I.D.E.A.
Illinois District Endowment Assurance
The Illinois District knows that singing barbershop harmony isn’t just fun, it can literally transform lives. Singing in a quartet or chorus — and making lifelong friends along the way — is a truly transformative experience. Blending your voice with others breaks down all sorts of barriers such as economic, racial, cultural and gender. In barbershop harmony, we are all one in song, and one in spirit.
To make transforming lives through song a top priority, the district formed a non-profit organization charged with focusing on just that. IDEA stands for Illinois District Endowment Assurance fund. It was established in 1991 as a means to generate additional funds for various programs that encourage singing. IDEA has been helping fund Youth in Harmony festivals and programs, Harmony College Midwest, chapter Ready-Set-Sing programs, chapter-sponsored quartet contests, and district and youth quartets competing at the Barbershop Harmony Society’s international conventions.
IDEA encourages charitable giving to the fund that invests in mutual funds which, in turn, generate capital gains, dividends and interest. The “donate online” and “donate by check” links below are an easy and convenient way to give. You can make a one-time donation, a monthly donation, or an annual contribution. Every donation helps. The Application for Funding link is for applying for funds from IDEA.
The IDEA board is made up of former district presidents and includes an investment advisor. The board trustees manage the fund and approve disbursements from the fund. Please contact a trustee with any questions.
Donate Online
Donate by Check
Application for Funding
IDEA Trustees & Active Trustees Emeriti
|
Jim Waldorf |
Trustee | jwald1603@aol.com | 309-530-5109 |
|
Jeff Bowyer |
Trustee | bowyersing@live.com | 217-822-2320 |
|
Bob Cearnal |
Trustee | rlcearnal@gmail.com | 618-566-8574 |
|
Earl Holtz |
Trustee | earlholtz@comcast.net | 847-287-1216 |
|
Earl Meseth |
Trustee | earlm@elmhurst.edu | 815-838-1953 |
|
Rich Hansen |
Active Trustee Emeriti | rjhansen74@gmail.com | 217-412-1867 |
|
Bob Squires |
Active Trustee Emeriti | clefhangeron@gmail.com | 815-347-2985 |
Qualified Charitable Distribution
Many seniors, who are over 70½, might benefit by using a QCD which is a distribution from their IRA for their charitable gifts such as to IDEA. If 73 or older, a QCD can satisfy the required minimum distribution of your IRA. A QCD can reduce your adjusted gross income (AGI) which will reduce your taxes more than gifts taken as an itemized deduction. A reduced AGI can result in a lower tax on social security, a lower medicare premium and an increased itemized medical deduction.