Morton Community Foundation - Est. 2000
Gather, Grow, Grant
AUGUST FUNDIVERSARIES
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MORTON COMMUNITY SERVICES FUND
This fund was one of the 5 original funds established by the founding Board of Trustees of the MCF in 2000. The purpose of the fund is to support projects and organizations, in the field of Community Services (Morton's Police, Fire, and Street Departments, and other community services), for the benefit of the residents of the Morton, Illinois area.
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MCF TODAY AND TOMORROW FUND
This is a non-endowed fund that supports the day-to-day operations of the Morton Community Foundation.
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MORTON EDUCATION FUND
This fund was one of the 5 original funds established by the founding Board of Trustees of the MCF in 2000. The purpose of the fund is to support projects and organizations, in the field of Education (either our public, parochial, or private schools.)
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MORTON IMPACT FUND (Unrestricted Community Grants Fund)
This fund was one of the 5 original funds established during the Morton Community Foundation's "Founder's Campaign" in 2000. The purpose of the Morton Impact Fund is to provide annual grants to support the broadest range of local charitable needs - including future needs that often cannot be anticipated at the time your gift is made.
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MORTON PARKS AND RECREATION FUND
This fund was one of the 5 original funds established during the Morton Community Foundation's "Founder's Campaign" in 2000. The purpose of the fund is to provide support for projects and organizations, in the field of Parks and Recreation, for the benefit of the residents of the Morton, Illinois area.
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MORTON PUBLIC LIBRARY ENDOWMENT FUND
This fund was one of the 5 original funds established during the Morton Community Foundation's "Founder's Campaign" in 2000. The purpose of the fund is to further its mission to “actively connect people to books, resources, and technology; and provide opportunities for learning, collaboration, and enjoyment."
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MAHRT, RENEE MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND
This fund was started in August of 2005 by Cathy & Dan Mahrt in memory of the sudden passing of their late daughter Renee. The established purpose of the fund is to provide annual college scholarships to MHS Senior girls who participated in and demonstrated a commitment to either track or cross country during high school.
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HANNAH’S RED ROCKET ENDOWMENT FUND
This fund was started in August of 2013 by Heather and Michael Thompson, Hannah's parents. Heather and Michael established this fund to assist Morton area parks, schools, library, and other charitable organizations in providing individuals with disabilities or special needs inclusive recreation opportunities, by supporting the purchase of “accessible” and/or "adaptive" (hereinafter "Accessible") equipment for public spaces in the Morton area.
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GERBER, ETHEL MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Originally established in 1998 through a gift from the Ethel Gerber estate, this scholarship was transferred to the Morton Community Foundation in 2014 for long-term management. It provides annual scholarships to MHS seniors pursuing a career in education, with priority given to students with financial need.
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PERFORMING AND VISUAL ARTS ENDOWMENT – MORTON CUSD 709 FUND
This fund was started in August of 2014 by Morton CUSD 709 with funds from a donation given to them by a local family. The purpose of the fund is to provide annual grants to support: the purchase of equipment, defraying the costs of participation in performing and visual arts-related activities, competitions, etc.
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MORTON COMMUNITY BIKE TRAIL IMPROVEMENT FUND
This fund supports the Village of Morton and the Morton Park District by providing matching funds required of them for awarded state or federal bike trail development grants.
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MORTON UNITED FC (SOCCER CLUB)
This fund supports the Morton United FC’s overall charitable mission of promoting soccer within the Morton school district. It helps advance both boys’ and girls’ programs, from 4v4 to 11v11, with competition at the local and regional levels.
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ROBIN SNYDER MEMORIAL NURSING SCHOLARSHIP
The Robin Snyder Memorial Nursing Scholarship was established in August of 2024 by family and friends in memory of Robin. The fund’s purpose is to provide an annual scholarship to an MHS Senior graduate who intends to pursue a nursing career.
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KRISTIN GILLES KOCH “SPIRIT FOR LIFE” FUND
The fund allows Kristin's parents, Steve and Tonya Gilles Koch, to recommend annual grants to qualified nonprofit organizations that support individuals with disabilities. Beneficiaries may include groups such as Heart of Morton, Easter Seals, The Penguin Project, Best Buddies, and other organizations dedicated to serving children and adults with special needs.
