Hamilton Community Foundation explains park fund, giving options to Morgan Township board

Jacob Stone Welch, director of donor services at the Hamilton Community Foundation, told the Morgan Township Park Board Advisory Committee that the foundation holds and administers a dedicated fund for the Morgan Township Community Park and can accept a range of gifts, including stock and IRA rollovers.

“We're here to help the community, support initiatives and give back in charitable ways,” Welch said, explaining the fund’s purpose and the foundation’s service area in Butler County and nearby communities. He said the foundation provides a fund-advisor portal the board can use to view donations and monthly statements and a public donation portal or QR code for residents who want to give directly to the park fund.

Welch described the fund’s finances and spending to date. He told the board that about $70,000 has been invested in the community park through the fund, with the largest items identified as trees and landscaping, a John Deere Gator (about $24,000) and landscaping work (about $18,000); a roughly $5,000 grant funded a fountain. He also clarified that playground equipment had been handled separately and is not reflected in this fund.

On disbursements, Welch said the foundation generally requires sign-off from both the parks board and a township staff member or trustee before releasing funds. He advised the board to copy multiple local contacts on requests and to avoid relying on the foundation as the board’s primary fundraiser: “I cannot be your fundraiser, and I cannot be managing any fundraising campaigns that you guys want to do,” Welch said, adding that the foundation can offer stewardship and advice but not run day-to-day fundraising for the board.

Board members were directed to use the portal and to make checks payable to the Hamilton Community Foundation with a memo line for Morgan Township Community Park when possible; Welch said that practice simplifies accounting and donor stewardship.