Our Story - About Us

We have a desire to work together with other non-profits in our community. Our number one mission is to work together to accomplish goals that are beneficial to the community. We all know our community is shrinking; this makes it all the more important to work together and help ensure that our hard-earned dollars stay local.

A gift to the Lane County Community Foundation means your money will stay local

Our Mission

The Lane County Community Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life in Lane County and communities within Lane County, and to ensure that the communities in and around Lane County will forever remain the type of community that will attract people of all ages to live, work and raise a family.

What We Do

Our goal is to keep wealth within Lane County, so our communities remain a safe, viable, and sustainable place to call home. We distribute scholarship money, complete fundraising events, and generate money towards specific projects that our donors have an interest in.

542 Event Center

In 2019 LCCF agreed to take the deed on the old Hometown Hardware building, formerly Walls True Value and Gamble’s. In November of that year, community member Crystal Hoffman had the vision of using the building for an event center. Within a month she had raised the money through generous donations from community members but needed an organization to take the deed on the property. Hoffman approached the LCCF board to see if we could help. LCCF now owns and operates the building with plans to someday renovate it into a more usable and accommodating space, as well as be the permanent foundation office.

Rent the Event Center

Do you have a need for an indoor space for your next reunion, party, reception or event? Click below to complete our rental agreement.

Board Members

Board members may serve consecutive terms not to exceed 12 years; members must leave the board at that point but are eligible to be voted back on in future years. 

Current Board Members

Harvey Strobel-Chairman, Logan Campbell-Vice Chair, Carrie Von Leonrod-Treasurer, Darla Schmalzried, Don Hineman, Mark Callander, Travis Cartmill, Matt McMillen, and Stephen Fenster.

Committee Members

Scholarship Committee

Harvey Strobel
Travis Cartmill
Carrie Von Leonrod

Grants Committee

Matt McMillen
Mark Callender
Stephen Fenster
Harvey Strobel
Darla Schmalzried

Marketing Committee

Matt McMillen
Don Hineman
Stephen Fenster

Finance/Investment Committee

Darla Schmalzried
Carrie Von Leonrod
Bill Penka
Denise Callender
Harvey Strobel

Nominating Committee

Travis Cartmill
Mark Callander
Logan Campbell

Match Month Committees

COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMITTEE

Darla Schmalzried
Mark Callander
Matt McMillan

VENDORS COMMITTEE

Harvey Strobel
Carrie Von Leonrod
Logan Campbell

Executive Director

LCCF hired their first full-time Executive Director in April 2024.  LCCF received a grant from the Patterson Family Foundation to hire a full-time employee. We are excited for Casey to take the Foundation and our community to the next level. Casey will also serve as the secretary for the board of directors.

Casey Venters