MADISON, IN – The 2076 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship application is now available in Jefferson County through the Community Foundation of Madison and Jefferson County (CFMJC). The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program (LECSP) will provide 147 scholarships statewide and one scholarship in Jefferson County. LECSP scholarships may be used for otherwise unreimbursed full tuition, required fees, and a special allocation of up to $900 per year. The special allocation may cover the costs for required books and equipment for four years of undergraduate study on a full-time basis leading to a baccalaureate degree at any eligible Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university.

The program, administered statewide by Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI) and locally in Jefferson County through CFMJC, is open to all Indiana residents who:

• graduate from an accredited Indiana high school by 2027 and receive their diploma no later than June 30, 2027;
• intend to pursue a full-time baccalaureate course of study at an eligible college or university in Indiana;
• meet the criteria specific to their local community foundation

Jefferson County student applications will be evaluated on, but not limited to, the following criteria:

• Reside in Jefferson County, Indiana;
• Attend an accredited high school in Jefferson County, Indiana;
• be in the top 10% of their graduating class (minimum 3 per school);
• complete the online application (link provided on www.cfmjc.org/lecs)

A minimum of four finalists will be nominated by CFMJC, and their names will be submitted to ICI for final selection of the recipient. Jefferson County’s scholarship recipient will be notified in December 2026.

Jefferson County utilizes a blind review process to provide anonymity to the applicants and the review committee. Initial scoring is primarily based on academics, with additional scoring for extracurricular involvement and letters of recommendation. Selected finalists will write a timed essay and participate in an interview, with that scoring being added to the initial score.

Students can learn more about the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship in Jefferson County and apply for this scholarship by visiting CFMJC’s Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship page. Applications must be completed and submitted by NOON on Wednesday, August 12, 2026 to be considered.

Lilly Endowment Inc. created the LECSP for the 1997-98 school year and has supported the program every year since with tuition grants totaling more the $505 million. More than 5,400 Indiana students have received Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships since the program’s inception.

The primary purposes of LECSP are: 1) to help raise the level of educational attainment in Indiana; 2) to increase awareness of the beneficial roles Indiana community foundations can play in their communities; and 3) to encourage and support the efforts of current and past Lilly Endowment Community Scholars to engage with each other and with Indiana business, governmental, educational, nonprofit and civic leaders to improve the quality of life in Indiana generally and in local communities throughout the state.

To apply or for more information about the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship, visit our Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship page, contact Julie Wells at 812-265-3327, or email julie@cfmjc.org.

Since 1991, the Community Foundation of Madison & Jefferson County has worked with charitably minded people and organizations to strengthen Jefferson County, Indiana. The Foundation’s mission is to build a strong, vibrant community by helping donors provide perpetual funding for the people, projects, and passions of Jefferson County.

Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based, private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly Sr. and his sons, Eli and J.K. Jr., through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. Although the gifts of stock remain a financial bedrock of the Endowment, it is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff, and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education, and religion. The Endowment funds significant programs throughout the United States, especially in the field of religion. However, it maintains a special commitment to its founders’ hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana.

Since 1997, Independent Colleges of Indiana has administered the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program statewide with funding provided by Lilly Endowment Inc. Founded in 1948, ICI serves as the collective voice for the state’s 28 private, nonprofit colleges and universities. ICI institutions employ over 22,400 Hoosiers and generate a total local economic impact of over $5.3 billion annually. Students at ICI colleges have Indiana’s highest four-year, on-time graduation rates, and ICI institutions produce 30 percent of Indiana’s bachelor’s degrees while enrolling 20 percent of its undergraduates.

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MADISON, IN – The membership of the Women’s Giving Circle of Jefferson County (WGCJC) voted to grant $25,956 to nine organizations with programs and projects benefitting women and children in Jefferson County. Grants are awarded using money collected from membership dues and donations made in 2022, as well as the annual available amount from the Women’s Giving Circle Endowment in Memory of Bonnie Hare. Awards are made to qualifying 501(c)3 organizations that apply through the annual WGCJC competitive grants cycle and have a project and/or program that impacts one of four fields of interest: Education, Economic Empowerment, Physical & Mental Health, and Violence & Crime Prevention.

The nine organizations are:
• CASA of Jefferson County – to support the Recruitment, Training, and Retention project
• Children’s Advocacy Center of Southeastern Indiana, Inc. – to support the Madison Consolidated Schools Prevention Education program
• Dupont Community Park Committee/Dupont Town Board – to support the creation nof the Dupont Playground/Park
• The Freedom Center, LLC – to purchase furniture for the therapy office
• Habitat for Humanity of Southeast Indiana – to support the Clifty Woods Subdivision affordable housing project
• Hanover Community Garden – to support the Connecting Youth to Nature and Nutrition program
• Hanover Happy Holidays – to provide books for distribution to youth attending the Holly Jolly Santa celebration
• Jefferson County House of Hope – to support the School Backpack Food project
• Prince of Peace Catholic Schools – to provide a fence around the preschool playground

The Women’s Giving Circle is a group of philanthropic-minded women of all ages, means, and backgrounds who combine their financial strength to make a positive change for the women and children of Jefferson County. Annual membership to the WGCJC is a $100 tax-deductible contribution. Junior memberships are $50 and open to girls ages 18 and under. Of the $100 annual donation, $75 goes in a fund for the annual grant cycle and $25 is placed in an endowment fund for future granting. The junior membership is split $25/$25. Assets of the WGCJC are held and maintained at the Community Foundation of Madison & Jefferson County.

