For twenty years, Camp Big Sky has been a safe haven and a place of exploration. As the only camp in the area where individuals with disabilities can take part in inclusive, barrier-free outdoor activities at no cost, they entertain both large groups and small families for day trips or overnight stays at their 102-acre property just outside of Farmington, Illinois.
“Our whole mission is to provide opportunities in the great outdoors that the rest of us often take for granted” says Board Member and Marketing Committee Chair, Kristen Berchtold.
With the help of many volunteers, the camp welcomes over 2,400 participants with disabilities each year. Yet, as demand grows, so too must their capacity to accommodate.
“We continue to have increasing demand for people with larger groups to spend the night…and we always have a core value of never exceeding our capacity to provide quality programs safely and comfortably. So, we need to prepare for the future,” said founder Brad Guidi who established the Camp Big Sky in honor of his brother, Bruce, who had a developmental disability and passed in 1963.
To do that, Camp Big Sky is partnering with the Galesburg Community Foundation to build their endowment which will help them offer their services, free of charge, to more people while ensuring the continuation of their mission forever.
“Nonprofit endowments give organizations a reliable source of revenue that provide capacity to focus more closely on their missions.” says Sarah Grant, Galesburg Community Foundation Director of Development.
As part of the partnership, the Community Foundation has provided a three-year grant and materials that Camp Big Sky can use to tell their story and promote their endowment fund with donors.
“Almost every day at Camp Big Sky we see someone get to do something for the first time in their life. It’s incredibly inspiring to witness these moments,” said Executive Director, Haven Kensinger. Together, through community support and a dedicated endowment, Camp Big Sky continues to make dreams of outdoor adventure and inclusivity a reality for all.
To make a gift to the Camp Big Sky endowment or other endowed funds at Galesburg Community Foundation visit yourgcf.org/give. To learn more about endowments, contact Sarah Grant at info@yourgcf.org or 309.344.8898