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CENTRAL ILLINOIS PICKLEBALL CLUB ENDOWMENT
The purpose of the Fund is to provide annual grants to support the Central Illinois Pickleball Club in promoting and growing the sport of pickleball throughout the region, including equipment, programming, and initiatives that foster community engagement, inclusivity, and healthy recreational opportunities for players of all ages and skill levels.
Morton Community Foundation Awards $121,350 in 2026 Community Grants
Students at Blessed Sacrament School gather with their teacher on the floor, engaging hands-on with new Montessori learning materials made possible by a $4,588 Morton Community Foundation 2025 Community Grant. What began as a gradual transition quickly blossomed into a full embrace of Montessori learning, fostering independence, curiosity, and confidence—while drawing growing interest from new families throughout the community.
The Morton Community Foundation (MCF) is proud to announce the distribution of $121,310 in grant funding to 33local organizations and initiatives as part of its 2026 Community Grant Cycle.
While these Community Grants represent an important and highly visible part of MCF’s work, they are just one piece of a much larger impact. In fact, this year’s Community Grants account for approximately 19% of the Foundation’s total projected grantmaking of $628,550 in 2026.
The remaining grant dollars will be distributed through Donor Advised and Designated Funds, Agency Funds, and Scholarship Funds — each providing support to specific organizations, causes, and students throughout the community.
Powered by Endowment
All of this grantmaking is made possible through the generosity of donors who have established more than 150 endowment funds at MCF, totaling nearly $20 million. These funds are permanently invested, with a portion of the earnings distributed each year to support the long-term needs and opportunities within the Morton area.
This endowment model ensures that gifts made today continue to give back forever — providing a steady and reliable source of funding for local nonprofits, schools, parks, libraries, and other community assets.
A Balanced Approach to Community Impact
Within the Community Grant program, funding was thoughtfully distributed across key areas of need:
Education & Schools (49%)
Nonprofits & Community Organizations (29%)
Recreation & Youth Programs (14%)
Public Safety (8%)
Nearly half of all Community Grant funding supports education, reinforcing MCF’s commitment to students, classrooms, and learning environments. At the same time, meaningful investments were made in nonprofit organizations, youth programs, and public safety initiatives.
Investing in What Matters Most
Among the 35 grants awarded this year are several projects that will have a lasting and visible impact:
New playground equipment at Lettie Brown Elementary School
Program enhancements at local churches and nonprofit organizations
Bleachers and equipment upgrades for youth sports programs
Expanded access to books and programming through the Morton Public Library
Advanced training and medical equipment for local first responders
In addition to these larger projects, many grants support smaller but important needs such as classroom resources, music and arts programs, and community-based initiatives — ensuring that funding reaches a wide range of organizations and residents.
Part of a Bigger Picture
“Community Grants are often what people see most clearly because they involve an application process and a public announcement,” said MCF Executive Director Scott Witzig. “But they represent just one part of a much broader effort made possible by our donors.”
The majority of MCF’s grantmaking happens quietly and consistently through endowed funds created by individuals, families, businesses, and organizations — all working together to strengthen the Morton community over time.
A Community Effort
The grantmaking process includes careful review by both internal and external committees, ensuring that funding decisions reflect thoughtful discussion and multiple perspectives.
Ultimately, these 35 grants — and the broader $637,600 in total projected grants for 2026 — represent a community coming together to invest in its future.
From classrooms and playgrounds to first responders and nonprofit programs, the impact of these grants will be seen and felt throughout Morton for years to come.
For the full listing of 2026 Community Grants, click the button below…
2026 Incentives Available to Multiply Your Impact
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Through this program:
• Donors to qualified endowment funds can receive a 25% Illinois state tax credit on contributions.
• Tax credits are capped at $100,000 per donor annually (up to $400,000 in donations).
• $5 million in tax credits are available statewide for 2025, with 25% reserved for contributions of $25,000 or less.
• MCF can receive up to $3 million in qualified contributions.
Act quickly—credits are first-come, first-served.
