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Heart of Illinois Community Foundation
The Heart of Illinois Community Foundation was established in 2000 as a public charity connecting donors with the needs of a three-county region in central...
Heart of Illinois Community Foundation
The Heart of Illinois Community Foundation was established in 2000 as a public charity connecting donors with the needs of a three-county region in central Illinois. President and CEO Natalie Beck oversees the organization's pooled investment portfolio and grantmaking, with Dr. Dana Ray elected Chair of the Board of Trustees in 2024. The foundation's mandate covers Macon, Moultrie, and Piatt counties, where it administers donor-advised funds, designated endowments, and competitive grant cycles. The foundation deploys capital across education, community heritage, and nonprofit capacity-building. Its scholarship programs target graduating high school seniors, adult learners, and workforce development — including a $1 million endowed program established by donors Bob and Kathy Wiesemann. Grantmaking extends to cultural initiatives such as the Untold Stories program, supported by a $50,000 grant from the Lumpkin Family Foundation, and the Macon County African American Heritage Trail, which installed its first two historical markers in September 2025. A $25,000 professional development grant program also supports educators across the foundation's three-county service area. Total assets are not publicly disclosed by the foundation. Grantmaking activity in 2026 reached 106 nonprofits, with the organization reporting $568,000 endowed through the Illinois Gives tax credit program in 2025. The foundation maintains membership in the Council on Foundations and the Community Foundation Opportunity Network, participating in national collaboratives focused on racial equity and systems change. In September 2025, the Macon County African American Heritage Trail launched with two historical markers and a dedicated website. The foundation operates as a geographic community foundation rather than a private family foundation, drawing its capital from a broad base of local donors rather than a single family source. Its structural differentiator is the combination of a permanent community endowment with a publicly appointed board, a model that distributes governance across civic stakeholders rather than concentrating it within a single family or corporation.
General information
Firm type
Endowment / Foundation
Year founded
2000
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Decatur
Corporate office
101 S. Main St., Suite 400, Decatur, IL 62523, United States
Principals
Natalie Beck
President and CEO
Dr. Dana Ray
Chair of the Board of Trustees
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation?
The foundation's Board of Trustees, chaired by Dr. Dana Ray, oversees the stewardship of its pooled investment portfolio. Day-to-day management is led by President and CEO Natalie Beck. The foundation's investment assets are not managed by a single named CIO; its structure as a community foundation means asset allocation and manager selection are typically guided by an investment committee of the board and may involve external investment advisors, though the specific advisory arrangement is not publicly detailed.
Is the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation a single-family office?
No. It is a 501(c)(3) public charity organized as a community foundation. Unlike a single-family office, it pools charitable assets from multiple donors — individuals, families, and private foundations — and a local board of trustees directs grants to serve Macon, Moultrie, and Piatt counties. It does not manage a single family's wealth or investment portfolio.
What is the foundation's relationship with the Lumpkin Family Foundation and the Andreas Foundation?
Both are co-investors and grantmaking partners. The Lumpkin Family Foundation provided a $50,000 grant to fund the Untold Stories program. The Andreas Foundation granted $751,545 to the foundation in 2025 to support its community initiatives. These private foundations channel capital through the community foundation to achieve local impact without administering grants directly in the region.
Where does the foundation's funding come from?
Funding originates from local donors and external private foundations. Named contributors include Bob and Kathy Wiesemann, who established a $1 million endowed scholarship program, and Mark and Susan Avery, who are significant donors to community initiatives. Donors establish advised, designated, or unrestricted funds; the foundation pools these assets and distributes income as grants.
Does the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation invest directly in companies or only make grants?
The foundation's deployment is entirely grantmaking to nonprofits and community programs. It does not make direct investments in for-profit companies, venture funds, or real estate beyond its pooled investment portfolio, which functions as a traditional nonprofit endowment invested for total return to support grantmaking over the long term.
How is the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation governed?
A Board of Trustees composed of local civic and business leaders governs the foundation. Dr. Dana Ray was elected Chair in 2024, succeeding Kris Lutt. The board holds fiduciary responsibility for the pooled investment portfolio, grantmaking decisions, and strategic direction. The foundation also builds regional governance capacity through a board-governance course taught in part by former trustee Bruce Nims.
What geographies does the foundation serve?
Grantmaking is restricted to Macon County, Moultrie County, and Piatt County in central Illinois. The foundation does not make grants outside these three counties. Its physical assets — including the Young Artists Showcase Collection — are housed in Decatur, the seat of Macon County.
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