For more information about the Women’s Giving Circle, contact Julie Wells at 812-265-3327, by email at womensgivingcircle@cfmjc.org, or join online at www.cfmjc.org/wgc.

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Representatives of the nine 2022 Women’s Giving Circle Grant Cycle recipient organizations met on April 28, 2023 at the Community Foundation office to celebrate and accept their awards. Pictured are: Row 1 (from left): John Bush-Jefferson County House of Hope, Jessica Whitham-Children’s Advocacy Center of Southeastern Indiana, Liz Cooper-The Freedom Center, Amy Ralston-Prince of Peace Catholic Schools, Barb Ford-Hanover Community Garden Row 2: Cheryl Patton-Dupont Playgroun/Park, Shelby Wilson-Habitat for Humanity of Southeast Indiana, Whitney Roberts & Brenda Holbrook-CASA of Jefferson County Row 3: Dawn Jines-Dupont Playground/Park, Megan Varble-Hanover Happy Holidays, Amanda Thompson-Habitat for Humanity of Southeast Indiana Row 4: Women’s Guiding Circle Members Lynn Maricle, Jean Herron, Kathy Crafton, and Leah James.

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MADISON, IN –The Community Foundation of Madison & Jefferson County, Inc. (CFMJC) recently received accreditation with the nation’s highest standard for philanthropic excellence. National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations® establish legal, ethical, effective practices for community foundations everywhere.

“Meeting the National Standards benchmarks is a rigorous, comprehensive process,” said Randy Royster, former board member of the Council on Foundations. “This accreditation is a significant accomplishment that indicates CFMJC demonstrates a commitment to transparency, quality, integrity and accountability as it carries out its mission.”

The National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations® program requires community foundations to document their policies for donor services, investments, grantmaking and administration. With approximately 450 community foundations already actively accredited nationwide, and approximately 550 participating, the program is designed to provide quality assurance to donors, as well as to their legal and financial advisors.

“This is critically important to our donors,” said Bill Barnes, CFMJC President & CEO. “When people make a charitable bequest or establish a fund, they are putting their trust in us. They are counting on us to manage the investment wisely, honor their charitable wishes, and in some cases, provide lifetime income to a loved one. The National Standards accreditation says our house is in order.”

CFMJC works to meet critical community needs and support local causes, including supporting the arts, community development, preservation, and youth education and development, to name a few.

CFMJC offers a range of charitable funds, allowing donors to advance a cause, support an individual organization, provide flexible support for community needs or recommend individual grants. In addition to affirming the organization’s philanthropic services, the accreditation validates CFMJC’s grantmaking practices for the nonprofit community.

“Grantmaking is a lot like investing,” said Stephanie Withered, CFMJC Board Chair. “We need to assess risks, weigh potential gains, diversify assets, monitor performance and operate fairly. With our National Standards accreditation, you can be assured that we’re doing just that.”

National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations® is the first program of its kind for charitable foundations in the United States.

Established in 1991, the Community Foundation of Madison & Jefferson County, Inc. fulfills the mission of building a strong, vibrant community by helping donors provide perpetual funding for the people, projects, and passions of Jefferson County, Indiana.

The Community Foundations National Standards Board is a supporting organization of the Council on Foundations and is responsible for the quality, value and integrity of compliance with National Standards. For more information on the National Standards Board, visit its website at www.cfstandards.org.

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REMEMBERING FORMER PRESIDENT & CEO LOUISE MARKEL
1947 – 2022

The Community Foundation of Madison & Jefferson County (CFMJC) is saddened to hear about the passing of former President & CEO Louise Markel.

Louise was hired as the second employee of CFMJC in 1992. She was hired as the bookkeeper and to assist the late Ann Grahn, who was the Foundation’s first President & CEO. Louise was promoted to President & CEO in 1996 and remained in that position until her retirement in March 2010. 

In her 18 year tenure, Louise helped to grow the Foundation as a local and regional leader. She saw the Foundation award its first grants and scholarships, navigated the organization through its first adoption and accreditation of National Standards, saw the creation of the Legacy Society, and led the Foundation through additional matching and grant opportunities from Lilly Endowment Inc. During her tenure, CFMJC also launched affiliate community foundations for Dearborn, Ripley, and Switzerland Counties, which are now their own stand alone organizations. Louise also had a passion to help convene the Hispanic/Latino Commission which led to the creation of La Casa Amiga in 2003. Even though the market decline in 2008 cancelled the annual competitive grant cycle, the Foundation offered the Help Your Neighbor grant program to help those charitable organizations that provided basic needs to area residents.

Following her retirement, Louise moved away from Jefferson County to be closer to family, but she held the community in high esteem in her memories. Because of that, her family decided to hold a Celebration of Life for her here in Madison and have designated that memorial contributions come to the Community Foundation. In honoring Louise, all memorial contributions will be placed into our largest Flexible Community Fund, the Jefferson County Enrichment Fund, to help address the greatest needs when they are needed most. To give an online memorial contribution, click HERE. 

Thank you, Louise, for your dedicated service to the Community Foundation and the residents of Jefferson County. You will be greatly missed.

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More information on Louise and her Celebration of Life:  https://www.morgan-nay.com/obituary/louise-markel

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