Community Foundation Holds Statewide Meeting
The Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation hosted a one-day meeting of community foundations from around the state at City View on the 20th floor of the Bank of the James building in Downtown Lynchburg last week. The Community Foundations of Virginia is a statewide association of 37 community foundations located in cities and regions across Virginia. The meeting was attended by 70 staff and board members. This is the first time the association has met in Lynchburg since 1999.
The keynote speaker was Karl Stauber, President & CEO of The Danville Regional Foundation who spoke on “Ways Community Foundations Can Engage in Their Communities”. The meeting agenda included three panel discussions on “Women and Philanthropy”, “Engaging the Next Generation in Philanthropy”, and “How Community Foundations Fund Operations”. Lunchtime roundtable discussions included “Ways to Engage”, “Things I Wouldn’t Do Again”, “Scholarship Issues”, and “Maintaining Market Momentum During Difficult Times”.
Collectively, The Community Foundations of Virginia oversee over $1 billion in assets for the perpetual benefit of charities and programs in communities across the state.
Meeting attendees were introduced to local sites such as Monument Terrace, Amazement Square, Riverfront Park, Academy of Fine Arts, The City Market, and Point of Honor. Stuart Fauber, President & CEO of The Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation, commented that “hosting this association meeting attended by 70 community leaders from around the state was an excellent opportunity for us to show off Lynchburg and Central Virginia. Attendees were impressed by the bird’s eye view of our beautiful city from City View.”
The Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation was established in 1973 and exists to promote local philanthropy and to simplify the process of planned giving. The Community Foundation receives and manages permanent gifts for the benefit of the citizens of the cities of Lynchburg and Bedford and the counties of Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford and Campbell. Needs served are broad in scope including human services to children, youth, the needy and the elderly; education; health; the arts; and the humanities.
The Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation currently has 157 named funds and an unrestricted fund, with assets of $27 million. The Community Foundation currently makes grants of over $1.3 million annually in our community. It is one of approximately 700 such community foundations across the nation rendering a valuable service both to the regions they serve and also to donors interested in the present and future of their communities.