August 11, 2020
Philanthropic leaders join forces
Two of Springfield’s legacy philanthropic foundations will now operate as one with the Community Foundation of the Ozarks assuming responsibility for the Musgrave Foundation’s grantmaking programs beginning in fall 2020.
This agreement between the CFO and the Musgrave Foundation Charitable Trust follows the June death of longtime Foundation Manager Jerry Redfern, an attorney at Neale & Newman LLP.
Since its inception, the Musgrave Foundation has awarded grants of more than $15 million to nonprofit agencies in Springfield-Greene County. The foundation was created by Jeannette L. Musgrave, whose husband, Dr. Edward Musgrave, was a dentist whose family held oil leases in Oklahoma and Texas. Dr. Musgrave died in 1970. Mrs. Musgrave created the foundation in 1983; she lived to be 101.
U.S. Bank Wealth Management will continue to manage the trust on behalf of the CFO.
“Jerry Redfern will certainly be missed as he managed the Musgrave Foundation’s grantmaking process since 2003,” said Becky Bonner, wealth management advisor for the Musgrave Foundation. “It was an easy decision, however, to select the Community Foundation of the Ozarks as the successor foundation manager with their strong history in the community. We are excited to partner with the CFO and their grantmaking expertise in working with the grant committee.”
The CFO, founded in 1973, maintained a close working relationship with Redfern and the Musgrave Foundation over the years. The foundation has supported CFO initiatives such as the Northwest Project, an effort to reduce poverty in northwest Springfield, and the Give Ozarks online giving days.
“We are honored to carry on the Musgrave legacy and the important work that the foundation’s grantmaking supports in Springfield-Greene County,” CFO President Brian Fogle said. “I was fortunate to count Jerry as both a friend and colleague. We shared a deep appreciation for the role of nonprofit organizations in serving a wide range of community needs.”
The CFO anticipates that the current members of the Musgrave grantmaking advisory committee will remain involved in the process. They are: Chair Rob Baird; Thomas Slaight; Peggy Riggs, Ed.D; Thomas J. Carlson; and Ferba Lofton.
“The grants committee looks forward to continuing in its role of stewardship with regard to making grants in the spirit of Jeanette Musgrave’s generous vision,” Baird said. “After a wonderful era under the guidance of Jerry Redfern, we are now excited to explore the many synergies that our new relationship with CFO will afford.”
Information about the Musgrave grantmaking program will be available at cfozarks.org/musgrave. The first grantmaking cycle will be announced in early September.
