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These grants are possible because of the Community Funds in each town. Initiated by Galesburg Community Foundation and developed by local residents, Community Funds are built through gifts from individuals who love their communities. They are guided by local advisory boards empowered to award grants that positively impact their communities and residents. 

All 501(c)(3) nonprofit or public charities, including churches, schools, and government agencies, are eligible to apply. Grant recipients will be notified by May 1. Organizations may apply to both the Community Fund grant cycle and The Turnout, Galesburg Community Foundation’s competitive grant cycle. The Turnout will be open July 1-15. 

Community Funds have supported a wide range of local initiatives, including mobile radios for the Alexis and Williamsfield Fire Departments, assistance for the Knoxville food pantry, contributions to the Community Thanksgiving Dinner in Monmouth, and flowers to enhance downtown beautification efforts in Roseville. 

“Community Fund grants are designed to support the ideas and organizations that make our communities vibrant places to live,” said DeAnne Bloomberg, Vice President of Programs at Galesburg Community Foundation. “From education and youth programs to community improvements, these grants help local leaders turn great ideas into real impact.”  

In addition to community grants, Community Funds are also supporting local teachers by offering mini grants to enhance the classroom experience. From March 16- April 1, teachers in the Knoxville, Monmouth-Roseville, United and Williamsfield school districts are encouraged to apply for teacher mini grants. Proposals may be for classroom projects and materials up to $500. Grants must be for the 2026-27 school year, and recipients will be notified by May 1. 

Mini grants have been used by teachers in the region to purchase curriculum, books, musical instruments, science equipment, and other resources. 

For more information about Community Fund grants for nonprofits or teachers, contact DeAnne Bloomberg at info@yourgcf.org or 309-344-8898. 

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“These grants are the first of many that will benefit the Williamsfield community today and years into the future,” said Dustin Courson, chair of the Williamsfield Community Fund advisory board. “I want to thank all of the donors who are supporting this permanent resource for the good of our community.”

The Williamsfield Community Fund is a fund of the Galesburg Community Foundation. It was developed in 2021 when the community raised $25,000 that was matched by the Community Foundation for an initial investment of more than $50,000.

The Williamsfield Community Fund is an endowed fund, which is a permanent fund where the principal is invested and grows forever. Guided by a local advisory board, a portion of the returns are awarded locally as grants to charitable organizations, offering valuable services and programs to the Williamsfield community.

Learn more about or make a gift to the Williamsfield Community Fund.You can also talk to a Williamsfield Community Fund advisory board member: Jeffrey Campbell, Dustin Courson, Megan Kraft, Lora Kukat, Joanie Stiers, or Lee Strom.

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The village of Williamsfield is home to a barn unlike any other in Knox County. Standing proud in Doubet-Benjamin Park, the bright red two-story structure is actually a playground for kids.

But that’s not the only thing that makes this barn special. Erected by dozens of volunteers of all ages and financed by a $150,000 joint fundraising effort among several community organizations, the Playground Barn-Raising Project is a testament to the power of community collaboration and vision.

The project’s success suggested the potential for the community to come together in even bigger ways—potential that is now being realized through the establishment of the Williamsfield Community Fund at the Galesburg Community Foundation. As an endowed fund, it represents an opportunity for Williamsfield to support critical community needs far into the future.

“When we were raising funds for the playground, how nice would it have been if 30 or 40 years ago the community leaders had established a fund like this to draw on?” said Dustin Courson of the Williamsfield Parks Association.

For Lora Kutkat, who is joining Courson on the fund’s steering committee, long-term planning is especially important for small towns like Williamsfield, which has a population of roughly 550. “The village operates mainly on taxes, and those may not cover the capital and infrastructure improvements we know will have to happen in 20 or 40 years,” she said. “With this fund, we’re setting Williamsfield up for long-term viability.”

“It’s nice to make a donation and see immediate impact, but you have to look ahead,” added Courson. “In the early years, we’ll have a few thousand dollars available for grantmaking, but imagine decades down the road having potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. For a community of our size, that will have a huge impact.”

Courson and Kutkat envision the fund being a key resource to public entities like the village library, school, and fire department, as well as nonprofits like the historical society, the food pantry, and, of course, the parks association. “But we’re just thinking through the possibilities,” said Kutkat. “We’re hoping to open the door so that there is a way to fund the projects that will enhance the community.”

To Williamsfield and other towns that open Community Funds, the Community Foundation offers financial resources: not only $5,000 to seed the fund but also a match for the first $25,000 raised. “To be able, essentially, to double the fund like that—it gives us a lot of power for planning,” said Kutkat.

The Community Foundation is the right home for the fund, according to Courson, who saw the benefit of working with it on the playground project. “The assistance they gave us probably cut six months to a year off of our timeline,” he said. “They offer a wealth of resources, and they’re always there to help with whatever we need.”

To find out how to donate to the Williamsfield Community Fund—or how to start a fund for your community—give us a call at 309.344.8898. Or, donate online here. 

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