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The Caterpillar Foundation offers a year-round Matching Gifts Program that matches employee and U.S. retiree donations to eligible charities on a 1:1 basis, up to $10,000 per participant annually.
This means that if you are a Caterpillar employee or retiree, your donation to the Morton Community Foundation can be doubled, significantly enhancing your contribution to the community.
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Donating appreciated stock offers unmatched tax benefits, such as avoiding capital gains tax on the appreciated value while deducting the full fair market value of stock held for more than 12 months.
For example, if you purchased Apple stock 10 years ago at $20 per share, a gift of 100 shares now worth $20,000 would have cost you just $2,000. You avoid taxes on $18,000 in gains and can deduct the full $20,000 as a charitable deduction for tax purposes.
Stock donations are easy, take minutes online, and are completely free for you and your advisor. Learn more on our website, or call for a no obligation discussion.
Make a Difference Today
These programs amplify your impact while offering significant tax benefits, especially if your donation qualifies for several, or all the above incentives. Whether supporting the Morton Public Library, education, or other local non-profit organizations, your gift goes further in 2025.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Free monthly books for every child under five who lives in Tazewell County.
Children under five years old who live in Tazewell County are now eligible to receive a free book each month through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program in partnership with Tazewell County Libraries. The free books are offered to all children under five in the county, regardless of family income.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library was launched in 1995 by The Dollywood Foundation, providing free books to children in Patron’s home area of Sevier County, Tennessee. The goal of the program is to inspire a love of books and reading among children.
Alissa Williams, Director of the Morton Public Library said, “Libraries are committed to education and learning. As research shows early literacy skills lead to success in school. We want all children to have easy access to books, so partnering with Imagination Library made sense.”
Tazewell County’s Imagination Library program is funded by donations. Anyone can donate to support the Tazewell County Imagination Library program. A fund has been established at the Morton Community Foundation and donations can be sent to Morton Community Foundation ATTN: Imagination Library Fund, 135 S. First Avenue, Morton, IL 61550. Donations may also be made online.
Genna Buhr, Director of Fondulac District Library added, “this program allows Tazewell County libraries another avenue to share the joy of books and the gift of reading in our community. We can’t wait to get books in the hands of children throughout Tazewell County.”
Children must be registered by a parent or guardian in order to receive the books. There is no charge to register or receive the books. Age-appropriate books are mailed directly to the homes of registered children each month. Parents or guardians may register their children online by filling out a brief form at imagination library.com. Registered children will begin receiving books at their home address about eight to 10 weeks after their forms are received. The first book distributed is always the children’s classic, “The Little Engine That Could.”
The program’s impact has been widely researched, and results demonstrate its positive impact on early childhood development and literacy skills. Penguin Random House is the exclusive publisher of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. For more information, please visit www.imaginationlibrary.com.
Trusted for Good
Giving generously—to support your favorite cause or establish a permanent legacy—requires trust. At the Morton Community Foundation, we don’t take that trust lightly. Whether you’re starting an endowment or donating to one of our existing funds, you can be confident knowing we’ve met the highest standards for accountability, transparency, and ethical stewardship.
These commitments are reflected in the memberships, accreditations, and designations you’ll see recognized in the footer of every page of our website.
We are proud to be accredited for National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations, the nation’s highest measure of excellence in the field. This rigorous accreditation, overseen by the National Standards Board (a subsidiary of the Council on Foundations), confirms that we meet strict legal, ethical, and operational standards.
We’re proud members of the Alliance of Illinois Community Foundations, a statewide network that fosters collaboration, learning, and advocacy among community foundations in Illinois. This membership keeps us connected to best practices and collective impact strategies.
Candid (formerly GuideStar) has awarded us the Gold Seal of Transparency, recognizing our commitment to openly sharing our goals, financials, and impact. It’s a sign to donors that we’re accountable and aligned with best nonprofit practices.
We’ve earned a 4-Star Rating from Charity Navigator, their highest possible score. This distinction reflects our strong financial health, accountability, and transparency—so you can give with confidence.
As an active member of the Morton Chamber of Commerce, we’re deeply connected to our local business and civic community. Our membership reflects our commitment to supporting local partnerships and advancing the economic and social vitality of Morton.