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Highland Park Community Foundation reports just over $1 million in grants; city support cited as critical
Summary
The Highland Park Community Foundation told the council it awarded 64 grants totaling just over $1,000,000 this year—an 11% increase—funding about 80% of requests. Foundation leaders thanked the city for a $300,000 contribution and described major allocations to education and human services.
The Highland Park Community Foundation reported to the City Council’s Committee of the Whole that it awarded 64 grants this year totaling just over $1,000,000, an increase of about 11% from the prior year.
Jerry Olin, executive director of the foundation, said the organization funded “about 80% of what was requested” and credited the city’s $300,000 contribution as a key part of the foundation’s capacity to meet rising needs in areas such as childcare, housing and food assistance. "We funded about 80% of what was requested," Olin said during the presentation.
The foundation broke the award totals into categories: education received approximately $362,190 across 17 organizations (split roughly between early childhood and K–12 supports); creative and cultural arts about $130,000 to eight organizations; senior services roughly $42,000 to two organizations; and human services—its largest share—about $411,800 to 28 organizations. Within human services, counseling programs received about $111,000, food-security efforts about $54,000 and general human-services grants about $243,300.
Presenters noted the foundation’s endowment has grown to more than $8,000,000 and that the city’s support helps leverage other private and corporate donations. The foundation also said it participates in the Illinois Gives tax-credit program to encourage donations and reported continued growth in corporate and foundation “champions.”
Council members thanked the foundation for its work and asked about trends and funding sources. Foundation leaders said increases reflect both rising community need and expanded fundraising activity; they asked the council to continue its $300,000 annual support, which the foundation described as integral to sustaining grant awards.
The presentation closed with council appreciation for the foundation’s volunteer leadership and staff, and an invitation to maintain close coordination on grant priorities and outreach.
What’s next: The foundation will continue its grant cycle and outreach; council members indicated support for the foundation’s work but posed follow-up questions about particular programmatic priorities and future budget coordination.
