History

The Piqua Community Foundation began with brainstorming by a focus group, and The Foundation was “born” on November 12, 1993. The original focus groups included Clifford Alexander, John Arnold, Robert Fite, Edward Fry, Lloyd Fry, Richard Grimes, R. Charles “Chuck” Hemm, Samuel Jackson, Ray Loffer, Jack Neuenschwander, Benjamin Scott, Sr., Tony Wendeln, Michael Yannucci and Thomas DeRoss. Fundraising was begun to establish a community grant fund to help local community organizations.

One hundred seventeen Charter Life Trustees of The Foundation contributed a minimum of $1,000 each to establish the grantmaking fund, which is now known as the Piqua Community Fund. At present, approximately two hundred thirty people have become Life Trustees. The Foundation began making grants to the community in 1995, with $8,000 distributed in the first year. As of December 2018, more than $1.1 million have been granted to local organizations that make a difference in the lives of Piqua residents from the unrestricted funds of The Foundation.

Several community projects have been undertaken by The Foundation including campaigns to build or renovate the Alexander Stadium (including a second campaign to install artificial turf), the Fort Piqua Plaza and the Johnston Farm and Indian Agency education center.

The Piqua Community Foundation now holds a variety of funds, ranging from donor designated to unrestricted. Our mission is to provide opportunities for any donor to be generous, and we welcome the chance to help all donors meet their charitable giving goals.

What is a community foundation?

The Internal Revenue Service classifies foundations according to the source of the money invested. A community foundation needs to meet “the test of public support.” This test proves to the IRS that a community foundation is not a tax shelter for one family or corporation, but a philanthropic organization supported by a broad base of community members. A community foundation’s basic functions are to encourage philanthropy and to assist donors in meeting their charitable giving goals. There are more than 70 community foundations in Ohio and hundreds more throughout the United States.

What is The Piqua Community Foundation?

• The Piqua Community Foundation encourages philanthropic giving by Piqua residents to Piqua residents (and others).
• The Foundation makes grants to organizations whose missions are religious, scientific, literary, educational or charitable.
• The Foundation offers a variety of opportunities to contribute to the community, both restricted and unrestricted gifts of any size.

Our mission

The Piqua Community Foundation encourages charitable giving to benefit the citizens of Piqua, and provides a variety of methods for donors to help fulfill their charitable giving wishes.

The funds of The Foundation include: