Jan. 25, 2024
Six grants fund programs from Joplin to Cape Girardeau
The Community Foundation of the Ozarks has selected the latest recipients of the Inclusion & Belonging Grants for the 2023–24 grant cycle. The program supports small grant requests to ensure equitable participation and engagement in local communities.
The six recipients, receiving a total of $11,500, are:
- Jaxon’s Badgers: $3,000 to provide adaptive fitness programming and socialization for individuals with disabilities and limited financial resources in the Joplin area.
- Marionville Elementary: $550 to provide a mobile alternative communication board for nonverbal students and their peers.
- Monett R-1 School District: $3,000 to support, in collaboration with the Monett Historical Society, place-based education and museum exhibits showcasing the historically accurate narrative of Native Americans and immigrants who are a part of the community.
- Nixa Public Schools: $450 to purchase rotating bookshelves that provide access to literacy materials for students with disabilities.
- Southeast Missouri Network Against Sexual Violence: $2,500 to support, on behalf of the Southeast Council on Philanthropy, diversity, equity, access and inclusion training for nonprofit organizations in southeast Missouri.
- Superstars of Point Performing Arts: $2,000 to engage children with disabilities through dance by funding a dance teacher in Springfield.
About $23,000 remains available in the Inclusion & Belonging Grant Program. Agencies may apply for up to $3,000 to support expenses related to:
- Ensuring diverse representation in leadership roles and the community;
- Providing students with equitable opportunity for community engagement and leadership; and
- Hosting events that ensure visible representations of belonging in the Ozarks.
Applications are reviewed and awarded through mid-June. To learn more about the CFO’s grant application process, visit cfozarks.org/applyforgrants.
