History

Since 1975, the Polk County Community Foundation has been dedicated to advancing philanthropy and improving the quality of life for all citizens in the community centered in and around Polk County. The Foundation receives charitable donations of all sizes from community members and then distributes grants to area nonprofits, awards scholarships to local students, manages endowment funds for local nonprofits, and administers other funds tailored to the specific charitable wishes of individual donors.

Charitable Giving

The Foundation offers a wide range of simple and flexible fund options to help donors meet their charitable goals. Donors and local nonprofits establish funds and set the criteria for distributing grants from those funds. Some funds require a competitive application process and others pay grants automatically to designated nonprofits. Planned gifts such as charitable remainder trusts and bequests are easily arranged at the Foundation.

Currently, the Foundation manages more than 200 funds, including permanent endowed funds, non-permanent funds, and charitable remainder trusts. More than 100 new funds have been established since 2000, with total assets now exceeding well over $75,000,000. Funds are professionally managed and distributed through a conservative spending plan, which provides steady and predictable annual distributions to meet community needs, even in the most volatile market conditions. Donations come from individuals and families in our community and grants are distributed in accordance with donors' wishes to benefit our community.

Our Process

Dedicated staff and more than 30 board and committee members keep, in perpetuity, all promises the Foundation makes to local philanthropists by always awarding grants and scholarships in accordance with donor wishes. Experienced local nonprofit volunteers enjoy their rotations of service to our community's foundation. Volunteers have remarked that evaluating grants for the Foundation is like having a front row seat to everything good that is happening in the community.

Vision & Mission

The vision of the Polk County Community Foundation is to advance philanthropy and improve the quality of life for all citizens in Polk County, North Carolina and the surrounding area.

The mission of the Polk County Community Foundation is to:

• Support charitable and beneficial activities in the community

• Provide and administer a variety of planned giving programs

• Serve as a responsible steward of all funds entrusted to it

• Provide initiative in recognizing areas of community needs and supporting solutions.

By the Numbers

• 49 Years of Continuous Service to the Polk County & Landrum Community

• $73 Million in Annually Audited & Professionally Managed Assets*

• 45% of Assets Were Donated for the Foundation to Address Evolving Community Priorities in its Discretion*

• $10.4 Million in Grants & Scholarships Awarded in the Past Five Years

• 92 Local Students Awarded Scholarships in 2023

• 84 Local Organizations Awarded Grants in the Past Five Years

• 27 Local Organizations Have Established Permanent Funds at the Foundation

• 50 Local Organizations Receive Annual Distributions from Endowment Funds

• $2.5 Million in Annual Average Gifts & Bequests Since 2005*

• 0 Fundraising Events or Campaigns

• 229 Permanent Endowed Funds & Non-Permanent Funds

• Many Options for Donors

     (All numbers as of Fiscal Year End 2023)
 

* Includes the Marjorie M. and Lawrence R. Bradley Endowment Fund, a separate corporation established by Marjorie Bradley’s will.