The Community Foundation of Elkhart County experienced a remarkable year of growth in 2021 due to the generosity of donors in the community.

Donors gave the Community Foundation $44.6 million over the 12 months. A total of 1,801 gifts from 1,234 donors to the foundation resulted in a year of record giving.

Of that, more than $16 million was contributed to the foundation in December.

The City of Elkhart gave $5 million to the Community Foundation as part of its participation in the public-private partnership to establish the Tolson Center for Community Excellence, which is expected to open in a new facility in 2023.

The largest single gift to the foundation was $150 million from Guy David Gundlach’s estate following his death in 2012.

Following that gift, the Community Foundation conducted a listening tour, which set the priorities for the last decade. In the coming months, the Community Foundation is planning to again intentionally listen to the community.

The Community Foundation awarded $2.3 million in scholarships last year.