Memorial and Tribute Giving

The Heart of Illinois Community Foundation is grateful for contributions made in memory of friends and loved ones or to celebrate special people. Memorial and tribute gifts are a fitting observance of those who have enriched our lives and our community. They are truly gifts that keep on giving.

If you have questions, please call us at 217.429.3000 or email Natalie Beck.

How does it work?

Memorial and tribute funds can take various forms. They can be established to provide scholarships, grants and charitable gifts to benefit one or more nonprofit organizations or charitable causes. The Heart of Illinois Community Foundation is committed to helping you honor your loved one. Our individualized service allows us to work with you and/or your professional advisors, discuss complex gifts and facilitate family engagement in charitable giving, if desired. We work one-on-one with you every step of the way to ensure you create a meaningful memorial or tribute fund.

Memorials

Please accept our condolences on the loss of your loved one. We hope you will allow us the honor of helping you create a fitting memorial to acknowledge the positive difference this special person made in your life and the lives of others.

At times, family members of a loved one who passed request that, in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to a certain charity or “the charity of one's choice.” Another choice, however, is to create a lasting legacy by establishing a named memorial fund at the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation. The process is simple and can happen quickly.

Through a memorial fund, the donor(s) who established the fund can decide how gifts should best be used to honor and celebrate their loved one through support of local causes that had been important to that individual.

Each person memorialized is also listed in our online Book of Memory.

Tributes

Tribute gifts are a wonderful way to honor and celebrate someone who has enriched your life or your community. Your contribution will have a positive impact on the person(s) you're honoring, and they will appreciate this meaningful gift, knowing that it will be used within the community to help achieve positive change.

Opportunities for Tribute Giving:

• Retirement
• Birthday, anniversary or wedding
• Service and volunteer recognition
• Nonprofits honoring board members — often gifts are designated for an endowed fund supporting the nonprofit
• Holidays
• Other joyful or important occasions

Benefits of a Memorial or Tribute Gift:

• Your tax-deductible gift will be acknowledged to the family/honoree.
• Loved ones who have passed will be listed in our Book of Memory.
• You may choose set up a fund to help fund medical research, social safety awareness, education or another cause that is or was important to the person(s) being honored.