundDas Gupta Family Charitable FundDavid S. & Cheryl C. Tartakoff Charitable FundDwight W. and Sharyn A. Austin Charitable FundErika & Bill Shorney Charitable FundFrank & Mary Kay Slocumb FundGreffin Family Charitable FundHanson Family Charitable FundHarrel-Stull Fund John F. Flynn Charitable FundLinda G. Sahagian & Douglas A. Stewart Charitable FundLinda Gunzburger Educational FundLinden-Hibbert Charitable FundLouis Charitable FundMarcel Fremont Fund Mary Olson Charitable FundMcClure Family Charitable FundShepherd Charitable FundTom Neumann Memorial Summer Learning FundWallis Austin Family Charitable Fund

DesignatedAustin Gardens TrustBernard & Cecelia Sinkevitch FundCommunity Foundation Annual Giving FundEbinger Family Charitable FundElizabeth Snow Memorial FundEye on India FundFallon Family Library FundGeorge Barnes Charitable FundHelen M. Harrison Oak Park Library Books FundHerbert Beck Charitable FundJeffrey Allen Gates Special Education FundJohn and Shirley Klem Charitable FundKuumba Emmanuel FundLaura Southwick FundMike & Kathy Eddy Memorial Fund to support West Suburban Special Recreation AssociationOak Park Development Corporation FundOak Park Head Start FundPark District of Oak Park Austin Gardens FundPEO FundRidgeland Common Redevelopment FundSnow Community Service Fund

Field of InterestAccess to Recreation Endowment FundBeck Seniors Fund Community Foundation Communityworks FundCommunity Partnership FundEleanor Teng Women’s Care and Advocacy FundFollett Music Awards Charitable FundFuture Philanthropist FundOak Park-River Forest Near West Health Education Fund

ScholarshipBernard “Duke” Gawne Scholarship FundBolin Cooper Charitable FundCarlos Baldoceda Memorial FundCatherine Devereux Brandstrader FundCharlotte Cooper Memorial Scholarship FundChicago Musical Arts Club Scholarship FundCrystal Charitable FundElizabeth Snow Scholarship FundFollett Music Awards Charitable FundJames A. Gates Oak Park District 97 Teacher Scholarship FundJohn C. Swanson Scholar Foundation Fund (OPRFHS)Kathleen Marian Garrigan Leadership FundKathy McMahon Adams Scholarship FundMargaret and Urile Wyche Scholarship FundOak Park & River Forest High School Scholarship FoundationRotary Club of Oak Park and River Forest Scholarship FundRotary Summer Enrichment FundScoville-Hutchinson Library FundTibensky Family Scholarship Fund

In addition to the nonprofit organizational endowment funds on Page 6, here is a list of the other active funds we now manage. An advised fund has one or more people advising the Foundation on gifts to make from the fund. A designated fund is one that has been established for a specific purpose and gifts from these funds may only be used for the purpose stated. A field of interest fund

provides resources for a range of organizations, activities and opportunities that address a particular field of interest. A scholarship fund is established for the specific purpose of giving scholarships in support of educational opportunities.

oak park community foundation, 2012

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