Ozark Foothills Regional Community Foundation

A trusted resource for philanthropy serving the Ozark Foothills region.

3019 Fair Street | Poplar Bluff, MO 63901 | (573) 785-6402 | Email Us

Our Mission

Our mission is to enhance the quality of life in the five-county Ozark Foothills region through resource development, community grantmaking, collaboration and public leadership.

Ozark Foothills Regional Community Foundation is the charitable partner of the Ozark Foothills Regional Planning Commission, serving Butler, Carter, Reynolds, Ripley and Wayne counties.

Since our founding on Nov. 28, 2011, Ozark Foothills Regional Community Foundation has distributed more than $739,273 back to the community. We now hold assets totaling $1,865,782 as of June 30, 2022.

Our Leadership

Russell french ozark foothills 800x800 affiliate president

Russell French, President

Our foundation is led by members of our community.

Russell French, President
Scott Dill, Secretary
Dr. Jim Jones
Alan Lutes
Marie Obourn
Rebeca Pacheo
Felicity Ray
Susan Skaggs
Ted Thompson
Lydia Keller, Coordinator

Ozark Foothills Regional Community Foundation awards Coover Regional Recovery Grants

May 5, 2021 — The Ozark Foothills Regional Community Foundation has awarded total grants of $10,000 to four nonprofit agencies for recovery needs related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The grants are made possible by the Louis L. and Julia Dorothy Coover Charitable Foundation, managed by Commerce Trust Company in partnership with the Community Foundation of the Ozarks. The Ozark Foothills Regional Community Foundation is one of 30 CFO affiliate foundations to receive Coover grant funding this year and chose to use its award to hold a community recovery grant round for eligible nonprofits.

The Ozark Foothills Regional Community Foundation awarded its Coover Regional Recovery Grants to:

Animal Welfare Alliance of Southeast Missouri: $2,500 for operational support
Clearwater R-1 School Foundation: $2,500 to support the “COVID Catch-up” tutoring program
Haven House Inc.: $2,500 to support the Direct Services Data Sharing System
Naylor Nutrition Center: $2,500 for operational support

“One of the benefits of the CFO’s affiliate network is the ability of local leaders to make decisions in the best interests of their own communities,” said Jill Reynolds, senior vice president at Commerce Trust. “Using leaders across rural Missouri to award Coover Charitable Foundation grant dollars has contributed to this partnership’s success in distributing more than $7 million since 2002.”