History

On January 6th, 1954, the Articles of Incorporation were filed to create the North Manchester Community Foundation, a conduit through which the charitable goals of individuals and organizations could be realized. 

Twenty people were selected to make up the Foundation, with five chosen as Directors. Nolan Walker (pictured) was nominated and elected the first president of the Foundation. The other directors included Dale Strickler, Leslie Yoder, Paul Beam, and Elwood Dunlavy. Janice Walrod served as the first secretary. 

Lilly Endowment, Inc. presents its first phase of the Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow (GIFT) program, that would have a tremendous impact on shaping the Community Foundation to what it is today.  

Currently, the Community Foundation’s Early Award Scholarship Program (EASP), launched in 2016, is leading the field in innovating post-secondary finanical aid through child savings accounts (CSAs). The program is being researched by Dr. William Elliott of the Center for Assets, Education, and Inclusion at the University of Michigan. Dr. Elliott’s preliminary research finds that EASP strengthens participating students academically and socio-emotionally.  Early Award Scholarships helps develop a college-bound identity, which contributes to success in school.  

As well, the Foundation is working to develop an early childhood collaborative model, in which childcare sites would share a director, therefore increasing efficiency, reducing operational costs, and providing greater compensation for credentialed caretakers and educators. With a shared services model, the barriers for childcare sites to improve their quality of care would be lessened, teacher turnover would be reduced, and more low-income families would be able to afford childcare. 

Of course, the Community Foundation’s work and impact in the community over the past thirty years would not be possible without the support of Lilly Endowment, Inc. It is the Endowment’s steadfast commitment to Indiana community foundations that continues to challenge community foundations to grow and become leaders and trusted community partners. Since 1990, the Endowment has presented seven phases of the GIFT program, which encourages community foundations to strengthen unrestricted endowments, fund special projects, and inspire others to give through challenge grants. The Community Foundation has successfully met all Endowment challenges, which has earned millions in support for the County. 

Today, the Community Foundation is in the midst of GIFT VII, which further encourages community foundations to be leaders and valued institutions in their communities. Through GIFT VII, the Endowment has allocated up to $125 million in funding for eligible Indiana community foundations. Through GIFT VII, the Community Foundation has been awarded $250,000; a $100,000 unrestricted grant as part of a Community Foundation 100% board giving matching grant program, and $150,000 for work related to addressing high-priority community challenges and opportunities. The Community Foundation has deemed population decline as Wabash County’s greatest threat, as population determines school funding, the availability of professional and retail services, industry and job growth, competitive wages, and talent. To address population decline, the Community Foundation partnered with Grow Wabash County in 2019 and convened the City and County of Wabash and the towns of Lagro, LaFontaine, North Manchester, and Roann to create an unprecedented, countywide comprehensive plan for growth called Imagine One 85.  Imagine One 85 was adopted by all of the county's elected governing bodies during the summer of 2022.