New Partnership Establishes Philanthropy Center at JWCC

November 27, 2007 - A new partnership connecting local entities John Wood Community College and the Center for Effective Nonprofits with the Chicago-based Donors Forum has resulted in the establishment of the West Central Illinois Philanthropy Center (WCIPC) in the JWCC Library, located in the Learning Center on the Quincy campus. The philanthropy center will give area nonprofits and community members access to the Donors Forum's numerous online and print materials, including the Illinois Funding Source, a searchable database of grants and grant makers in Illinois.

The West Central Illinois Philanthropy Center was opened this morning in a ceremony attended by officials from the three partner organizations and other dignitaries. An overview of the new materials and a demonstration of the Illinois Funding Source followed the opening.
The WCIPC will be located in a dedicated area of the JWCC Library. Patrons will have direct access to two linked computers as well as the new print publications. Free orientation sessions for the Center and its resources will also be offered. The WCIPC will also house the Foundation Center's Cooperating Collection, existing nonprofit resources which will still be available for those seeking information on national grants and donors.

Those participating in the opening included Dr. William Simpson, president of John Wood Community College; Dr. David Schachtsiek, acting president of Quincy University; Claudette Baker, vice president for library and nonprofit services for the Donors Forum; and Laurie Assell, director of the Center for Effective Nonprofits.

Pat Woodworth, director of library services at John Wood Community College, demonstrated how to access and navigate the Donors Forum Web site.

The Donors Forum (formerly Donors Forum of Chicago) has four other philanthropy centers, but this is the first established outside the suburban Chicago area. A nonprofit membership association of grant makers, donors and advisors, the Donors Forum is the premier resource for networking and education and leadership on behalf of philanthropy in Illinois. It seeks to extend its reach throughout Illinois as an innovative way to maximize limited resources and serve new populations.

"By opening the West Central Illinois Philanthropy Center with partners John Wood Community College and the Center for Effective Nonprofits, we are able to provide area nonprofits a huge variety of sector-specific resources - on leadership and governance, as well as prospect research," says Claudette Baker of the Donors Forum. "This can greatly increase their capacity and ability to continue their good work."

The Center for Effective Nonprofits (CEN) was founded through the collaborative efforts of Quincy University, the Tracy Family Foundation, the Community Foundation of the Quincy Area, John Wood Community College, United Way of Adams County, and the University of Illinois Extension. The group promotes excellence within area nonprofits and provides services which improve the effectiveness of community organizations. CEN previously partnered with the College on the acquisition of the Foundation Center's Cooperating Collection. "The Center for Effective Nonprofits is constantly seeking ways to build capacity within the nonprofit sector of our area," says director Laurie Assell. "This new partnership will provide additional opportunities for agencies to locate and apply for new funding sources."

All of the resources will be available to the public free of charge, and community members are encouraged to use them, according to JWCC's Pat Woodworth.

"It is appropriate that the Donors Forum philanthropy resources are housed here in the community college, since they will benefit the entire community," Woodworth says. "Any individual from the community can access the resources on JWCC's main campus, during the hours the library is open. They will receive instruction on how to use both the print and electronic materials, and a professional librarian will be available to assist with research.

"I would encourage anyone in the community to use the new resources from the Donors Forum; they really are for the community," she adds.

New resources will include Illinois Funding Source, Individual Giving in Illinois, Foundation Giving in Illinois, Directory of Illinois Foundations, How Effective Nonprofits Work, Level Best, Glossary of Terms in Philanthropy, Illinois Nonprofit Employment, Illinois Nonprofits: A Profile of Charities and Advocacy Organizations, and A Portrait of the Nonprofit Sector in Illinois, Duties and Responsibilities of Directors and Trustees of Illinois Private Foundations, Building on a Better Foundation, and A Guide to Funding Youth Development Programs.

The JWCC Library is open Monday-Thursday, 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.; Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.; and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon.
For more information on the West Central Illinois Philanthropy Center contact Pat Woodworth at (217) 641-4535.

More Press Releases | Back to Press Room