As 2024 draws to a close, the Jessica Stevens Community Foundation Advisory Board reflects on the remarkable accomplishments we’ve achieved together since our inception in 2008. These successes are only possible because of your generosity and unwavering support.
With heartfelt gratitude, we thank you for being an essential part of our journey to foster healthier communities throughout the Upper Susitna Valley. Together, we have built a legacy of impact, and we invite you to join us once again as we strive to finish 2024 strong.
Your Support Makes All the Difference
Your contributions have been the cornerstone of our progress. Thanks to your generosity, grants from JSCF have brought life to essential programs that would not have been possible otherwise. While endowment earnings continue to grow, they still fall short of meeting all community needs.
The solution is clear: growing our endowment now will generate even more impactful support for years to come. This is why your year-end gift is so vital—it ensures a brighter future for the organizations and people who depend on us.
The Impact of Your Generosity
Because of you, 2024 has been a year of extraordinary achievements:
- Endowment Growth: We surpassed $1.4 million!
- Matching Success: Your contributions helped us secure the full $20,000 Rasmuson Foundation match.
- Low Expenses, High Impact: Administrative costs were only 1.5% of endowment value, allowing more funds to go directly to grants.
- Community Support: Nearly $27,000 awarded in grants to local nonprofits whose programs strengthen our community.
Transforming Lives, One Grant at a Time
Our 2024 Healthy Communities grant cycle supported diverse initiatives, from operational funding for local nonprofits to Thanksgiving meals, recycling programs, youth activities, and more. Here’s just a glimpse of what we’ve accomplished together:
- Sunshine Station Child Care Center: $2,500 for healthy foods.
- Upper Susitna Food Pantry: $2,600 for Thanksgiving meals.
- Talkeetna Mobile Recycling: $1,500 for sustainability efforts.
- Denali Arts Council: $2,500 for operational support.
These stories of impact are your stories, too. Each program we support reflects your commitment to creating a vibrant, connected community.
More Than Just Grants
Beyond funding, JSCF has fostered knowledge-sharing and connections:
- Hosted a free Estate Planning Seminar attended by 38 local residents.
- Organized a Grant Writing Workshop with expert guidance from the Alaska Community Foundation.
- Participated in beloved community events, from Earth Day to Live at Five, engaging residents and sharing mini-grants through our interactive Share Your Two Cents campaign.
We are deeply inspired by the ways our supporters engage—not just financially but by participating in events and sharing ideas that fuel our mission.
Looking Ahead with Gratitude
As we complete 2024, we are pleased to report that fundraising this quarter is going well:
- $25,000 secured from the Mat-Su Health Foundation.
- $13,200 in individual donations (including $5,750 from Pick.Click.Give).
- over $10,000 from generous local businesses.
Thank you for making this progress possible. Your dedication to philanthropy inspires us every day. Together, we can ensure a healthier, more vibrant Upper Susitna Valley for years to come.
We invite you to join us in making this an exceptional quarter. To donate, simply scan the QR Code below or visit jessicastevenscf.org/donate. On behalf of the JSCF Advisory Board, I wish everyone a healthy, happy holiday season.
Best,
John Hennessy
Treasurer, Jessica Stevens Community Foundation
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Download PDF of End of Year Letter below.