Family & History
Our History:
The Lumpkin Family
Dr. William C Lumpkin and his father, Dr. Iverson A. Lumpkin, dentists in Mattoon at the turn of the century, founded the Mattoon Telephone Company in 1894 serving 175 original customers.
The company evolved into Illinois Consolidated Telephone Company (ICTC), becoming one of the nation’s largest privately held telecommunications firms before going public as Consolidated Communications in 2005 with business across some 23 states.
Besse A. Lumpkin, widow of Dr. William C. Lumpkin, established The Lumpkin Family Foundation in 1953 with a gift of $100,000 from her estate.
Our History:
Family Governance and Engagement
Our purpose is to bring together the rich intellectual, social and cultural capital of the extended Lumpkin family in collective pursuit of positive change.
The Lumpkin family is made up of descendants and spouses of the original donor, Besse A. Lumpkin. Although the family traces its roots back further, the Foundation calls Mattoon, Illinois ground zero – and home to our office – though members now live in communities across the US and England.
Family members currently occupy six seats on the Board. They and other members of the Lumpkin family serve on grantmaking committees. While family participation is essential to the Foundation’s identity, members value the involvement of community leaders whose expertise and knowledge support the achievement of the Foundation’s goals. Three seats are reserved for Independent Trustees, and the Foundation regularly consults community leaders in the design and execution of the Foundation’s programs.
Watch the video below to learn more about the impact of the Lumpkin Family.
Initially serving as the Illinois Consolidated Telephone Company’s philanthropic arm, the Foundation supported keystone organizations in the company’s rural footprint, including local hospitals, libraries, colleges and universities. Over time, the Foundation transitioned into a family enterprise independent of the company, aligning its mission with members’ passion for conservation, health, and education.
Since the early 2000’s, the Foundation has evolved on several fronts. While maintaining a commitment to rural East Central Illinois, we have honed our grantmaking and expanded our geographic focus to include the urban areas of our original footprint and Chicago.
The Foundation’s approach to philanthropy has also developed in recent years, centering more and more on collaboration to leverage limited resources. Partnering with aligned foundations extends our reach and deepens our impact.
Another significant shift in the Foundation’s strategy is evident in the Board’s management of the Foundation’s investments. We have long followed Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles to minimize the potential negative impact of our investments. In recent years, we have moved toward activating more of the portfolio for direct mission or program impact.
Finally, trustees and staff have come to understand the advancement of equity as central to developing truly healthy, sustainable communities. This means extending board membership beyond the Lumpkin family, adding more community representation, and auditing our programs and processes to ensure they more intentionally reflect our equity value.
The Foundation’s evolution reflects our commitment to adapting and growing in response to the changing needs of our communities, ensuring The Lumpkin Family Foundation remains a force for positive change now and in the future. More detail on our current history and ongoing evolution can be found throughout this website.
