Highland Area Community Foundation

We serve as a resource in meeting the changing needs of the Highland area community!

Highland Community

Our Mission

To be a builder of permanent charitable assets to use on behalf of the Highland area community.


To act as good stewards for those funds.


To serve as a resource in meeting the changing needs of the Highland area community by taking the initiative in important charitable matters and otherwise providing philanthropic leadership for the betterment of the Highland area community.

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Building A Better Community

Learn how you can help make Highland even better!
Ways To Give
Your donations are helping the Highland Garden Club make Highland better and brighter!
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Grant Application
Young and old, wealthy or of modest means everyone can make a difference in the quality of life for our region with a contribution to the Highland Area Community Foundation.
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HACF Annual Grant Banquet
Building a better community! We've bestowed over $900,000 in grants for the betterment of Highland since 1997!
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Donate Today!
Find what is important to you in the Highland community and choose to donate to a great cause making our community better!
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Grant Stories
We LOVE giving money to worthy causes that will help Our Community, the Highland Area become a better place for everyone!
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Contact Us
Get in touch with Highland Area Community Foundation and find out how you can make a difference!
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Enriching Our Community

149 +
Funds at the foundation
988 +
Grants bestowed since 1995
$53,625 +
Endowed in 2023

"Live to Give"

Rachel Deschaine is a talented young artist who has graciously allowed us to put her song “Live to Give” on our website and on our Facebook page. Rachel also wrote the lyrics and music for her song.

Find out more about our mission

At Highland Area Community Foundation, our mission is to build and manage permanent charitable assets for the Highland community. We act as stewards of these funds and strive to meet the evolving needs of our community through proactive philanthropic initiatives, creating a better future for all.

News

HACF Accepting 2025 Grant Applications

By Kathy Klostermann • June 5, 2025
The Highland Area Community Foundation is currently seeking applicants for its 2025 grant awards. Grants are awarded for not-for-profit purposes to organizations or groups that provide community services within the Highland Community Unit School District, St. Jacob and Marine townships, and St. Rose Township. Since its beginning in 1996, the Foundation’s Grant Program has come a long way. In its first year, three grants were awarded totaling $1,500.00; and in 2024, 78 grants were awarded totaling $119,850. In the last 29 years, a total of $1.4 million has been awarded in grants benefiting 100 plus various groups in the Foundation’s service area. The Foundation seeks to make grant awards in response to current and emerging needs or gaps in needed services and to strengthen volunteer participation and citizen involvement in community concerns. Grant applications may be obtained from the Highland Area Community Foundation at 1216 Main Street, Highland, by calling 618/654-4727, emailing info@hacf.org, or downloading from the Foundation’s website, www.hacf.org. Specific criteria are listed on the grant application form. Deadline for submittal is June 30.

SPINDLER PARK PICKLEBALL COURT SEEKING FUNDS

By Kathy Klostermann • October 29, 2024
Girl Scouts Troop 342 Pickleball Court Project for Spindler Park Needs Help from the Community to Reach their Goal Paige & Lexi Lauth, Cadettes with Girl Scout Troop 342, started a Silver Award Project as their service project to raise awareness of the new pickleball courts coming to Spindler Park. They kicked off their fundraising campaign this summer and have partnered with the City of Highland and the Highland Area Community Foundation to accept funds for the Girl Scout Pickleball Court Project at Spindler Park. Their goal is to raise community awareness to help the city raise $27,500.00. These funds will be used for painting and striping the new pickleball courts. The balance of the money for the pickleball courts will be from grants applied for by the City of Highland Recreation Department. The girls are off to a great start and have raised over $19,000.00 to date but need more support from the community to reach their goal. The girls would like to thank the Highland community for all their support so far. If you would like to help these hard-working Girl Scouts, please continue to spread the awareness about this incredible project! They are very excited to see this project continue to flourish, and the Pickleball Courts become a reality! To make a tax-exempt donation to this project, please use one of the following methods: Method #1: Direct mail to the Highland Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 571, Highland, IL 62249 Make Checks Payable: HACF / Pickleball Courts Method #2: Online PayPal donations can be accepted by the Highland Area Community Foundation using the Website Donation Page: http://www.hacf.org/hacf_donate City of Highland All Abilities Playground/Park Pass Through Fund (for Pickleball Courts) This pass through fund was established December 19, 2017 to provide for construction, purchase of various playground equipment, etc. for an all-abilities playground/park. Method #3: Online PayPal donations can be accepted by the Highland Area Community Foundation using the QR Code above.
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