Looser-Flake Charitable Foundation announces new grant opportunity to support cultural opportunities for Mercer County residents

Dorothy Looser-Flake and Roberta Looser, sisters who were born and raised on a family farm near New Boston Township, Illinois, cared deeply about the community that gave them so much growing up. Upon their passing, they left a portion of their estates to establish the Looser-Flake Charitable Foundation, a private foundation dedicated to Mercer County.

Through their will and estate, they hoped to advance local education, culture, and economic development in Mercer County. In the past four years alone, nearly $700,000 has been granted to benefit Mercer County. In 2018, they awarded $150,000 to support a collaborative project among municipalities that moved forward the recreational priorities identified by the people of Mercer County through the Mercer County Better Together initiative.  

Now through October 1, 2019, arts, cultural and historical organizations serving residents of Mercer County can apply for grant support from the Looser-Flake Charitable Foundation. A total of $100,000 will be awarded.

Kelly Thompson, the administrator for the charitable foundation, said that the grant program the trustees developed this year aligns with the Looser-Flake Charitable Foundation’s priority of cultivating a vibrant arts and cultural scene in communities across Mercer County. “Dorothy and Roberta believed the arts were important to their community, were rooted in their hometown culture, and wanted to be certain that the history of Mercer County would live on through the work of nonprofits in the region,” she said. “This new grant opportunity encourages organizations in the region to push creativity to another level.”

The grant application must demonstrate how the projects proposed will: benefit residents of Mercer County; be clear, achievable within one year, and maintainable thereafter; leverage other resources and partnerships; and are encouraged to demonstrate collaboration. Full details are available online at http://www.looserflakefoundation.org. Applications will be accepted through the online grant application system.

For more information, contact Kelly Thompson at (563) 326-2840 or email KellyThompson@QCCommunityFoundation.org.