Several community leaders created the Community Foundation of Fayette County in late 1999. With the help of a resource development consultant, the initial funding for operations, grant making, and permanent endowment was obtained from several private foundations in our region. A popular matching program encouraged the creation of a number of additional charitable funds by local residents and pushed early support for the organization to almost $1.5 million.

   Laurel Highlands Beauty

 

              Photo by Debbie and Ray Hull

The Community Foundation began making grants in the spring of 2001 and has already contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to local charities and their projects. Through an affiliation with a private foundation, the Community Foundation obtained additional staff and operating funds and now manages a pooled fund of nearly $12 million. With realistic expectations of additional affiliations and investments, the Community Foundation is well-positioned to become an even more important resource to the residents of Fayette County.