History

In 1924, three of the banks in Springfield created the Sangamon County Foundation following the example of Cleveland, Ohio, where the concept of a community charitable trust was developed. Those banks were the First State Trust and Savings Bank (now US Bank), the Ridgely-Farmers State Bank (which no longer exists) and the Marine Bank of Springfield (now J.P. Morgan).

The founders of the charity included some of our communities' most prominent citizens. The list of people present at the October 20, 1924 meeting to establish the Sangamon County Foundation includes:

• Jacob Bunn
• George W. Bunn
• Joseph F. Bunn
• Thomas Condell
• Alonzo Hoff
• J.H. Holbrook
• R.C. Lanphier
• John G. Oglesby
• George Pasfield, Jr.
• William E. Lehne
• George F. Reisch

The foundation has been a leading supporter of organizations throughout Central Illinois for the last 80 years. However, as the charitable landscape has grown and diversified it became apparent that the organization had to evolve in order to better serve the common good.

The Sangamon County Foundation's Board of Directors had the vision to rethink its purpose and find a better way to serve the residents of Sangamon County. In February 2002, the board voted to become a community foundation and reorganize as the Sangamon County Community Foundation. After substantial research and planning, the Board decided that it was time for the Springfield area to join neighboring communities in Illinois and around the country in reaping the benefits of having a community foundation. Just as the needs of our community evolve, so should the resources needed to address them.

Since 1924 the Sangamon County Foundation has been a leader in our philanthropic community. Today that leadership continues in a new form, as the Sangamon County Community Foundation.