Landmark Columbus Foundation Reaches $3m Endowment Goal
Columbus, Indiana — Landmark Columbus Foundation (LCF) announced today that it has exceeded its ambitious endowment goal of $3 million, ensuring a strong and sustainable future for the organization and its innovative programs. Thanks to an outpouring of donations from community members, foundations, and corporate partners (and prudent investment growth through Heritage Fund — The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County), the endowment’s total now stands above the $3 million mark. This milestone secures a permanent financial base that will safeguard LCF’s mission for future generations.
Endowment Campaign History and Community Support
Launched with a $524,824 seed gift from Lilly Endowment Inc. at the end of 2019 through a leadership grant in the seventh phase of its Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow (GIFT VII) initiative that was received in collaboration with Heritage Fund, LCF’s endowment campaign steadily gained momentum over the next several years. By late 2024, the fund had grown to over $1.8 million, propelled by leadership gifts from local and regional philanthropists who demonstrated a broad commitment to preserving Columbus’ design heritage. This accomplishment was soon eclipsed when John and Sarah Lechleiter made a $500,000 pledge, catapulting the effort to a new level.
Then, in early 2025, a transformational $100,000 pledge by Tracy Haddad ignited the final phase of fundraising, inspiring many others to contribute. LCF engaged thousands of community members through outreach in this home stretch. By the 2025 Exhibit Columbus Opening Weekend, the campaign’s contributions and pledges had reached the $3 million goal, just in time to open the fifth Exhibit Columbus Exhibition, Yes And. What began as a visionary initiative evolved into a genuine community-wide effort, with supporters from all quarters—including longtime Columbus families, new individual donors, charitable foundations, and corporate sponsors—uniting to invest in LCF’s mission.
Donation Levels were established, and the giving at each level indicates a broad level of support:
Leadership Level: $10,001 and up
Legacy Level: $1,000 – 10,000
Benefactor Level: Any gift up to $1,000
There have been 168 at the Benefactor Level, 34 at the Legacy Level, and 33 at the Leadership Level, who are listed here:
Anonymous
Anthony Moravec
Efroymson Family Fund
Eric and Nikki Robbins
Gregg and Judith Summerville
Brian and Patty Hannasch
Hayden Haddad Bishop
Heritage Fund
Hutch and Kevina Schumaker
James and Toots Henderson
Jeffrey and Lynn Brown
John and Amber Elwood
John and Sarah Lechleiter
Betsy and Tom Laskey
Mark and Marabeth Levett
Mark and Wendy Elwood
Bob and Mary Orben
Mike and Christine Elwood
Peer Foods Group, Inc.
Richard and Alice Gold
Rich and Tammy Freeland
Rick and Alice Johnson
Rick and Janeen Sprague
Robert and Barbara Stevens
Ryan and Annette Moravec
Sarla Kalsi and Surekha DiOrio
Sharon Risk Stark and David Tiede
Srikanth Padmanabhan and Usha Raghavan
Tammy Burton
Terry and Connie Marbach
Thomas and Stephanie Thornburg
Tracy Haddad
Will Miller and Lynne Maguire
“This is an extraordinary milestone for our organization and our community,” said Mark Elwood, LCF Board Chair. “We are deeply grateful to everyone, from individual supporters and families to foundations and corporate partners, who believed in our mission and contributed to this campaign. Reaching and even exceeding our $3 million goal is more than a financial achievement; it ensures we can continue to thrive and support Columbus’ world-renowned design legacy for future generations.”
“The success of this endowment campaign underscores the remarkable commitment of our community to preserving and advancing Columbus’ heritage,” said Tracy Haddad, Vice Chair of the LCF Board. “Exceeding the goal shows how strongly people believe in what we do. We’re investing in a sustainable future for Landmark Columbus Foundation.”
Securing LCF’s Future
The endowment fund is managed by Heritage Fund, which will continue to invest and grow these assets for the long term. Starting in 2026, a small portion of the endowment will be drawn to help offset Landmark Columbus Foundation’s core operating expenses, such as maintaining its staff and supporting key programs. This reliable income stream will ensure the longevity and stability of LCF’s initiatives, allowing the organization to remain a strong and steady force behind its signature programs. In short, the endowment will permanently strengthen LCF’s capacity to care for Columbus’ celebrated architectural heritage and to inspire new generations through design.
A Legacy for Tomorrow
Achieving this endowment goal is pivotal in LCF’s history and sets the stage for an even more impactful future. “This campaign was a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a legacy of support for Columbus’ design culture, and our community seized it,” noted Richard McCoy, the foundation Executive Director of LCF. “For a young organization to reach this milestone makes us all feel very proud of this moment.”
With its financial foundation secured, LCF is poised to expand its reach and ambition. The organization plans to continue growing its endowment beyond $3 million, ensuring even greater support for its mission as it evolves. LCF’s leadership emphasizes that this milestone aligns with the foundation’s vision of transforming communities through design excellence: a vision now bolstered by the resources to sustain its work far into the future. As LCF moves forward, it does so on its strongest footing ever, confident that Columbus’ remarkable legacy of design and community collaboration will endure and flourish for generations to come.
Photography
High-resolution photography is available for download here. Photography credits and captions are available for download here.
Media Contact
Jamie Goldsborough
jamie@landmarkcolumbus.org
About Landmark Columbus Foundation
Landmark Columbus Foundation (LCF) cares for, celebrates, and advances the cultural heritage of Columbus, Indiana. To fulfill its mission, LCF directs two locally engaged and globally connected programs that are interwoven in their impact and networks: Exhibit Columbus and Columbus Design Institute. landmarkcolumbusfoundation.org
Header photo: 2025 High Five Day at Upland Columbus Pump House, by Hadley Fruits for Landmark Columbus Foundation
