Morton Community Foundation - Est. 2000
25 Years of Gather, Grow, Grant
Give Local…
Strengthen Morton!
December Fundaversaries
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Something for Others Fund
(Established December 2007)
A donor advised fund created to inspire service, leadership, and generosity—especially among young people—by supporting projects that make a difference through compassionate action. -
Kuhl Family Charitable Fund
Established December 2007)
A donor advised fund that brings an entire family together each year to select charities they love, teaching generosity and strengthening community through shared giving. -
TCRC Endowment Fund
(Established December 2010)
An agency endowment providing long-term support for TCRC’s programs serving individuals with developmental disabilities, visual impairments, and families across Tazewell County. -
Tari L. Cruse Memorial Scholarship Fund
(Established December 2010)
Honors Tari’s perseverance by assisting single-parent nursing students at OSF College of Nursing who demonstrate compassion, resilience, and commitment to care. -
Robert W. Brown Memorial Scholarship Fund
(Established December 2011)
Provides an annual scholarship to a deserving Morton High School senior, honoring Robert W. Brown through support for students pursuing their educational goals. -
Jim & Marcia Rinkenberger Fund for Peoria Christian School
(Established December 2011)
A designated endowment providing annual support for the general operations of Peoria Christian School, created by the Rinkenbergers after witnessing the school’s impact on their grandchildren. -
Bernice L. Oberlander / Lynne R. Walters Library Children’s Summer Reading Fund
(Established December 2011)
Ensures the Morton Public Library’s Summer Reading Program continues for generations by funding performers, prizes, and literacy experiences for hundreds of local children each year. -
Bethel Lutheran School Endowment Fund
(Established December 2012)
Provides lasting support for Bethel Lutheran School’s educational mission, helping strengthen Christian teaching and student learning year after year. -
MHS Band Endowment Fund
(Established December 2013)
Supports the Morton High School Band with annual grants for equipment, scholarships, and educational enrichment—helping continue the band program’s long tradition of excellence. -
Morton CUSD 709 Youth Golf Fund
(Established December 2014)
Supports youth golf development in Morton schools by helping cover equipment, instruction, travel, and participation costs for junior high and high school golfers. -
Continuing Excellence in Math Education & Accounting Scholarship
(Established December 2021)
Provides two annual scholarships to MHS seniors pursuing careers in math education or accounting, created by Tim and Kim Gryl to honor teachers who shaped their lives. -
Renee Mahrt Memorial Scholarship Fund
A memorial scholarship supporting MHS students who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership, and strong character, honoring the life and impact of Renee Mahrt.
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Myron & Laura Litwiller Memorial Scholarship
(Established December 2023)
Supports MHS seniors pursuing careers in education—especially special education—honoring Myron’s legacy and the lasting life lessons inspired by his daughter, Laura. -
Jeanette A. Smith Memorial Bethel Lutheran School Tuition Assistance Fund
(Established December 2024)
Provides tuition assistance for students attending Bethel Lutheran School, continuing Jan Smith’s passion for education, reading, and nurturing young learners.
2025 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.