This month, the Homer Foundation welcomed three new funds supporting important work across our community. The Skip Utter Book Fund, The Homer Independent Press Agency Stewardship Fund, and the Margaret & Ivan KBay Recovery Connection Fund.
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Not one, not two, but three new funds were started with the Homer Foundation this past month!
While all three will support important work in our community, they aren’t all structured the same way.
Two are non-endowed funds, which give fundholders a way to put money to work while keeping the principal available for future expenses. These funds can be particularly useful when donors want some flexibility and the ability to respond to opportunities over the short term.
The third is an endowed fund, designed for long-term growth. Endowed funds are invested with the goal of growing over time, while a portion of the fund is distributed each year to support its designated purpose.
We’re excited to introduce these three newest members of our Family of Funds, and what they were created to support.
The Skip Utter Book Fund was established to help nonprofits in the Homer Foundation service area provide reading materials to their adult clientele.
Each year, the fund will provide a grant to a local nonprofit organization to purchase books, pamphlets, and other printed materials for the people they serve. Organizations will be invited to apply, and a committee will select the annual recipient.
By supporting access to reading materials, the Skip Utter Book Fund will help local organizations provide their clients with opportunities to learn, explore new ideas, and connect with information and resources.
This fund was starting in memory of Skip Utter. Skip was a long-time commercial pilot, ran a flight school, and had 35,000 hours of flight time as captain with Delta Airlines. He had a deep love for Homer, animals, and reading. He had a soft, caring heart for others’ well-being.
I couldn’t think of anything more fitting than to keep his caring generosity alive in the community he loved so much. The Homer Foundation is the perfect place to share Skip’s kindness into the future. - Suzanne Haines, Fund Advisor
The Homer Independent Press Agency Stewardship Fund is a non-endowed fund established to support the mission of NZP4H: to tell the stories of the lower Southern Kenai Peninsula accurately, honestly, and with respect.
Local journalism plays an important role in helping communities understand themselves and stay connected. This fund provides a way for philanthropy to help support the continued work of documenting and sharing the stories of our region.
The Margaret & Ivan KBay Recovery Connection Fund is a non-endowed agency fund established to support the mission of Kachemak Bay Recovery Connection (KBRC).
KBRC is a recovery community organization serving people affected by addiction across the southern Kenai Peninsula, from Ninilchik to Nanwalek. The organization offers recovery support, connections to resources, and opportunities to build a fulfilling and connected sober community.
The creation of this fund provides a dedicated philanthropic resource to help KBRC continue its work of supporting individuals and strengthening a community where recovery is welcomed and supported.
These three new funds reflect three very different community priorities, but they share something important: each provides a way for people to invest in the community and support work they believe matters.
While all three will support important work in our community, they aren’t all structured the same way.
Two are non-endowed funds, which give fundholders a way to put money to work while keeping the principal available for future expenses. These funds can be particularly useful when donors want some flexibility and the ability to respond to opportunities over the short term.
The third is an endowed fund, designed for long-term growth. Endowed funds are invested with the goal of growing over time, while a portion of the fund is distributed each year to support its designated purpose.
We’re excited to introduce these three newest members of our Family of Funds.
The Homer Foundation awarded 25 scholarships totaling $77,000 to local students this year through donor-supported endowed funds. Since 2000, the program has awarded more than $573,000 in scholarships, continuing to support students across the southern Kenai Peninsula in pursuing their educational and career goals.
Students in the Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) program reviewed nonprofit applications and awarded $20,000 to local organizations supporting food security, housing, and early childhood services on the southern Kenai Peninsula. Funded by Robert and Meon Purcell, the program helps build youth leadership and community awareness.
We thank Ken Taylor for his dedicated service on the Board of Trustees. His thoughtful leadership and deep commitment to the community made a lasting impact.
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A new fund at the Homer Foundation is supporting Snomads’ work to keep local trails safe, accessible, and well-maintained for all users, now and into the future.
A $50,000 grant to the Homer Cycling Club is expanding the Eastland Trails system, boosting access to outdoor recreation and investing in the community’s future.
The Daniel Bunker Memorial Fund honors a life of service and generosity by supporting projects that bring people together, encourage active living, and strengthen community connections.
