Established 2014
The Community Foundation of Wilson County promotes the betterment of Wilson County and provides a way for citizens to make lasting gifts for the improvement and benefit of future generations.
Our mission is to assist Wilson County nonprofit organizations that help build and benefit the community. We focus on historic preservation and education initiatives to support economic development and to enhance the quality of life in Wilson County.
The Community Foundation of Wilson County chose to become an Affiliate Fund of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, recognizing the leadership and infrastructure it provides. Affiliate Funds are designated to benefit a particular geographic area, be it a county, a community, or a region. The affiliate is overseen by a committee of local leaders, and The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee handles administrative operations.
Creating an Endowment for Wilson County
The Community Foundation of Wilson County is like a savings account for the community – the principal remains intact, and a portion of its earnings are used to make grants helping those in need. As a vehicle for civic-minded individuals, families and companies, the Foundation connects people with the causes and organizations about which they care most, improving Wilson County, now and forever.
We will help support local nonprofits to address unmet needs of the community. We are particularly interested in ideas that support economic development and enrich the quality of life for all Wilson County citizens, in particular historic preservation and education initiatives. Grants will be awarded on an annual cycle. All local 501(c)3 agencies and public institutions are eligible to apply. Nonprofits must be profiled in GivingMatters.com to be eligible. A local grant committee reviews Wilson County-based applications and determines allocations to qualified nonprofit partners.
Ways to Contribute
Giving is simple. There are many ways to support The Community Foundation of Wilson County and achieve your charitable goals, often with significant tax benefits.
- Cash
- Publicly Traded Securities
- Real Estate and Personal Property
- Planned Giving Vehicles: Bequests, IRAs, life insurance policies, charitable remainder trusts, and charitable lead trusts.
- Memorials: Many people in Wilson County have embraced giving to The Foundation in memory of loved ones.
If you are interested in supporting The Community Foundation of Wilson County, please contact Pat Lawsone at [email protected]. We will be pleased to work with you or your professional advisor in tailoring a giving plan that accomplishes your goals.
Sponsored by The Community Foundation of Wilson County, the rodeo is responsible for routinely making significant financial contributions to local charities from revenues collected through various sponsorships, advertising, and ticket sales.
Lebanon community leader and businessman John Bryan, chairman of The Community Foundation of Wilson County, said he, members of the organization’s board of directors and the many volunteers and nonprofits that participate in the production of the rodeo are “excited to be welcoming” its return.
“This is truly a community event that benefits charities and nonprofits all across Wilson County. And equally as important it is a family event that provides quality entertainment for all ages,” Bryan said.
Each year the rodeo has been produced it has hosted sold-out crowds of as many as 3,000 attendees on each night, according to organizers.
Bryan said he fully anticipates the same type of response for this year’s Whip Crackin’ Rodeo.
Besides two nights of calf roping, barrel racing, bull riding and other exciting rodeo events, there will also be food concessions, retail shopping for western wear, and an overall fun-filled carnival-like environment, Bryan offered.
The Whip Crackin’ Rodeo was launched a dozen years ago by former Lebanon Mayor Philip Craighead. The rodeo was chaired by Lebanon businessman Bob Black for the last few years it was produced. Black also at the time chaired The Community Foundation of Wilson County.
According to Black, the rodeo, since its beginning, has returned more than $500,000 to local charities and noteworthy Black said “even during the two years that we haven’t had a rodeo, The Community Foundation of Wilson County has continued to find a way to make charitable contributions to a number of nonprofits even though it didn’t have the funds that are annually generated by the rodeo.”
