Community Concerns: Programs give local philanthropy boost

This is a time of unprecedented prosperity and wealth in our country and our community. Yet not all people share in this prosperity. Too many children are living in poverty in Greene County. Too many mothers and fathers struggle to find jobs that adequately provide for their families. Too many young people are not completing school and find their opportunities for living-wage employment diminished.

On Oct. 28, the Community Foundation of the Ozarks announced a $3 million commitment to a package of programs designed to expand philanthropy by connecting generous and charitable individuals to these and other community needs. For 27 years the Community Foundation has worked to build a permanent source of charitable capital through endowment building and has put in place a grant-making program that assists community nonprofits in meeting important needs. These two areas of emphasis fulfill two of four elements of the Community Foundation's mission statement. With the Philanthropy Initiative, however, the Community Foundation will emphasize implementation of the balance of its mission: providing leadership and encouraging collaboration.

Because the Philanthropy Initiative is not just one program, but a package of programs, it takes some explaining! Each of the programs involves exciting new partnerships with other community nonprofits such as KSMU, the Library Center, Ozarks Region chapter of the National Society of Fundraising Executives and the Cooper Foundation.

In his column last week in this publication, Arthur Mallory described one of the programs, called Youth Philanthropy.

Other projects in the Philanthropy Initiative include the Community Foundation's partnership with The Library Center, which kicked off Nov. 1 with the first edition of a quarterly newsletter for nonprofits, "The Nonprofit Prophet," and a workshop to teach nonprofits how to provide an opportunity for contributions on their Web site. Other services within this partnership include additional workshops and seminars, expansion of the Funding Information Center and an e-mail list for nonprofit administrators.

Two other promising projects designed to expand philanthropy involve partnerships with outside organizations. A partnership with KSMU will produce a series of new programs about compelling stories of philanthropy, volunteerism and service learning. Plans are to tie this project in with the Youth Philanthropy project, further enhancing both. A partnership with the Ozarks chapter of NSFRE (and others yet to be recruited) will bring a program called "Leave a Legacy" to our area that has been successfully launched in more than 200 cities around the country.

It is a public education program intended to demystify and stimulate bequest giving, usually sponsored by a collaboration of nonprofits, estate planning councils, bar associations and media outlets. This is especially important because of the predictions that an amazing transfer of wealth to heirs and charities will occur in the next 30 years in our country, estimated at a minimum of $11 trillion. All nonprofits in the region should benefit from the "rising tide" effect that the information in this program reveals.

The Endowment Partners program was announced in August, and offers special services to help nonprofits build their endowments.

In building their endowments, nonprofit organizations are telling the community they are here for the long haul and are looking out for the future of their organization. The special services of this program include workshops on fund raising and a grant program for the technical assistance needs of nonprofits. A grant makers forum is planned, designed to bring together foundations and other grant makers to offer an opportunity for collaboration.

Avenues for participation exist within this structure, and we welcome input and involvement.

On Nov. 17, the Ozarks Chapter of NSFRE will present the annual Philanthropy Day Awards and Luncheon at Highland Springs Country Club. This year's recipients are: Jim D. Morris, Outstanding Philanthropist; John Rush of United Way, Outstanding Executive Fund Raiser; St. John's Regional Health Center, Outstanding Corporation; Judy Phillips and Ronald Neville, each receiving an Outstanding Volunteer Fund Raiser award; KSPR and Springfield Business Journal, each receiving an Outstanding Media award; Midwest Fibre Sales, Outstanding Small Business; and Springfield Collectors Club, Outstanding Philanthropic Organization.

Congratulations to all; our community is a better place because of your philanthropic spirit.

(Jan Horton is president and CEO of the Community Foundation of the Ozarks. She is proud to be a lifelong volunteer, devotee of the arts, nature lover and environmentalist.)