Building a Foundation for a Better Community

Fifty-thousand pencils, enough to last kids at 18 local schools a month. Weatherizing to make 40 neighborhood homes more cozy this winter. Training to help teens recognize and avoid dating abuse.

These are just a few of the good works made possible by the first grants from the Angie’s List Foundation, a nascent organization, yes, but one that formally manifests the company’s longtime emphasis on community service.

Our mission is to improve the near-Eastside of Indianapolis, where we’ve been based for more than a dozen years. The first grantees are either our neighbors or organizations that provide services to improve the local community, better children’s lives and enhance education.

Initial funding kicked off with a company donation, supplemented by employee contributions. Employee participation is an important element of the foundation, which builds on the company’s already strong culture of volunteerism.

Recognizing that, the foundation provides not only community grants, but makes small matching donations to augment the hours or money individual employees give to their favorite causes.

I want to thank the employees who co-chair the foundation’s advisory committee and serve as committee members. Also, we’re indebted to the Central Indiana Community Foundation, experts on philanthropy management, which oversees our foundation.

While our effort is still in its infancy, taking baby steps so far, I’m thrilled to know that we’re up and moving in the right direction.

Want to know more about the Angie’s List Foundation? Email [email protected].

(This post originally published on AngieHicks.com.)