Giving Back

The Morton Pumpkin Festival’s core function is community enhancement for the Village of Morton and the Morton Chamber of Commerce. In addition to using festival revenue to support their general operations, the Morton Chamber of Commerce donates tens of thousands of dollars each year to other, local non-profit organizations that assist in the operations of the festival.

Project Pumpkin Endowment Fund

Project Pumpkin is an endowment fund the Morton Chamber of Commerce launched in 2013 in partnership with the Morton Community Foundation. The purpose of the fund is to provide access to the Morton Pumpkin Festival for families in need. To contribute to the fund, festival guests can purchase a special item at the Pumpkin Store before and during the Morton Pumpkin Festival. 100% of the proceeds from those sales go to support this fund. Direct contributions to the fund can also be sent to the Morton Community Foundation.

Liz Meier Morton Pumpkin Festival Volunteer Give-Back Fund

Each year, it takes thousands of volunteers to make the Pumpkin Festival a success. Many of those volunteers come in the form of non-profit organizations. This Fund provides financial contributions to non-profit and youth groups who provide a minimum of ten people to host a shift or activity during the Annual Morton Pumpkin Festival.

Thank you to our VIP Giveback sponsor:

Nonprofit Partners & Volunteer Groups 2023

At the 57th Annual Morton Pumpkin Festival: Farmin’ Pumpkins, the following nonprofit organizations received a portion of the revenue through their support of activities and operations:                                 

AAUW Morton Branch
American Heritage Girls 6408
Apostolic Christian Lifepoints
Blessed Sacrament Church
Blessed Sacrament School
Boy Scout Troop 178
Bradley University Cheer
Bradley University Men’s Golf
Bradley University Women’s Basketball
Camp of Champions USA
Cornerstone Baptist Church
Elevate Church
Expressions Dance Team
Girl Scout Troop 4268
Girl Scout Troop 4113
Girl Scout Troop 4687 / 4688
Jefferson School
Jefferson School PTO
Morton Softball
Midwest Food Bank
Morton Community Foundation
Morton Football
Morton High School 709 Board & Administration 
Morton High School Athletic Club
Morton High School FFA – 2024 Community Project supporting FFA Program
Morton High School Skills USA
Morton Junior High Red Team
Morton Volleyball
Morton Opportunity Club
Morton Pumpkin Festival Equipment
Morton Rotary Club
MYBA (Morton Youth Baseball Association)
PCSA (Pekin Community Softball Association)
Peoria Area Water Wizards
Rebuilding Together IL – Peoria
St. Jude Runs
TCRC (Tazewell County Resource Center)
Titanium Force Cheer (Black Smoke Group)
TRIO Upward Bound / Hope Wesleyan Church
Morton United Methodist Church
Local Business Support: Holidazzle Shop Local Promotions 

Past Year Contributions

The Morton Chamber of Commerce has contributed thousands of dollars to local nonprofit organizations and projects through the revenue generated by the Morton Pumpkin Festival. Here is a history of contributions over the past decade:

  • 2001 – $11,000
  • 2002 – $15,250
  • 2003 – $16,500
  • 2004 – $17,000
  • 2005 – $17,500
  • 2006 – $5,000
  • 2007 – $25,000
  • 2008 – $5,000
  • 2009 – $35,000
  • 2010 – $40,000
  • 2011 – $13,118
  • 2012 – $46,793 (Special Project: Downtown Memorial Plaza – $25,000)
  • 2013 – $41,062.26 (Special Project: Idlewood Arts Pavilion – $25,000)
  • 2014 – $46,564.37 (Special Project: Veterans Memorial – $25,000)
  • 2015 – $46,152.22 (Special Project: Birchwood Park Softball Complex – $25,000)
  • 2016 – $31,016.61 (Special Project: Library Book Drop & Downtown Flower Pots – $14,714.61)
  • 2017 – $39,074.13 (Special Project: Idlewood Large Picnic Shelter $20,000)
  • 2018 – $38,740 (Special Project: Jefferson School Playground $10,000)
  • 2019 – $51,650.83 (Special Project: Morton Park District, Horseshoe Park $25,000)
  • 2020 – $13,162
  • 2021 – $49,549.13 (Special Project: Morton Park District, Lakewood Park $20,500 & Morton Public Library, Story Walk $4,500)
  • 2022 – $45, 542.09 (Special Project: Welding Simulator for the Morton High School $25,000 & Hometown Holidays Promotional Donation $5,000)
  • 2023 = $49, 826 (Special Project: Morton High School FFA Program $5,000 and Holidazzle Shop Local Business Impact $2,500)