Community Foundation of the Ozarks

Attn. nonprofit partners! ?? We are accepting applications for several specialty grant programs made possible by generous donors who chose to support specific areas of interest. These programs, supported by field-of-interest endowments, are open now through May 15. The programs are open to 501(c)3 nonprofits or organizations with similar tax-exempt status, such as school districts, government entities and faith-based organizations: ? Hearld Ambler Fund for Senior Centers Grant Program: $13,000 is available to senior centers in the 18-county SeniorAge Area Agency on Aging service area. ? Lennie Cloud Fund for the Hearing Impaired Grant Program: $500 is available to a nonprofit within the CFO’s service area to assist individuals with impaired hearing through equipment, programming or training. ? William E. Eslick Fund for Southern Baptist Greene County Churches: $2,000 is available to support Southern Baptist churches in Greene County. Funding is available for church capital projects that also provide a benefit to the surrounding community. ? St. Francis Fund Grant Program: $2,800 is available to support animal-welfare needs in Springfield and Greene County. ? Smith Atwell Girls Recreational Grant Program: $500 is available to a project that empowers and encourages girls and young women in Greene County to be involved in athletic and outdoor recreational opportunities. ? Wounded War Veterans Grant Program: $2,500 is available to a project that serves the needs of wounded war veterans in southwest Missouri through equipment, programming or training. Learn more and apply at https://lnkd.in/gTVHvQK6.

A local leader with a Passion for Progress ?? Matthew Kostelnik didn’t end up where he started — even though the director of the Eldon Area Chamber of Commerce is, in fact, from Eldon. It’s a different place than when the married father of two graduated from high school, and certainly altered from many years ago, when the railroad and a major manufacturer were significant employers. And while “adapting to those changes is hard,” he says, considering how best to evolve a place for the future can also lead to good things. “I would say the goal for Eldon is not to be stagnant,” Kostelnik says of the community, which has worked to redefine itself for future growth. Part of that shift is finding new employers (like Quaker Windows, which came to Eldon in recent years) but also increasing focus on year-round employment and tourism. A new draw will soon be Rock Island Trail State Park, a rail-to-trail pathway linking Eldon with other communities across mid-Missouri. Kostelnik’s own path is built on change. After college, the 31-year-old chamber director worked for the Eldon school and coached basketball. He later worked in flooring, which led to community betterment work in nearby Camdenton. Those chapters helped him reach the Eldon chamber office, a “train depot” that was built with support from the Eldon Community Foundation. “When a business comes and talks to me about something, I understand where they’re coming from,” he says. Those efforts are ones Kostelnik really puts his heart into making successful. “This is my home, and you want your home to do well,” he says. “If I do end up staying here for the rest of my life, I want my kids to have a good hometown to live in and to be a part of.” Find more inspiring stories of community leadership at https://lnkd.in/gWcCe6zg. #CommunityLeadership #ruralphilanthropy #ozarks #swmo

Join us in celebrating Rural Schools Collaborative's 10th Anniversary ?? ?? It has been a great honor to have collaborated from the beginning with RSC in supporting our region's (and nation's) rural educators, students and advocates. Please take a few minutes to enjoy this video and learn about the incredible impact RSC has had — and will continue to have — on rural education in our country. Watch here: https://lnkd.in/gMdGc_i7. #RuralEducation #ruralphilanthropy #ozarks

The future of philanthropy in the Ozarks isn’t just ahead — it’s happening now ?? In small, rural communities, it’s easy for young people to overlook what makes their hometowns truly special. Many feel they must leave to chase opportunity elsewhere, fueling the “brain drain” that challenges Ozarks towns. But at February’s Youth Empowerment Project Conference, students from Springfield and five rural communities explored the concept of “placemaking” — reimagining their hometowns as dynamic, engaging spaces brimming with possibility. Keynote speaker Dr. Marcos Silva, executive director of RGV LEAD, delivered an empowering message: “I want to challenge the idea that you are future leaders: you are leaders now, if you want to be.” Addison Jones and Laura King of Better Block SGF built on that message, reminding students that they are the experts on what their communities need. Jones and King hosted an interactive session to spark ideas about “third places” — social hubs beyond home and work that foster connection and creativity. In many small towns, third places are scarce. Hailey Lewelyn, a Gainesville High junior, reflected on the reality for her peers: “There’s really only a gas station in town where people hang out after class, so it was fun to share ideas and imagine something different.” As the day wound down, Bailey Pyle and Nia Howard of Burrell Behavioral Health's Be Well Initiatives led the groups through an interactive mindfulness exercise. Pyle tied the exercise to space and safety: "There's a lot of mental strain in constantly assessing your environment for threats." By giving young people the tools to dream and create, YEP inspires them to shape the future of their communities. Founded in 2001, YEP has chapters across the Ozarks, engaging high school students in its four philanthropic tenets of education, service, grantmaking and fundraising — helping them turn big ideas into real impact. Learn more about YEP at https://lnkd.in/gfbVdxmt. #youthleadership #youthphilanthropy #youthempowerment #philanthropy #ozarks #SGF

