Community Foundation of the Ozarks crosses $100M threshold

Community Foundation of the Ozarks has achieved the $100 million milestone in grantmaking and distributions. The nonprofit organization was founded in 1973 as Community Foundation of Greene County Inc. and was given its current name in 1994.

CFO's original incorporators were organized by former Springfield Mayor Jim Payne. The nonprofit operated as a volunteer organization until 1988 when it hired its first staff member, Jan Horton, who later served as the first president. Horton was succeeded by Gary Funk, who served from 2003-2010, when Brian Fogle was named third president, according to a news release.

"There are a million different stories represented in that $100 million and all were because of the founding board members who cared about their community and wanted to leave it better than they found it,” Fogle said in the release. “They have left a lasting legacy.”

The $100 million announcement on March 16 coincided with the Metropolitan Springfield Red-Flag Response Challenge Grant presentations to 19 nonprofit agencies. The challenge, conducted from October 2010-Feb. 28, raised more than $434,00 to support early childhood development, hunger, health and human services, education, and housing stabilization programs.

CFO consisted of 43 affiliate foundations, 381 nonprofit agency and school partners, 1,965 funds and assets of $172 million as of Dec. 31, according to the release.[[In-content Ad]]