News Archive

Soaring Schools! grows in its impact.
As an outcome of Soaring Schools! work done with the Foundation, Mattoon Schools hosted a Failure Is Not an Option®: Courageous Leadership for School Success Summit at Arland D. Williams, Jr. Elementary School on August 13 - 15, 2007. Five hundred faculty and staff from Mattoon and neighboring districts in eastern Illinois will use the interactive Summit to create fully collaborative, high-performing professional learning communities that ensure success for all students. You can find more information about this here.

New Grant Program Recieves 38 LOIs:  The Regional Alliance for Youth (RAY) is an outgrowth of a Summit sponsored by the Lumpkin Family Foundation in March 2006.  Summit participants founded RAY out of a desire to help children and youth in the region reach their potential.  Through its grant program, RAY will support initiatives designed to bring about systemic change in the sector providing services for children and youth in the region.  RAY is no longer accepting LOIS for 2007.  Click here for more information about the Regional Alliance for Youth.

Results of Capacity Building Study Available: In the fall of 2006, The Lumpkin Family Foundation commissioned a study to obtain independent perspective on how to enhance capacity building services available to communities and determine an appropriate future role for our own Nonprofit Excellence Program. Click here to view a copy of the study.

Planning Study for a Local Food Program: The Lumpkin Family Foundation has issued a Request for Proposal for a Planning Study to support and launch its Local Food program. Click here for more information.

The Lumpkin Family Foundation is offering a workshop on March 21 - 22 for Central Illinois consultants who work with nonprofit organizations. The workshop will focus on innovative tools and strategies that can be used during strategic planning exercises with nonprofit board and staff members. Four spaces still available. Click here to learn more about this event.

Regional ACTION TEAM to be Formed as Follow-up to Summit: Nominees are sought for a regional ACTION TEAM to advance the vision of an East Central Illinois where all children and youth are helped to reach successful futures. Nominations must be received by November 10, 2006. Click here for more information about the ACTION TEAM.

Building Blocks Training Announced: We are proud to be a sponsor of the Building Blocks for Success in the Workplace workshop, hosted by the Coles County Inter-Agency Council, which will be help on October 11 in Mattoon,
Il. The cost is $30. Click here for more information for the Building Blocks Training.

The Kids Summit: On March 29 and March 30 , 2006, 74 people from across East Central Illinois came together to learn from each other, strengthen their relationships, and prepare for coordinated action. Click here to see a copy of the findings and recommendations from this summit hosted by The Lumpkin Family Foundation.

Evaluating Ourselves: At the end of 2005, The Lumpkin Family Foundation wrapped up its first ever strategic plan. One element of this plan was to become more accessible to potential grantees and more transparent in our communications. With the understanding that grant-seeking organizations are more likely to provide honest feedback to an outside consultant, we engaged Iris Krieg & Associates to survey the 134 nonprofits that had applied for a grant the previous year. Click here to see the full results of the survey.

Acting On What We Learned: We asked nonprofit organizations to take the time to fill out a questionnaire and speak to a consultant. You might wonder what will change as a result. We listened to what you said and now we are making some changes. Click here to see the list of the consultant’s 10 recommendations and The Lumpkin Family Foundation’s response to each.

The Lumpkin Family Foundation, in partnership with Eastern Illinois University's Business and Technology Center, hosted a leadership training program from January to April 2006. Twenty nonprofit professionals came together eight times over this period to learn, connect and grow. Click here to see the evaluation of the The Institute for Nonprofit Excellence.

Downstate Illinois Nonprofit Conference: This exciting first-time event brought together nearly 200 nonprofit professional from across the downstate area to hear inspirational and education speakers and connect with their colleagues. Visit the conference page.

Nonprofit Excellence Program Results of Fundraising Survey: The Lumpkin Family Foundation held two-day training workshops in 'Fundraising for Small Nonprofits' on both October 1-2 and November 13-14, 2003. A total of 87 staff and board members, representing 57 different organizations in Central Illinois, attended the sold out events.A brief survey was distributed at the workshop to better understand where organizations were in terms of their fundraising and training needs. Click here for survey results.

Peer Networking for the Environment: On October 20 and 21, 2005, we hosted our biannual Gathering of Environmental Grantees, entitled: Ensuring a Clean and Sustainable Water Supply in Illinois: Successes and Challenges Ahead. Click here for more information about The Gathering.

2005 Grants: In 2005, The Lumpkin Family Foundation awarded 64 grants through five competitive grant programs and an additional four through the Board Opportunity Fund. Click here to see a list of all 2005 grants.

2004 Grants: In 2004, The Lumpkin Family Foundation awarded 65 grants through five competitive grant programs. Click here to see a list of all 2004 grants.

2003 Grants: In 2003, The Lumpkin Family Foundation awarded 34 grants through three competitive grant programs. Click here to see a list of all 2003 grants.

50th Anniversary Report: Click here to view the 50th Year Anniversary Report.