PASSION & PURPOSE: WINTER 2025-26
Gifts to the Community
The CFO’s new quarterly newsletter features stories on legacy gifts, corporate philanthropy, the 2025 Humanitarian of the Year and three leaders to watch.
READ HEREAnnual Report FY25 shares the volunteer leadership, grantmaking, new funds and financial statements for the Community Foundation of the Ozarks and its 55 regional affiliate foundations during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025.
- Production: Aaron Scott, Kaitlyn McConnell, Matthew Stewart and Matt Lemmon
- Research Support: Judy Cantoni, Latesa Carter, Lisa DeSha, Anna Dowell, Ashley Fleming, Tiffany Frey, Beth Hersh, Joe Kammerer, Luis Leon, Abby Petzoldt, Devin Prahl, Millie Schuchmann, Ashley Silva, Rachel Tripp and Ashley Walden.
A Letter from the Chair
As I reflect on the first six months of my term as chair of the Board of Directors for the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, I am left contemplating how my professional and philanthropic experiences are deeply intertwined. In both spaces, I am surrounded by people who are committed to service, stewardship and community strength.
In my career with Associated Electric Cooperative Inc., our mission is simple but essential — to provide reliable, affordable and responsible energy to our member cooperatives across Missouri and beyond. Behind that mission are families, farmers, small-business owners and the like, whose livelihoods depend on a consistent power supply every single day. These are the same neighbors whose lives and well-being are at the heart of the CFO’s mission, which is “to improve the quality of life for everyone in our region.” In many ways, these two commitments — one focused on keeping the lights on, the other on lighting the way forward — reflect different expressions of the same purpose: to strengthen the communities that define this region that we call home.
“That spirit of perseverance and optimism is woven through everything we do.” — Roy Hardy Jr., board chair for the Community Foundation of the Ozarks
The overlap between these missions isn’t just philosophical, it’s visible every day in the life of our communities. It’s there in the glow of a gymnasium hosting a youth program supported by a local affiliate, and in the hum of activity at a senior center made possible by a CFO grant. Whether it’s the infrastructure that keeps a town running or the philanthropy that helps it thrive, I consider it a true privilege to witness that connection firsthand.
These experiences remind me that leadership, at its best, is about helping others succeed. And when we work together across sectors, professions and communities, the result is not only power in the literal sense, but empowerment in every sense. We create a lasting impact that illuminates the path forward for generations to come.
The CFO has long benefited from visionary leadership, from our founders to the many dedicated board members who have helped guide the CFO through 52 years of growth and change. I’m often reminded of one of my favorite quotes from author John C. Maxwell: “Success without a successor is failure.” True success in any organization means ensuring the mission continues long after our individual chapters have closed. That’s what we see at the CFO today in the seamless transition of executive leadership, in the steady hands of our volunteer affiliate boards, and in the ongoing commitment of donors, community champions and staff who carry the torch forward.
This past year marked another important milestone for the CFO as we completed the renovation of the fourth floor of our home at 300 South Jefferson in downtown Springfield. This investment has transformed the space into a place designed for collaboration, learning and the continued evolution of our mission. As we continue to develop our headquarters into a regional center for philanthropy, it reflects our belief that strong communities are built not only by resources, but by relationships.
Of course, this work does not happen in a vacuum. The landscape for charitable giving continues to shift, and the nonprofit sector faces new uncertainties in funding and need. Yet, even in times of change, the CFO remains a steady presence, uniting partners, inspiring generosity and helping communities find creative solutions to the challenges before them. That spirit of perseverance and optimism is woven through everything we do.
As you explore the stories and achievements in the pages ahead, I invite you to see how your generosity and engagement make a difference every day. From our home office in Springfield to our 55 affiliate foundations across the region, the work of the CFO belongs to all of us — every donor, volunteer and neighbor who believes in the power of local people improving local places.
Roy Hardy Jr. is the FY26 chair for the CFO’s Board of Directors.