Please welcome Ashley Walden to the CFO ?? Beginning Feb. 18, Ashley will guide our wide range of grantmaking and scholarship programs as our vice president of community impact! Ashley brings years of nonprofit leadership to the CFO, most recently as the senior development officer for the Mercy Health Foundation. She previously served as executive director for Springfield Ballet and director of operations for United Way of the Ozarks. “Ashley has a deep understanding of our community’s needs and a track record of creating lasting impact for the organizations she has served,” said Winter Kinne, president and CEO of the CFO. "We look forward to working with Ashley as she leads our effort to turn the generosity of so many into the transformational work of philanthropy.” Learn more about Ashley at https://lnkd.in/gWE-BMCB.

The Arts and Culture Program Support program, totaling $120,000, is ?NOW OPEN? to Springfield Regional Arts Council member agencies across its 27-county service area in southwest Missouri. The program is supported by the CFO and the Jeannette L. Musgrave Foundation, along with $30,000 in hotel/motel tax funds dedicated to Springfield-based agencies. Qualifying agencies may apply for up to $10,000 in programming support, including funding for events, performances, classes, readings, outreach activities, exhibitions, public art, collaborative partnership projects and other programmatic strategies. Learn more and apply at https://lnkd.in/gDQUrs5B. #artsandculture #grantmaking #swmo #ozarks #SGF

Yesterday the Community Foundation of the Ozarks hosted its annual Youth Empowerment Project conference. A hundred-some students from Missouri districts large and small spent a day on the Ozarks Tech campus practicing self-care with Burrell Behavioral Health's Be Well team, dreaming about placemaking with Better Block SGF, and learning about their own power to make their communities more prosperous from Dr. Marcos Silva (who I'm having trouble tagging). Days like this hit the sweet spot for me: a much-needed dose of optimism and empowerment combined with an authentic, grassroots feel and great teamwork to make it happen. Thanks to Dr. Silva and everyone who made the day great. (Photos courtesy Aaron Scott).

YEP Conference 2025 was an extraordinary and inspiring gathering of young people from across the Ozarks at Ozarks Technical Community College's Lincoln Hall. The future looks bright with the leadership of these young minds and hearts. Thanks for your work in spearheading this conference, Rachel! Learn more about YEP at https://lnkd.in/gfbVdxmt. #youthphilanthropy #ozarks #sgfmo

We're hiring! ?? We're accepting applications for the part-time position of Affiliate Administrative Coordinator. This Cape Girardeau-based role is responsible for providing administrative assistance to the Affiliate team, which oversees our network of 55 affiliate community foundations. The CFO offers competitive pay, paid time off and holiday pay to part-time staff members to help successfully navigate work-life balance. Deadline for first consideration is Friday, Feb. 14. Learn more and apply at https://lnkd.in/gUSSSvjB. #PhilanthropyJobs #philanthropycareer #semojobs #semo

Marshfield Community Theatre helps make theatre accessible in the Ozarks?? Marshfield Community Theatre has had a home in the hearts of Webster County residents — and beyond — since the nonprofit’s inception in 2002. Now MCT has a physical home to grow its future. In December, the group announced that it had leased a historic Marshfield church, a step towards using a fund it established with the CFO and the Marshfield Area Community Foundation years ago for a permanent home. “Since we didn’t have a space, every time we’d do a show we’d have to figure out where we’re going to do it,” says Toni Lorenz, MCT’s development chair. It’s a big moment for the theater group, which produces multiple shows a year, ranging from kid-centric productions to summer musicals that bring many community members together. “We want to provide easy access for people that haven’t really had the chance to do theater before,” says Kelby Lorenz, Toni’s son. “We provide a good access point because a lot of us came in with no experience and learned along the way and we’ve gotten help from others.” The mother-and-son Lorenzes represents one example. They began participating in MCT shows about 20 years ago; today, they’re two of the nonprofit’s chairs. They sit in the main space of the group’s new home, which was built as the Marshfield First Baptist Church in 1923 and holds a place in the town’s historic district. MCT has held several smaller shows at the former church, which has been used for a variety of purposes in recent years. When it was put up for sale, leasing —– and potentially purchasing —– the building was a natural idea to consider. And, the Lorenzes say, they hope it means greater “education and opportunities” for people related to the theater and MCT. “I think we’ve always been all about including as many people, regardless of what they’re bringing to the stage,” Toni Lorenz says of their productions. “That growth is what it’s all about.” #communitytheatre #ruralart #ozarks #swmo