From Quiet Giving to Bold Impact
Honoring Patricia Schaefer’s Legacy
Bold Vision Then
In 1987, just a few years after The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County was established, Patricia Schaefer made her first unrestricted gift. It was a quiet act—typical of Pat’s style—but one that would grow into a legacy of extraordinary impact.
Over the next four decades, Pat became one of the Foundation’s most generous and thoughtful supporters. Her giving exceeded $1 million during her lifetime which continues to support Community Grants and special projects today.
Pat’s belief in the power of unrestricted giving was bold. She understood that the needs of a community change over time—and that the best way to meet those needs is through flexible, responsive funding. In 2014, when the Foundation launched the Difference Maker Challenge to grow its unrestricted funds, Pat stepped forward as a lead donor. True to form, she gave anonymously, letting the impact speak for itself.
Her legacy also includes service on the Foundation’s Advisory Board and Grant Policy Committee, where she helped shape grantmaking strategies and deepen the Foundation’s understanding of local needs. She supported the creation of designated endowment funds for nonprofit sustainability and championed causes close to her heart—arts, education, animal welfare, and community enrichment.
Pat’s story is a reminder that bold visions don’t always come with fanfare. Sometimes, they come with quiet consistency, deep care, and a belief in building something that lasts.
Bold Vision Now
Today, we invite you to carry that vision forward.
As we approach the end of the year, your unrestricted gift to The Community Foundation can help ensure that we remain relevant, responsive, and ready to meet the needs of Muncie and Delaware County—whatever the future holds.
Unrestricted giving fuels our ability to act quickly, support innovation, and invest in long-term solutions. It’s the kind of giving that Pat believed in—and the kind of giving that builds a stronger community for all of us.
Your unrestricted gift today will build a better tomorrow for Muncie and Delaware County.
Patricia Schaefer’s legacy lives on in every grant awarded, every nonprofit strengthened, and every life touched by the work of The Community Foundation. Now, it’s your turn to be part of that story.
Be bold. Be generous. Build tomorrow today.
Make a Difference
Caring, giving donors are key to developing an enduring source of charitable assets to benefit our community today, tomorrow, and always.