The Greater Sitka Legacy Fund, an Affiliate of The Alaska Community Foundation, is pleased to announce a major gift to its permanent endowment. Sitka resident, Beverly Caldwell, donated $12,800 to GSLF, bringing 2017 contributions to the permanent endowment for Sitka to $25,000 to date. The gift is the largest single donation by an individual to GSLF in its four-year history.
Caldwell contacted GSLF Chair, Mike Venneberg, after reading about the fund’s matching gift challenge. Rasmuson Foundation and The Alaska Community Foundation have pledged to match 100% of contributions to the GSLF permanent endowment up to $125,000 between 2017 and 2020. During the first year of the challenge, GSLF set a goal of raising at least $25,000. Venneberg reports that Caldwell called him shortly after the Chamber of Commerce meeting when GSLF announced its 2017 goal and the four-year matching challenge. “I want to help,” Caldwell said.
“Mrs. Caldwell’s gift is such a great example of the generous spirit of Sitkans,” says Venneberg. “She helped us meet this year’s goal earlier than we expected, and gave us a big head start on meeting our four-year matching grant challenge. I am optimistic that other members of the community will follow her lead.” Venneberg explains that donations early in the four-year campaign are especially valuable, because they are deposited in the GSLF endowment and begin generating income immediately. “That means that we will have more funds available to make grants next year.”
Venneberg emphasizes that GSLF is still gratefully accepting 2017 gifts to its permanent endowment, and all gifts made this year will count toward the four-year matching challenge. In addition, GSLF has a goal of raising $15,000 for its operating endowment in 2017, to qualify for an additional $15,000 in matching funds from ACF and Rasmuson Foundation. The operating endowment supports GSLF’s sustainability. As of November 30, GSLF still has an additional $12,425 to raise for the operating endowment before the end of 2017 to meet this goal.
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About the Greater Sitka Legacy Fund
The Greater Sitka Legacy Fund (GSLF) is a permanent charitable fund for the communities in the Sitka area and one of 10 Affiliate Community Foundations under the umbrella of The Alaska Community Foundation. GSLF’s goal is to support local resiliency and self-reliance by promoting individual, family and business philanthropy and providing grants to local projects and organizations. GSLF is focused on keeping resources invested locally in a permanent charitable fund to help meet today’s needs and provide a reliable source of funding for the future. For more information, visit www.greatersitkalegacyfund.org.
About The Alaska Community Foundation
Established in 1995, The Alaska Community Foundation (ACF) is a statewide platform for philanthropy that connects people who care with causes that matter. Managing more than $86 million in assets and over 433 funds for the benefit of Alaskans, ACF and their Affiliates grant $3 million to $5 million each year to charitable projects and nonprofit organizations across the state. ACF’s mission is to inspire the spirit of giving and connect people, organizations, and causes to strengthen Alaska’s communities now and forever. For more information, visit www.alaskacf.org or call 907-334-6700.