April 11, 2023 – The Community Foundation of Macon County announced a total of $24,000 in grant awards to 14 recipients for the professional development micro grant program.
Macon County Legacy nonprofit organizations were eligible to apply for up to $2,000 in microgrants per organization to fund professional development programs.
“It’s crucial for nonprofit staff to stay on top of trends and strategies, as well as technology advancements,” said Natalie Beck, Community Foundation of Macon County president. “However, we know many nonprofits aren’t able to include professional training within their operating budgets. The microgrant program removes this financial barrier.”
Microgrants can be used for:
- Conference registration and associated travel costs
- Course enrollment
- Board development
- Webinars
- Workbooks/books/toolkits
- Online resources
- Customized training
The organizations receiving micro grants are:
- Boy Scouts | $1,400 | Supports a staff person traveling to receive district operations training from their national organization in West Virginia.
- Children’s Museum of Illinois | $2,000 | Supports 2 staff members in attending the national Association of Children’s Museums conference in New Orleans.
- Decatur Family YMCA | $2,000 | Supports sending 2 staff members to the annual NAYDO conference in Houston.
- Decatur Parks Foundation | $1,500 | Supports sending 2 zoo staff members to the Akron Zoo Chapter annual conference in Ohio.
- Empowerment Opportunities Center | $1,500 | Supports sending 1 staff member to the National Community Action Partnership Annual Convention in Atlanta.
- Energy Assistance Foundation | $1,900 | Supports sending 2 staff members to the National Energy and Utility Affordability Coalition Conference in San Diego.
- Good Samaritan Inn | $2,000 | Supports various staff trainings in topics of nonprofit finance and attendance at the Illinois Specialty Crop Conference and the Housing Matters Conference.
- Habitat for Humanity | $840 | Supports sending staff and board members to the Illinois Habitat for Humanity conference in Bloomington.
- Macon County CASA | $1,500 | Supports sending staff and board members to the Illinois CASA Conference in Springfield.
- Mamie D. Hayes Educational Foundation | $1,500 | Supports a staff member in receiving their Myers Briggs certification.
- Northeast Community Fund | $2,000 | Supports bringing in an expert to facilitate a training for their board of directors on the topic of embracing change.
- Old Kings Orchard | $2,000 | Supports bringing in an expert to facilitate an all-staff training to help staff better support youth in the Juvenile Justice System.
- Ronald McDonald House Charities | $2,000 | Supports sending staff members to the annual Ronald McDonald House Conference of the Americas in Chicago.
- United Way | $2,000 | Supports sending 2 staff members to the annual Alice Summit in New Orleans.
