Match Day giving blunts drop in Community Foundation for Muskegon County assets by Dave Alexander | The Muskegon Chronicle Thursday June 25, 2009, 8:21 AM

The current Community Foundation for Muskegon County theme of "give ... thanks" was appropriate for the Match Day announcement at the foundation's annual luncheon.

Contributors, local nonprofit organizations and foundation leaders all were "giving thanks" for the final report on last month's Match Day fundraiser and for the approximately $525,000 in checks handed out to 58 participating agencies, amid a year when foundation assets were down significantly.

Match Day was an event in which the foundation and more than 15 of its donor-advised funds that put up a $75,000 match. Some 94 foundation-associated nonprofits had the ability to raise funds and be matched 50 cents on every dollar raised May 28.

Total match: $75,000

Total gifts raised: $449,594

Nonprofits receiving donations: 78

Nonprofits sharing in the match: 58

Most funds raised: Child Abuse Council

Most match money received: First Congregational Church

Highest average gift: Ravenna Public Schools endowment

Most number of gifts: Love Inc.
Source: Community Foundation for Muskegon County

"Muskegon again has risen to the occasion as it has done so many times," foundation President Chris McGuigan in reporting on Match Day final results. "We met and surpassed our greatest expectations."

Match Day was launched this year because of the downturn in the economy and the stock markets which have hurt local nonprofit organizations at a time when community needs are increasing.

The economic recession could be seen in the foundation's 2008 annual report presented to the annual luncheon at the Holiday Inn Muskegon Harbor.

The foundation's investments were down 30 percent in 2008, while the foundation brought in $5.6 million in new gifts and 46 new funds were created.

The Effingham County Community Foundation and Mattoon Area Community Foundation have forged an alliance that will extend philanthropic opportunities for southeastern Illinois.

The resulting organization, Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation, will provide administrative and technical assistance to its local member community foundations (initially Effingham County Community Foundation and Mattoon Area Community Foundation).

Joedy Hightower, president/CEO of the foundation, said, “Across the country, these community foundation partnerships have proven to be an effective way for communities to support local charities without taking on the cost and administrative burden of managing an endowment. The member foundations retain their own identities, but have access to the professional staff, fund management and investment expertise of the umbrella foundation. This results in reduced administrative expenses for the local foundations.”