Every fund at the Morton Community Foundation begins with a story.

Sometimes it’s a family honoring a loved one. Sometimes it’s a donor passionate about education, the arts, or helping neighbors in need. Sometimes it’s a simple desire to give back to the community that gave so much.

The Kristin Gilles Koch “Spirit for Life” Endowment Fund is one recent example—created to honor a remarkable young woman whose joy, courage, and love for others continue to inspire acts of compassion and inclusion. Through this fund, and more than 140 others like it, generosity is transformed into permanent support for local charities, schools, and the Morton Public Library.

At its core, the Morton Community Foundation exists to build and steward endowment funds—ensuring that today’s generosity becomes tomorrow’s opportunity. Each fund is carefully managed so it can provide annual support not just this year, but forever.

Your year-end gift helps strengthen this system of lasting impact.

Your Generosity
Stayed Local in 2025

Help carry forward a joyful spirit for life

Two Ways to Make an Impact Before Year-End

OPTION 1: The Today & Tomorrow Fund is the engine that keeps the Morton Community Foundation running strong. Gifts to this fund support:

  • Day-to-day operations and staff who serve donors and nonprofits

  • Grantmaking, scholarship administration, and community leadership

  • Outreach, education, and the behind-the-scenes work that makes it all possible

When you give to the Today & Tomorrow Fund at year-end, you’re investing in the capacity of the Foundation itself—so we can continue strengthening Morton today and in the future.

Today and Tomorrow

OPTION 2: Support Your Favorite Fund(s) Prefer to support a specific cause that’s close to your heart? You can direct your year-end gift to any of our funds, including:

  • Scholarships for Morton students.

  • Designated and Agency funds benefiting local schools, nonprofits, and churches.

  • Donor-advised funds created by families and businesses.

  • Field-of-interest funds that support children and families, the arts, community development, and more.

Each fund is a story of generosity and vision. Browse our fund list to find the ones that align with your passions and values.

Visit All Funds

  • If you are a Caterpillar Employee or Retiree, you could be eligible for a dollar-for-dollar match from the Caterpillar Foundation. CLICK HERE to learn more, or to apply for the match.

  • Did you know that gifting appreciated stock is the most tax-savvy way to give? CLICK HERE to learn more, or to donate stock.

  • Your year-end gift may qualify for special tax advantages, including the Illinois Gives Tax Credit for eligible endowment gifts, or a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from an IRA if you’re age 70½ or older. There are very limited credits left for this year (A new round of $5 Million statewide starts in 2026), so hurry to claim your tax credit asap.

We encourage you to consult with your tax or financial advisor to explore how your year-end giving can be both generous and tax-smart. If you’d like to talk through options, we’re happy to visit with you.

Stretching Your Gift

How to Make Your Year-End Gift

You can support the Morton Community Foundation at year-end in several convenient ways:

  • Online: Give securely by credit card. Each individual fund has an online donation button. CLICK HERE for a list of all our funds.

  • Check: Make checks payable to Morton Community Foundation with your chosen fund in the memo line. Mail to: 135 S First Ave, Morton, IL. 61550. You can also drop off your check in our locked mailbox next to our back door.

  • Stock Donations: CLICK HERE for simple instructions on gifts of appreciated stock.

  • IRA QCD Distributions: CLICK HERE for information on Qualified Charitable Distributions from your IRA (Must be 70 1/2 or older).

  • Donate from your DAF: CLICK HERE for the easiest way to donate from your Donor Advised Fund.

  • Employer Match: If your employer matches charitable gifts, your impact may be doubled. Caterpillar employees and retirees, CLICK HERE.

  • However you give, THANK YOU for helping build a stronger Morton—today, tomorrow, and “forever.”

QUESTIONS?

If you have questions about giving at year-end, please reach out…

Portrait of a smiling middle-aged man with short gray hair and glasses, wearing a blue checkered button-up shirt, sitting on a tan chair against a plain light background.

Scott Witzig, Executive Director

A woman with blonde hair and glasses smiling, wearing a dark blue top with smocked sleeves and standing with crossed arms against a plain light gray background.

Darcy Roecker, Administrative Manager