The Community Foundation of Ocoee Region is a public, nonprofit, community foundation created by and for the people of Bradley County, where many donors join together to make the region they love a better place, today and for future generations. A wide variety of assets can be accepted to serve almost any charitable purpose. The Foundation is a collection of individual charitable funds established by individuals, families, businesses, other nonprofits and foundations. With or without great wealth, our donors come from every corner of the community to achieve their charitable goals and impact a broad range of needs. Donors are able to maximize charitable gifts during their lifetimes and to provide perpetual gifts through endowments. The Foundation offers a variety of ways to make an impact in our community through charitable giving.
History
Established in 2008, the Community Foundation of Ocoee Region is one of about 750 community foundations in the United States.
The Community Foundation of Ocoee Region began as an initiative of a small group of individuals who first discussed the idea after a visit to the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga in 2006. The goal of the initial visit to Chattanooga was to discuss an education initiative, but the group left that meeting with a common idea: a community foundation could play a vital role in the future of Cleveland/Bradley County. Further discussion led to the formation of a Board of Directors and the achievement of 501(c)(3) status in August 2009.
Our initial donor fund, the Blocker Family Fund, was created in 2009 and supports the Unity Center, an area afterschool enrichment program, with an annual grant. With the subsequent economic downturn in 2009, the Board of Directors elected not to actively pursue the local funding necessary to hire an executive director. Rather, the Board chose to maintain the infrastructure of the Foundation and wait until the economy improved before seeking funds from local foundations and community members.
This opportunity came in 2014 when the Tucker Foundation joined the Community Foundation to create the second donor advised fund. At that time, the Tucker Foundation also put forth a challenge grant for startup operations of the Community Foundation. This challenge grant was matched by lead donations from Sherry Keller Brown, Bob and Susan Card and Sam and Anne McReynolds, along with other community members who contributed.
The Community Foundation has a strong system of governance with stringent internal controls and guidelines in place. The diverse Board of Directors that oversees all aspects of the Foundation’s work is an important part of the Foundation’s overall structure.
Mission
To strengthen and enrich the community through engaged philanthropy that serves donors, builds permanent endowments, promotes effective grant making and stimulates community collaborations.
What is a community foundation?
In legal terms, a community foundation is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) publicly supported foundation governed by its own board of directors and created to serve a specific geographical area. The first community foundation was created in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1914. Today, community foundations in the United States have assets of more than $48 billion.
What We Do
- Build endowment, a permanent source of philanthropic funding for charitable causes.
- Help donors plan and carry out their charitable giving in the community, and across the country.
- Simplify giving so donors can focus on their charitable passions.
- Partner with other foundations, public agencies and the business sector, to create change and bring a consistent voice of leadership to critical community issues.
- Advance innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.
- Strengthen the community.