The Brown County Community Foundation (BCCF) began in 1993 with an initiative announced by The Lilly Endowment Inc. LEI offered Indiana communities a challenge to establish local foundations, cultivating local philanthropy, to respond to local needs.
The first annual meeting was held in June 1994 where the President of the Board, Barton Updike, introduced the Board of Directors and announced the Larry C. Banks Memorial Scholarship as the first endowed fund established by BCCF. In 1995, Del Newkirk became the first full time Executive Director and under his visionary leadership the Foundation’s influence and assets began to grow.
Brown County Community Foundation continues to be a driving force in the community; demonstrating leadership around civic issues, increasing scholarship opportunities and directing more effective granting all made possible through the responsible stewardship of the funds donated by local citizens, companies and organizations. In August of 2014, BCCF was gifted a home for its offices and community activities. Thanks to the generosity of the Howard Hughes Trust, BCCF is the proud owner of the Howard F. Hughes Community Building in Nashville. The Foundation operates out of the renovated second floor and the ground floor is a community space to support local nonprofits and social organizations.
BCCF operates as a 501 (c)(3) corporation. It professionally manages and distributes income from charitable bequests consistent with the donor’s wishes and interests. In other words, BCCF manages charitable funds, making grants to local, nonprofit organizations based on advice from donors. Donors can specify a specific organization or a general area of concern within the community to which their gift be directed.
The Brown County Community Foundation provides community-wide collaborative leadership through philanthropy, mobilizing people and resources
to make a positive impact.
Core Values:
Diversity:
We seek and embrace the participation and perspectives of people and communities that reflect who we are as a region and we are committed to ensuring all residents have the opportunity to thrive.
Integrity:
We will uphold the public trust placed in us to ensure that we exhibit the highest ethical standards, honor our commitments, remain objective and transparent, and respect all our stakeholders.
Stewardship:
We govern the organization with a “Duty of Care” and “Duty of Loyalty” to preserve, protect, and grow our resources while safeguarding donor intent in perpetuity.
Leadership:
We will lead by example, listening to the voices in our community to convene, connect, and catalyze positive change to build a better tomorrow.
Creativity:
We believe the power of imagination is greater than the challenges we face and support programs that represent creative solutions to society’s problems
Excellence:
We will enhance and reward nonprofit best practices and fund projects which represent innovation and increase efficiencies within sustainable organizations.
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 191
Nashville, IN 47448
Street Address
209 Van Buren Street North
Nashville, IN 47448 (do not mail anything to this address)
