Carla Clark | For The Republic
Mark Elwood, board chair Landmark Columbus, speaks during the Landmark Columbus Foundation High Five Day at Upland Columbus Pump House, Columbus, Ind., Tuesday, May 28, 2024.
Mark Elwood, board chair of the Landmark Columbus Foundation, speaks earlier this year at a foundation event.
The nonprofit Landmark Columbus Foundation celebrated a $500,000 fundraising pledge Tuesday from Brown County residents John and Sarah Lechleiter, and two other major gift pledges.
The ceremony connected to the organization’s endowment unfolded at the Inn at Irwin Gardens in downtown Columbus. The foundation “cares for, celebrates, and advances the cultural heritage of Columbus, Indiana and like-minded communities,” according to its mission statement.
Organizers said the gifts will help the foundation reach its endowment goal of $3 million by the end of 2025.
“Their dedication to community enrichment and support for the arts is well-known, and this gift further underscores their commitment to sustaining Columbus’ design legacy,” said Richard McCoy, the foundation’s executive director.
John Lechleiter served as president, chief executive officer, and chairman of the board of directors of Eli Lilly and Co. from April 2008 to December 2016.
Columbus philanthropists Mark and Wendy Elwood have committed $100,000 to the endowment. As longtime supporters of Landmark Columbus Foundation, the Elwoods have been passionate about ensuring the organization’s efforts to celebrate and care for Columbus’ cultural heritage.
Mark Elwood serves as board chair of the foundation.
“As board chair, I am proud of our strides in building our endowment, and the community’s belief inspires me in our vision,” said Mark Elwood, the Chairman of the Board of Columbus-based company Elwood Staffing.
“This endowment is essential for ensuring that Landmark Columbus Foundation remains a strong and vibrant part of Columbus. Together, we are laying a solid foundation to support our initiatives and allow us to continue advancing Columbus’ legacy of design excellence far into the future.”
In other significant news of support, Connie and Terry Marbach have contributed nearly $50,000. Their gift “reflects their belief in preserving Columbus’s cultural identity and fostering a vibrant community through progressive preservation efforts,” according to a news release. “These significant contributions from the Lechleiters, Elwoods, and Marbachs. and the collective support from numerous other donors demonstrate a strong commitment to Landmark Columbus Foundation’s mission.”
The current endowment total of more than $1.8 million is what organizers termed “a crucial milestone” toward the foundation’s $3 million goal, which aims to ensure the foundation’s financial stability and continued impact on the community.
Landmark Columbus Foundation started its endowment journey at the end of 2019 with a seed gift from Lilly Endowment Inc. of $524,824. Since then, the endowment has grown considerably.
Mark Elwood pointed out in May that building the endowment to $3 million would allow Landmark to spend perhaps 5 percent of that total each year for everything from retaining staff to a range of community projects.
A 4.5 percent draw from a $3 million endowment can provide $135,000 annually, helping to cover the organization’s core operating expenses over a long time.
With financial security provided by the endowment, Landmark Columbus Foundation “will continue to position Columbus as one of America’s great cities, fostering a future full of promise and potential,” as McCoy put it.
“Our endowment is a critical component of our strategy to provide consistent, long-term support for our programs,” McCoy said. “Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we are well on our way to achieving financial sustainability. This will enable us to maintain Columbus as a beacon of design excellence and ensure that our community remains a place where people want to live, work, and grow.”
Learn more about the foundation at landmarkcolumbusfoundation.org.
