Letter from the President

Thank-you!

Your Community Foundation has had a remarkably good year.

The causes? The generosity of some really faithful philanthropists, the creativity of the county's large and diverse nonprofit sector, and the energy of our talented staff and trustees.

Against the economic tide, the Foundation continues to grow. It's been a year of  change and expansion that is leading to a new era of visibility and productivity for charitable life in Essex County.

ECCF has no debt. Its budget is balanced. Its investment performance is well above the national benchmarks for foundations. Its audit is extremely clean. And this Annual Report is online to save trees.

ECCF is extremely efficient. At age eleven it remains small in the amount of assets under management and large in its grant awards, special programs and services. As I write this letter part-way into Fiscal 2010 that ratio is beginning to earn new financial leverage that will prove that the founders' 'service first' strategy is right.

ECCF is a cause, a service and a civic improvement organization worth investing in. The return-on-investment will warm your heart by helping to feed people, expand the arts, improve education, save land, make us all safer, provide jobs, and make beautiful Essex County an even better place to live.

Thanks for all you do to help ECCF help your community thrive. Please call with questions and ideas anytime. We're at your service.