Guilford Foundation Participates in National Community Foundation Week
Last week, the Guilford Foundation joined more than 700 communities in celebrating the nationally recognized Community Foundation Week by doing pretty much what it always does-reaching out to connect those who need help with those who can help.
Implemented in 1989 by former president George H.W. Bush, the purpose of Community Foundation Week is to highlight the importance of supporting one's community by becoming involved and serving as an active philanthropist to a variety of local organizations.
"Essentially what we're trying to do this week is simply raise awareness about what philanthropy is and what a community foundation is and, in particular, in Guilford what a community foundation does," said Guilford Foundation Executive Director Liza Petra. "It's really an opportunity to share our secret little resource here about ways our community can give and be philanthropic in a community foundation, which is by the people and for the people. The dollars and dividends stay local."
Petra said the foundation's goal is to serve as a "hub of charitable giving between citizens who care about Guilford and the local organizations doing the work."
One of the ways the foundation took part in Community Foundation Week, from Nov. 12 to 16, was when Petra spoke at the Guilford and Madison Chamber of Commerce's quarterly Women in Business luncheon on Nov. 14. The executive director said the purpose of that was to share her experiences of partnering with residents to support worthy organizations. The local foundation also spread the word through its social media pages.
The Guilford Foundation began in the 1970s with five natives getting together to plant trees around the Guilford Green. Decades later, the group is thriving, with last year being its most successful year to date.
"We're a very welcomed secret and we've been around for 38 years," said Petra. "It's pretty amazing to be a part of this and we're looking to continue to grow.
The Guilford Foundation serves its town and also works with the Branford Foundation and Madison Foundation for its foundation fuel initiative. The Guilford Foundation is perhaps best known as a place where residents can go to establish funds to support issues or entities that matter to a specific individual.
The foundation also maintains an endowment of about $1.4 million and supports local initiatives by providing grants to a variety of organizations and groups in town such as senior citizens, students at Guilford Public Schools, or art programs.
"In addition to responding to requests from local non-profit organizations, we try to get to out in front of the lines and identify what issue there might be and raise funds around that and sponsor it," Petra explained. "We're also a good source for individuals in the community who might want to give and want to be philanthropic, but potentially don't know...which organizations in the community would best serve their own philanthropic needs."
To learn more about the Guilford Foundation, visit www.guilfordfoundation.org or call Liza Petra at 203-745-9930. To learn more about Community Foundation Week, head to the Council on Foundations website, www.cof.org.