Starke, Fulton and Miami County Community Foundations comprise the Northern Indiana Community Foundation, Inc. This arrangement allows us to do more for our individual counties by being more cost effective, as well as getting a greater return on our investments. Collectively the counties hold assets in excess of 14 million dollars, and have distributed over 9 million dollars via grants and scholarships since inception.  

The NICF is the legal entity through which each of the counties' Community Foundations operates. Each of the three counties sends representatives to serve on the NICF board and finance committee.

NICF Board members: (back row) Ben Daulton, Dennis Ellers, Ron Douglas, Fred Vorm, Brad Lawrence (front row) Allan Terrell, Susie Perkins, Bob Hoffman, Barb McLaughlin, Mat Swanson

NICF Board of Directors
President: Susie Perkins, Miami
Vice President: Brad Lawrence, Starke
Secretary: Phyllis McGurk, Fulton
Treasurer: Fred Vorm, Starke

Starke County Representatives:
Gene Ladd, Brad Lawrence, Barb McLaughlin, Pat Mitchell, Fred Vorm

Fulton County Representatives:
Dennis Eller, Lance Nelson, Phyllis McGurk, Alan Terrell

Miami County Representatives:
Rev. Steve Ailes, Ron Douglas, Max Hattery, Susie Perkins, Tyra Walker

Like many of the Community Foundations of Indiana, ours were made possible by Lilly Endowment, Inc.'s GIFT (Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow) Initiative. Currently Lilly Endowment, Inc. is no longer offering matching grants to the communities. Instead, they have begun a new initiative that challenges the Community Foundations throughout the state to raise funds for sustainability. The Sustained Resource Development Initiative has inspired Community Foundations to seek funding for their own operating endowments—thus allowing them to maintain a local presence and to continue to serve their communities.

While the Community Foundations were created through matching grants from Lilly Endowment, Inc. we are not an affiliate of that organization.