The Hillsboro Community Foundation receives its nonprofit and tax-exempt charity status as an affiliate of the Central Kansas Community Foundation. Based in Newton, CKCF is the host foundation to 18 affiliates in the central Kansas region, supporting rural philanthropy.
As the host and legal entity for the affiliates, CKCF provides administrative, accounting, investment, and many other services for all affiliates. CKCF is accredited with National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations® – the highest standards for philanthropic excellence.
As an affiliate, HCF benefits from the organizational reach, training and guidance of CKCF. HCF is also able to reduce its cost of operations through shared administrative expenses while ensuring compliance with all charitable foundation requirements.
Since 2008, the Hillsboro Community Foundation has held an annual grant-making process in which qualified non-profit organizations may apply for a grant from one of several HCF endowment funds. In this time, over $265,000 in grants have been awarded to a wide range of causes and projects.
Applicants generally include local charities, churches, city departments and USD 410. Requests often cover projects or programs related to the arts, health, underserved children, youth recreation, or education.
A committee consisting of four HCF Board members and two non-Board community members reviews the applications and makes grant recommendations. The annual grant cycle is just one of the methods used by HCF and its donors to create a positive impact in the community.
The Hillsboro Community Foundation delivered its first ever gift to the community by raising more than $10,000 toward the purchase of a thermal imaging camera for the Hillsboro Fire Department. The camera was later credited with helping save the hospital from a near disastrous fire on New Year’s Day, 2006.
Over the years, HCF has continued to support and enable donor contributions to community emergency service needs, such as water rescue equipment, EMS training mannequins, police dash cams, and others.
In 2023, HCF issued grants in support of the purchase of a drone for the fire department and the purchase of rifle-rated armor vests for the police department.
This year the Hillsboro Community Foundation is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its founding in 2004. The foundation was established to give interested donors a way to make a lasting impact in the Hillsboro and surrounding communities through long-term endowments and the funding of community projects.
Through the generous support of individuals, families, businesses, and other organizations, HCF has distributed more than $1,150,000 through the foundation to organizations in local communities over the past 20 years.
Each week in this space, we will remember various accomplishments and events in the foundation’s history, and let you know more about what the foundation does and can accomplish in the future. Join us as we celebrate the Hillsboro Community Foundation in 2024!
The fifth annual #GivingTuesday event will be held on November 30th, 4:00 – 6:00 pm, at the Hillsboro City Hall meeting rooms. The Hillsboro community and surrounding areas are cordially invited to participate in this event sponsored by the Hillsboro Community Foundation.
HCF Facilitates Police Department GrantThe Hillsboro Police Department recently received a $10,000 grant for dash cameras.
In August TCW Broadband applied for the CoBank Sharing Success matching grant on behalf of the Hillsboro Police Department. The grant, which was for the purchase of dash cameras, was awarded to the Hillsboro Police Department in late September. CoBank and TCW Broadband each provided $5,000, for a total grant amount of $10,000. TCW worked with the Hillsboro Community Foundation to provide pass-thru services for the funds.
“We are excited to be in Hillsboro and look forward to bringing more opportunities, like this grant, to the community.” Said TCW CEO Dale Jones.
Hillsboro Mayor Lou Thurston added, “TCW is an integral part of the Hillsboro community. They represent the best in what private/public partnerships are all about. We thank them so much for making possible this very generous donation that will improve the safety of our citizens and police officers.”
TCW Broadband partnered with CoBank to finance the Fiber to the Premise Broadband project in Hillsboro. CoBank is one of the largest private providers of credit to the U.S. rural economy, delivering loans, leases and other financial services to agribusiness, rural infrastructure, and Farm Credit customers in all 50 states.
The CoBank Sharing Success grant has contributed millions of dollars to groups such as volunteer fire departments, local schools, and hunger relief programs.
Reprinted from the Hillsboro Free Press
HCF Hosts Farmers Market MealOn Thursday, August 19, 2021, the Hillsboro Community Foundation served approximately 180 meals as it hosted its annual Farmers’ Market Ribeye Sandwich Meal at Memorial Park in Hillsboro. Proceeds went to support HCF’s ongoing expenses for promotion of the foundation.
Hillsboro Community Foundation Seeking 2020 Grant ApplicationsThe Hillsboro Community Foundation is accepting applications for grant funds to be distributed in 2020. Area charities are invited to apply for up to $20,000. The Hillsboro Impact Fund has approximately $10,000 available for supporting charitable project/programs that benefit those in the Hillsboro community. Two health funds have approximately $8,000 to help support local health issues and children’s health care in and around the Hillsboro community. The Hillsboro Community Foundation Arts Fund has around $2,000 available for local art initiatives that enrich the community.
Organizations may apply that are exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) and serve Hillsboro and surrounding communities. Applications must be completed online at centralkansascf.org under the apply tab. The deadline for submission is 5 p.m. January 8, 2020.
Grants will be announced and awarded at the Hillsboro/Halstead high school basketball game on February 11.
The Hillsboro Community Foundation, an affiliate of Central Kansas Community Foundation, was established to promote and facilitate charitable giving in support of projects/programs that enhance the quality of life in Hillsboro, Kansas. Successful applications assist the foundation in fulfilling its mission.
For mor information about non-profit funding opportunities, contact HCF director Virginia Martens at 620-947-0170 or by email at director@hcfoundationks.org.
###
About Hillsboro Community Foundation. Hillsboro Community Foundation was formed in early 2004 with 7 board members. It was announced at a special meeting of community leaders on May 3, 2004. The Hillsboro Community Foundation exists to promote and facilitate
charitable giving in support of projects and programs that enhance the quality of life in the USD 410 community. Since the formation of the Hillsboro Community Foundation $460,063.85 has been given back to the community through grants and scholarships.
About the Central Kansas Community Foundation
Our mission: Building Stronger Communities through Charitable Giving. Our vision is being the leader in philanthropy in the communities we serve, connecting donors with meaningful programs and causes, strengthening charitable organizations, providing leadership on local and regional issues, and building permanent community resources. Together We Can Accomplish Great Things!
Virginia Martens, Director
Hillsboro Community Foundation
director@hcfoundationks.org
620-947-0170
The third annual #GivingTuesday event will be held on December 3, 4:00-6:00 pm, at the Hillsboro City Hall meeting rooms. The Hillsboro community and surrounding areas are cordially invited to participate in this event sponsored by the Hillsboro Community Foundation (HFC).
Click here to download the full press release.
Community Foundation awards grants to several groups at ball game15 organizations received grants from the Hillsboro Community Foundations for a total of $21,730 given out. The checks were presented during halftime of the Hillsboro boys game two weeks ago.