Earlier this month, Legacy Fund changed its name to Hamilton County Community Foundation to better reflect who the foundation serves, partners with and supports. In addition to the new name, the foundation has a new mission, vision and strategic direction. It’s the result of more than a year’s worth of intentional community conversations and research conducted by staff, the board of directors and a special task force. Learn more about the strategy from president, Tom Kilian, in his extended podcast interview on For Good.

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WHO YOU’RE LISTENING TO

* Kim Jacobs – WFYI Public Media

* Tom Kilian – president of Hamilton County Community Foundation

DISCOVER MORE

* We are ready for change – a blog from Tom Kilian

* Legacy Fund announces new name—Hamilton County Community Foundation – a CICF post about recent Celebration of Philanthropy event

Welcome to For Good, Central Indiana Community Foundation’s podcast highlighting stories about passion, purpose, and progress in Central Indiana. At CICF, we believe in opportunity and equity. We believe that our communities and neighborhoods are stronger because of our diversity. And we believe that with innovation and boldness, central Indiana can be a place where everyone can reach their full potential, no matter their place, race, or identity.

This is our community. And these are your stories.

Earlier this year, the community foundation of Hamilton County changed its name to better reflect the people it serves. Legacy Fund, an affiliate of Central Indiana Community Foundation is now Hamilton County Community Foundation, but that’s not all they’re working on. I’m Kim Jacobs for this special episode of “For Good,” featuring Hamilton County Community Foundation’s president, Tom Kilian. In addition to rolling out a new name, the foundation is also launching a new strategic framework to lift up the communities opportunities and address its challenges. Tom, thanks for joining us.

TOM: Thank you for having me.

Hamilton County Community Foundation. Tell me about it.

TOM: We were founded in 1991 by a group of individuals in Hamilton County who saw the need to create a community foundation. About seven years after that we ended up forming a partnership with the Indianapolis Foundation, which ultimately created the Central Indiana Community Foundation. And since that time have been in a wonderful partnership, really focusing our efforts both on Marion in Hamilton County, to create a better opportunity, a better environment for those that live in our community.

What is a community foundation do exactly, what does it mean?

TOM: I think it means three things. I think it means that we’re there to help lead on certain initiatives in our communities, places where our citizens need our help. We’re there to work with donors and their philanthropic interest and what’s important to them. We’re also there to help grant dollars back out to the community to deserving non-profits who are helping improve our landscape. One of the things that we’ve been doing over the course of the last two years is understanding that many of our residents have a passion and desire to specifically fund their community. And so over the last couple of years we’ve been developing city funds,