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The Brownsburg Education Foundation (BEF) seeks to encourage and support innovation, creativity, and excellence that will enhance the educational community of the Brownsburg Community School Corporation (BCSC). Founded in 1987, the BEF has been making a difference in the lives of students for almost 30 years. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization led by a seventeen member volunteer Board, the BEF was one of the first local public foundations in the state of Indiana.
The BEF received a grant from the Hendricks County Community Foundation to help support the professional development of Executive Director, Rene Behrend. She has taken a series of classes at The Fund Raising School at the Indiana University Lilly School of Philanthropy in Indianapolis sponsored through INAPEF (Indiana Association of Public Education Foundation). After taking four classes which included over 60 classroom hours of instruction, Rene received a Certificate in Fund Raising Management. The Fund Raising School teaches practical tools and useful strategies based on the latest research conducted by the IU Lilly School of Philanthropy. The knowledge gained through these classes will help the BEF formulate strategic plans and programs to make the most of the fundraising dollars donated from corporations and individuals.
“The grant from the Hendricks County Community Foundation is important because it helped pay for a class that will make me more effective with the BEF, and it also ensured that our donated gifts can go directly to benefiting the students that we serve,” said Rene. “Gaining this immense amount of knowledge will be useful for many years as our organization continues to grow, and I look forward to putting these skills to use to make the impact of the BEF even greater.”
The Community Foundation changed its funding priorities in 2016 to focus on nonprofit capacity including a regular nonprofit learning series and grants supporting organizational, professional and functional capacity for nonprofits serving Hendricks County. “This strategic focus is allowing your Community Foundation to support nonprofits in new ways by making grants and providing programming that help nonprofits serve our community even better,” says HCCF Program Officer Eric Hessel. “It is amazing the impact this $135 for the BEF may have on the development of their donors.” The Community Foundation is committed to continue its capacity building future through 2017.
The Brownsburg Education Foundation (BEF), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, was formed in 1987 and one of the first local public school foundations in Indiana. The Foundation’s mission is to encourage and support creativity, innovation and excellence to enhance the educational community of the Brownsburg Community School Corporation. The Foundation’s impact over the past three decades is over $1,400,000 awarded in grants and scholarships. Support for BEF programs includes gifts from BEF Corporate Champions Bill Estes Ford and Stutler Dental Care and Corporate Partners Adelsperger Orthodontics, Falcone Volkswagen, Subaru & Saab, Hendricks Regional Health, HomeGoods/TJX Foundation, IU Health, Miller Pipeline and Yankee Candle Fund Raising. To donate, volunteer, or for more information about the Brownsburg Education Foundation please call 317-852-1056 or visit www.brownsburgeducationfoundation.org
The Hendricks County Community Foundation partners with generous people to realize their charitable goals while addressing community needs in meaningful and lasting ways. The Community Foundation manages assets of over $11 million in a collection of funds created by individuals, families, businesses and organizations for charitable purposes. In 2015, the Community Foundation gave over $825,000 in grants to charitable organizations and scholarships to local students. For more information, call 317-268-6240 or visit www.hendrickscountycf.org.
