Community Foundation of the Ozarks

The 2011 conference for the CFO’s affiliate foundations offered a variety of topics and information for more than 60 presidents and board members who came to Springfield last week.

CFO President Brian Fogle offered a perspective on rural community development aimed at reinforcing the affiliates’ roles as leaders and community builders.

Three breakout sessions on board development, fund development and marketing/communications were designed to share practical ideas and goals for the key topics identified at last conference when the affiliates focused on strategic planning.

A lunchtime panel discussion highlighted successful event planning and fundraising ideas, including tips on making the events both safe and successful.

The CFO’s Carol Silvey continued the “friendraising” training she began during the fall regional meetings with affiliates. And Brian Fogle wrapped up the conference by celebrating the CFO’s recent milestone of $100 million in grantmaking and distributions back to our communities. He also congratulated four affiliates that have recently achieved the $1 million milestone in assets – the Aurora Area Community Foundation, the Finley River Community Foundation, the Lockwood Community Foundation, and the West Plains Community Foundation.

The Community Foundation of the Ozarks is again teaming up with Ozarks Food Harvest and the Walmart State Giving Program to tackle the chronic hunger problems that affect our region.

The 2^nd Annual Ozarks Million Dollar Hunger Challenge kicked off at a news conference at Ozarks Food Harvest today. The Walmart Foundation State Giving Program pledged a $125,000 grant toward a 1:1 match with regional food pantries served by Ozarks Food Harvest.

The participating food pantries were selected in 27 communities that have CFO affiliate foundations so that those foundations could offer fundraising support, community grantmaking awards or other types of assistance to partner with their local food banks.

“This is a great way to address hunger across one-third of the state of Missouri using a great trio of partners,” OFH President and CEO Bart Brown said.

He also discussed a new analysis of local “food insecurity” levels that support anecdotal information and a 2010 Hunger Study. The analysis shows that many people facing “food insecurity” have income and/or resources that make them ineligible for assistance programs. Many of them are people who have lost jobs, but still have homes or cars that count as assets.

“More and more clients who come to food pantries are the unemployed middle class who need assistance,” Brown said. “Technically, they’re not poor, but they don’t have any money.”

Through Ozarks Food Harvest’s buying program, the $250,000 in potential funds from the challenge grant and matching funds will leverage about $1 million worth, or 2.5 million pounds, of food for the participating pantries, food banks and mobile food banks.

The first Million Dollar Hunger Challenge was completed last year when 19 CFO affiliates raised $105,000, which was matched with $100,000 from the Walmart State Foundation.

CFO President Brian Fogle said this represents another example where charitable dollars are filling the gaps created by decreased public funding at all levels. He said this model works well because it directly serves residents in the communities where the money will be raised.

“That is philanthropy at its best,” Fogle said.

Becky Wood, Walmart’s Senior Foundation Manager from Bentonville, Ark., said the company’s State Giving Councils are comprised of local associates who determine the best use of foundation resources for  their states.

“It’s great to be a partner with you in Springfield,” she said.

Lockwood Superintendent Bill Rogers, left, and Lockwood Community Foundation leaders Fred and LaRue Lemons, right, accept a $10,000 Cooper Phase II check from Winter Skelton, of the CFO.

The Lockwood Community Foundation and Lockwood Public Schools worked to together to raise more than $20,000 for the Lockwood Community Foundation Academic Fund and garnered a $10,000 match from the Harry Cooper Supply Company Campaign for the Ozarks Phase II.

Lockwood superintendent Bill Rogers says reaching out to alumni was integral to the success of their effort. “We sent letters to all known alumni early on,” said Rogers, “and we made sure to write handwritten thank you notes to every person who made a contribution.” In all, 59 donors contributed $20,300 with gifts ranging in size from $5 to $5,000.

Winter Skelton, CFO development operations director, said Lockwood’s grassroots effort exemplifies the spirit of the Rural Schools Partnership program and the Cooper campaign. She added, “What we always hope to see is cooperation between the school and the community at large—cooperation that engages as many people as possible. When this occurs, good things happen!”

Fred Lemons, Lockwood Community Foundation, has shepherded his Foundation’s growth since its inception in 1999. “The entire community has rallied around us,” said Lemons. “So many businesses and caring individuals have made our growth possible.” Lemons is particularly excited that the Lockwood Community Foundation is approaching the $1 million milestone in total assets. “It wouldn’t surprise me if we hit a million by Christmas,” he predicted.