March, 2013
From the Desk of Terry Anker, Legacy Fund
Greetings from Legacy Fund!
March saw not only the tumultuous transition of Indiana weather but also
a significant change in the Legacy Fund office.
While construction of our first-ever in-the-office suite bathroom was expected
to be the big news (it is very exciting to not have to go outside to go to the
bathroom), we learned that Mark Robbins had decided to move back to the private
sector as the CFO of a group of companies in the
agriculture, trucking, and real estate industries.
This month saw
the culmination of several new funds including the creation of sister funds in
one of the school corporations that will not only lead to a more efficient
administration, but also the expectation of more money under our
management. Also, we signed agreements
with a nonagenarian leaving the bulk of her eventual estate to be administered
by Legacy Fund. It is expected that
$1,000,000 or more will be divided between two separate directed funds. Thanks to all who worked on the
projects.
Staff continues to canvas the
county to expand understanding of the work of Legacy Fund. We continue to
routinely meet with major community not-for-profits, existing fund-holders,
civic leaders AND our own Board and committee members. We want to see and connect with you – but if
we seem delayed, rest assured we are not eating lunch at our desks. We are actively in the community each day
carrying the message of our work. I
continue to take introductory meetings with civic and business leaders to ask
them for an Angel Investor commitment ($30,000 three-year commitment) to
operational cost. We continue to see
success, but as the connection to the community foundation become less direct,
more time is required to tell the story.
I was asked to serve on the Indiana Grantmaker’s Alliance statewide
planning group. At the first meeting in
April, I learned a great deal from our peers (including that Legacy Fund is in
good shape – we can improve in many ways – but we are very competitive with
other non-urban foundations).
The new Committee structure is
working. The Development Committee is
reviewing all in-process work from staff and generating its own lists of names
and contacts for us to pursue. The
Governance Committee is planning its retreat and is preparing to recommend new
members for our committees and Board.
Staff is assembling those names and planning the retreat now. Grants has completed another round of its
work this month and continues to be a highly productive and desired
committee. Likewise, Scholarships did yeoman’s
work as well and is looking forward already to next year.
Working with the Youth Assistance
Program has been very rewarding to date.
As
progress continues, I’ll keep you posted.
In the meantime, if you know of anyone that might enjoy serving on an inaugural YAP Board, let me know so that I can connect them to other
likewise interested.
That’s probably all you want to
know for now so I’ll stop bending your ear!! We are a little late with this
month’s letter. I was out a few days
last week on a family vacation (thank you) and have been catching up ever
since!
Thanks for your attention and
please reach out if you’d like to catch-up (I’ll buy breakfast, lunch or
drinks!).
Terry Anker
Legacy Fund President
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