The Lilly Endowment recently announced that it awarded $2.1 million to the Community Education Coalition (CEC) and $2.9 million to Heritage Fund - The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County for grants totaling $5 million. By making these grants available, the Lilly Endowment is helping to continue successful initiatives that have already been launched in Bartholomew County, Indiana, through the EcO15 program.

EcO15 stands for Economic Opportunities through Education by 2015. The program focuses its efforts on helping Indiana students achieve the education they will need to participate in the region's labor force, which relies heavily on advanced manufacturing, healthcare and tourism/hospitality.

"The goal is for students to move through high school STEM-focused, project-based programs into postsecondary engineering, design, science, technology, production process and logistics education programs in a 'seamless' manner, enrolling in college while still in high school," said John Burnett, CEO of CEC.

As programs and organizations continue to work toward these aims, they can use fund accounting to accurately track incoming and outgoing funds for auditing purposes. When they can demonstrate fiscal responsibility easily, they might find they are able to apply for a greater number of grant opportunities.