Local nonprofits receive $12,500 in grants from Community Foundation during 20th anniversary celebration
As the River Bluff Community Foundation celebrated 20 years of impact during its annual event in 2025, it also honored four local nonprofits with $12,500 in grants to help meet community needs.
During the event, Foundation leaders awarded over $12,500 to four local nonprofits:
- Area Substance Abuse Council – $2,300 for prevention and wellness programming for young adults in treatment
- Bridgeview Mental Health Center – $3,272 for Spravato patient observation rooms to address treatment-resistant depression
- Skyline Center – $2,000 for the Smartfill Sustainability Project that crumples paper as packaging fill rather than heavy cardboard
- YWCA – $5,000 for Creative Curriculum to be used at a second preschool location across town from the main campus
“These grants stand out for their uniqueness—supporting recovery for young adults, advancing innovative mental health care, promoting sustainable business practices, and expanding early childhood education,” said Tara VanDerLeest, the Foundation’s board president. “Together, they highlight the breadth of local needs and the creative solutions strengthening Clinton’s future.”
Two Decades of Impact
The Foundation was founded by visionary leaders in 2005 to create a lasting resource for community support. The idea has grown into a philanthropic engine with 34 funds and over $2.5 million in assets, fueling a brighter, more resilient future for Clinton and Camanche. Guided by the mission to build endowments, serve local needs, and empower donors, today’s board partners with families, businesses, and nonprofits to strengthen the community.
Local donors make gifts to endowment funds held by the Foundation, which pay out annually to support grants to local nonprofits. Since 2005, River Bluff has reinvested over $700,000 into nonprofits, schools, and community initiatives—proving it is more than a funder; it’s a force for good.
“At the heart of our mission is endowment giving, creating permanent funds that generate lasting support for education, the arts, human services, and community development,” says Executive Director Alethea Cahoy. “Today, with a growing family of funds and a legacy of trust, we continue building a stronger, more resilient Clinton and Camanche for generations to come.”
Building a Stong Future
One of the Foundation’s priorities today is Energize Clinton, a community-driven movement to build a permanent endowment that can fund big ideas and help meet emerging needs. Sparked by insights from over 1,200 residents and supported by a $100,000 challenge grant, the three-year campaign will create a $450,000 fund that generates $20,000 to $25,000 annually for nonprofits and community projects.
“Every gift helps transform Clinton into a more vibrant, resilient place to live, work, and play,” says Cahoy. “It brings us such joy to help people give back to this incredible place and make it even better than it is today,” says Cahoy.
The River Bluff Community Foundation offers many opportunities to improve quality of life by addressing an array of local issues. To learn more about how you can establish a fund or make a gift that impacts your community, contact Cahoy at 563-321-0317.