April 16, 2026
Grants support community engagement and emergent needs
The Community Foundation of the Ozarks has selected the third round of grant recipients of its Inclusion & Belonging and Rapid Response programs for the 2025–26 grant cycle.
The Inclusion & Belonging Grant Program supports small grant requests to ensure inclusive participation and engagement in local communities. The six recipients, receiving a total of $13,850, are:
- Barnabas Foundation Inc: $3,000 to support scholarships for children with disabilities from low-income families in southwest Missouri to attend Camp Barnabas.
- Cape Girardeau Public Schools Foundation: $3,000 to support a guest artist who will teach high school English language learners about diverse art projects.
- Haven House Inc.: $1,000 to support “Shared Voices, Shared Community,” which will empower survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking in southern Missouri by reducing barriers to community engagement.
- Springfield Public Schools: $850 to support Mercy Business Associated Student Education students through inclusive community engagement, empowering them with special needs to participate fully while fostering a sense of belonging.
- Springfield Sister Cities Association: $3,000 to promote cultural inclusion and understanding by showcasing Japanese musical traditions to diverse audiences through free performances.
- Why Not Mindset: $3,000 to support a reentry navigation and belonging pilot program in Springfield that provides formerly incarcerated individuals with peer support, transportation assistance and community-based connection during the first 90 days after their release.
The Rapid Response Grant Program supports nonprofits that lose government funding, are affected by disaster, or require time-sensitive funding for innovation or collaboration. The seven recipients, receiving a total of $13,500, are:
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield: $1,000 to purchase instructional materials and academic program supplies for academic coordinators across its locations.
- Central Missouri Area Agency on Aging: $3,000 to prepare shelf-stable meals for homebound clients in its 19-county service area.
- City of Walker: $3,000 to purchase and install a new storm siren.
- The Eaglesnest: $1,000 to stabilize and expand access to its “From Crisis to Stability” initiative in Greene County.
- National Avenue Christian Church: $1,000 to support its participation in Springfield’s crisis cold weather shelter program in January.
- The Samaritan Center: $1,500 to provide snacks for school-aged children in Henry County.
- Webster County Victim Assistance Program: $3,000 to support unexpected rental fees from March to June at its second shelter.
While the Inclusion & Belonging program is closed for application, the Rapid Response program will remain open through June 4 or until funds are exhausted. To learn more about the CFO’s grant application process, visit cfozarks.org/applyforgrants.
