The Community Foundation of Macon County and Decatur Earthmover Credit Union Collaborate on $1 Million Moving Forward Grant Program
Macon County - The Community Foundation of Macon County (CFMC) and Decatur Earthmover Credit Union (DECU) announce a first-of-its-kind, comprehensive $1 million grant funding collaboration, Moving Forward. This new initiative will provide increased 2024 grant funding opportunities for nonprofit organizations to help them advance the communities they serve through their projects and programs.
Moving Forward includes four discretionary open-call grant programs – Places & Neighborhoods (awarding $100,000), Impact200 ($200,000), Emergency Services Support ($100,000) and CommunityWorks ($400,000). An additional $200,000 in grant funding will benefit Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), emergency services, financial literacy, arts, and summer education programs. As part of this collaboration, CFMC folded two of their annual grant programs, CommunityWorks and Impact100, into Moving Forward, doubling each program’s available grant funding.
Funding will be granted in several of the areas where DECU branches are located – Macon, Moultrie and Piatt Counties and Paris, Ill. Grants will be distributed throughout 2024, and interested organizations can learn more about the application process and specific timelines at maconcountygives.org/moving-forward.
“Decatur Earthmover Credit Union has been a consistent supporter of The Community Foundation’s mission,” said Natalie Beck, CFMC President and CEO. “Since 2007, DECU has held multiple funds with us, and they are continually seeking ways to help area residents. DECU is dedicated to serving their credit union members and communities. They are rooted in the credit union tradition of people helping people.”
“Decatur Earthmover Credit Union is committed to improving the lives of our members and the communities we serve,” said Barry Schmidt, DECU President. “Whether it is donating to local organizations or encouraging our employees to volunteer, we want to be part of everyone’s continued success. We look forward to helping area nonprofit organizations financially and bringing awareness to the work these groups do every day to improve the lives of people in our community.
“We have worked with The Community Foundation of Macon County in the past, and we are impressed with the positive impact they have on our area,” Schmidt added. “We are excited to partner with them again.”
“Moving Forward is a year-long comprehensive community grant program,” said Beck. “The partnership with DECU reflects a deep commitment by both organizations to improve funding for under-resourced community organizations and programs. We are dedicated to building healthier, more resilient, better resourced and inclusive communities. The program is designed to encourage nonprofit organizations to take the long view and develop big, innovative projects that bring about systemic change.”
