National Life Group Foundation reveals $1.8 million in grants
June 25, 2018 by The National Life Group Foundation
The Foundation’s annual budget doubled to $2 million in 2018. A primary focus of that increase will be to define the scope of childhood hunger and then help fund solutions to it. A total of $188,500 of 2018 grants are in support of that mission and the Foundation has awarded the Urban Institute $120,000 to conduct research.
“The doubling of our Foundation budget has given us the opportunity to live our corporate values in ways we’ve never been able to before,” said Foundation President Beth Rusnock. “The nonprofits and organizations we’ve funded are already impacting the lives of many and we’re honored to support their missions. And we’re excited to expand our mission to tackle a core issue like childhood hunger.”
The National Life Foundation approved 190 grants, ranging from as little as $100 to as much as $100,000. Among the larger grants were:
- $100,000 to Champlain Housing Trust to help fund its North End Community Center in Burlington.
- $75,000 for the Vermont Foodbank to support its youth food programs.
- $50,000 to the North Texas Food Bank to help fund its services in 13 North Texas counties.
The Foundation also launched its Main Street Grants program this year, awarding $70,500 to seven communities around Vermont for downtown development work. And the Foundation matched $195,000 of National Life employees’ donations to charitable organizations, totaling close to $400,000 in support to nonprofits. Additionally, the Foundation funded cash prizes totaling nearly $80,000 for winners of National Life’s LifeChanger of the Year educator recognition program.