ILLINOIS PGA FOUNDATION

General Information

The Illinois PGA Foundation is a 501 (c) 3 organization that serves as the charitable arm of the Illinois Section PGA, one of the forty-one geographical regions that comprise the Professional Golfers Association of America (PGA of America).  Established in 1991, the organization focuses its community efforts on promoting the goodwill and growth of the game with an emphasis on activities that benefit youth.  Illinois PGA Foundation initiatives include:

	GolfWorks Illinois – a vocational development and scholarship program for Illinois high school and college age students to learn through hands-on work experience in the golf industry.  The Foundation collaborates with Illinois golf industry partners to provide employment opportunities for students.
	Illinois Golf Hall of Fame – The program celebrates the achievements of individuals hailing from the prairie state, whose career contributions have positively impacted golf in Illinois.  The hall of fame exhibit, located in Glenview, IL, is a first class tribute to preserving the state’s rich golf heritage.
	Youth-based Scholarship Fund – The Foundation provides financial assistance to young people pursuing a college education through several named endowment funds that include the Alice Meyer Brown, Louis Meyer Brown, Don Pieper and Oscar Miles scholarship funds
	Illinois ‘Support Youth Golf’ License Plate Program– In collaboration with the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office, proceeds from the sales of the license plate benefit the Illinois PGA Foundation and its charitable purpose of introducing the game to young people.  Grants from the license plate have been used to sponsor jobs, scholarships and school-based programming for Illinois youth.
	Golfgives.org – This Foundation owned website serves as an online platform to conduct golf-related fundraising campaigns (golf marathons, golf teach-a-thons) that support nonprofit organizations.  Illinois PGA members and the general public contribute and participate in the campaigns.
	The First Tee of Greater Chicago– There are nearly 200 chapters of The First Tee, a youth development initiative of the World Golf Foundation.  The Chicago Chapter is a stand-alone 501 (c) 3 foundation with an independent board of directors.  The two organizations maintain shared employees and resources and work together to make a positive impact on area youth.

Through these community initiatives the Illinois PGA Foundation stands out as an active and relevant nonprofit organization contributing to the greater good in Illinois. 

The Illinois PGA Foundation relies upon the philanthropic support of individuals, businesses and golf industry partners who share in its commitment and vision of helping the community through the game of golf.  The Illinois PGA Foundation is a 501 (c) 3 charitable organization.

Making a Charitable Gift

To make your contribution by check (payable to Illinois PGA Foundation) you may mail it to:

Illinois PGA Foundation
2901 W. Lake Avenue, Suite A
Glenview, Illinois 60025

To make an online contribution, please choose from the options below:

Gifts made to the 2012 Annual Fund are unrestricted gifts that support many Foundation priorities and operations.		Honor Gifts are those made by a donor to honor a living individual, and are considered Annual Fund Gifts unless otherwise noted.		Memorial Gifts are those made by a donor to honor a deceased individual, and are considered Annual Fund Gifts unless otherwise noted.

The Foundation is proudly supported by 100% of the Illinois PGA membership making the Illinois Section one of the most community-minded PGA Sections in the country.

Campaigns, Special Events & Other Activities

Golfgives.org Fundraising Campaigns
According to a 2007 report published by Golf 20/20, golf is responsible for contributing about $3.5 billion annually to charities across the country, more than any other sporting activity. Closer to home, the report found that "the amount of charitable giving attributed to the game of golf in Illinois to be $113.2 million in 2007.*

Golf is truly more than a game. It is in this spirit of giving through the game that the Illinois PGA Foundation created golfgives.org as an online tool to conduct fundraising campaigns for the Foundation and fellow nonprofit organizations. Launched in 2010, two campaigns were administered: a golf half marathon (50 holes) and a holiday golf teach-a-thon.  Stay tuned for 2011 campaigns.

* Source: www.golf2020.com/economicresearch

Illinois PGA Tournament Player Donations
In 2010, over $5,000 was raised for the Illinois PGA Foundation through the generosity of the Illinois PGA tournament players, host facilities and sponsors. Illinois PGA golf professionals and amateur participants can choose to make a charitable contribution to the Illinois PGA Foundation when registering for an Illinois Section PGA sanctioned tournament. Host professionals and facilities also create opportunities to support the Foundation through collections, donation of cart and range revenues and more.

MissionFish Helps Illinois PGA Foundation Fundraise on eBay
The eBay Giving Works program allows sellers to give proceeds from their sales to a favorite nonprofit, and helps nonprofits raise funds by selling on eBay too.  Nonprofits can also receive donations from eBay users through the Donate Now feature, which lets anyone with a PayPal account donate to nonprofits right away - without buying or selling anything.  MissionFish, a nonprofit based in Washington D.C., administers the program on behalf of eBay.

Have something you want to sell- unwanted golf inventory, used equipment, collectibles, etc?  Try eBay Giving Works today and increase your sales by adding a benefiting charity to your listing such as the Illinois PGA Foundation.  A recent study has quantified the value sellers get by using eBay Giving Works: eBay items supporting charity through eBay Giving Works had a 20% higher conversion rate and 2% higher prices than identical items not supporting charity.

In 2010, the Illinois PGA Foundation received its first grant from the license plate proceeds.  The full $10,000 was applied towards sponsoring The First Tee National School Program as a matching grant opportunity for elementary schools located in communities where The First Tee has a presence.  Twenty elementary schools were sponsored in communities served by The First Tee of Greater Chicago, The First Tee of Greater Rockford and The First Tee of Joliet.

Additionally, through the GolfWorks Illinois program the Foundation will work with industry and community partners to provide summer employment and scholarship opportunities for young people working at Illinois golf facilities and nonprofits. 

Sign up for your Support Youth Golf license plate today! Online registration is available through the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office at www.cyberdriveillinois.com. A PDF of the application form is also available by clicking here.

A portion of your Illinois "Support Youth Golf" license plate purchase may be tax deductible as provided by law:

Provides for the issuance of Illinois Professional Golfers Association Foundation Junior Golf license plates. Provides that in addition to the appropriate registration fees, an applicant for the special plate shall be charged a fee of $40 at original issuance and at renewal. Provides that $25 of the additional original issuance fee and $38 of the renewal fee shall be deposited into the Illinois Professional Golfers Association Foundation Junior Golf Fund. Provides that $15 of the original issuance fee and $2 of the renewal fee shall be deposited into the Secretary of State Special License Plate Fund. Provides that, subject to appropriation by the General Assembly and approval by the Secretary of State, the moneys in the Illinois Professional Golfers Association Foundation Junior Golf Fund shall be paid as grants to the Illinois Professional Golfers Association Foundation to help Association members expose Illinois youngsters to the game of golf.

Please consult your tax advisor for additional information.