Our Story - About Us
A gift to the Lane County Community Foundation means your money will stay local
We have a desire to work together with other non-profits in our community. Our number one mission is to work together to accomplish goals that are beneficial to the community. We all know our community is shrinking; this makes it all the more important to work together and help ensure that our hard-earned dollars stay local.
Our Mission
The Lane County Community Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life in Lane County and to ensure that the communities in and around Lane County will forever remain the type of community that will attract people of all ages to live, work and raise a family.
What We Do
We act as a catalyst to keep money and wealth in Lane County. We assist individuals and organizations in fulfilling their philanthropic goals by setting up and maintaining funds. All of the money we oversee is invested in the market with three financial advisors. Working with the donors of the funds and fulfilling the designated purpose of the funds, we distribute money in the form of grants back in the community.
542 Event Center
In 2019 LCCF agreed to take the deed on the old Hometown Hardware building, formerly Walls True Value and Gamble’s. In November of that year, community member Crystal Hoffman had the vision of using the building for an event center. Within a month she had raised the money through generous donations from community members but needed an organization to take the deed on the property. Hoffman approached the LCCF board to see if we could help. LCCF now owns and operates the building with plans to someday renovate it into a more usable and accommodating space, as well as be the permanent foundation office.
Board of Directors
Harvey Strobel, Chairman
Logan Campbell, Vice Chairman
Carrie von Leonrod, Treasurer
Don Hineman
Mark Callender
Travis Cartmill
Matt McMillen
Darla Schmalzried
Steve Fenster
Executive Director
LCCF hired their first full-time Executive Director in April 2024. LCCF received a grant from the Patterson Family Foundation to hire a full-time employee. We are excited for Casey to take the Foundation and our community to the next level. Casey will also serve as the secretary for the board of directors.
Casey Venters