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Who We Are

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Our mission is to enhance the quality of life in our region.

Our Story

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We pursue our mission through resource development, community grantmaking, collaboration and public leadership — connecting passion to purpose since 1973.

In the early 1970s, a group of estate-planning attorneys learned of a sizeable estate gift that left Springfield because there wasn’t a place here to accept a general gift for community betterment. Those 11 founders, supported by then-Springfield Mayor Jim Payne and businesswoman Anne Drummond, created the region’s first public charitable foundation in 1973.

Today, the CFO is governed by community volunteers and run by a professional staff that serves a network of donors, regional affiliate foundations, nonprofit partners and professional advisors through approximately 3,700 charitable funds.

Regional Affiliates

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The CFO’s affiliate network supports giving in communities across our region.

In 1993, 20 years after the CFO’s founding, the first affiliate foundation was created in Nixa. Affiliate foundations are governed by local volunteers who are supported by the CFO’s professional staff.

Affiliates represent cities, counties and multi-county regions stretching from the Missouri River south to the borders of our neighboring states.

Staff & Leadership

2024–2025 Board of Directors

The CFO stands on the shoulders of its volunteer leaders, past and present. These are the individuals who will govern the foundation during the 2024–2025 fiscal year.

Meet the Board

Meet Our Staff

Driven by mission, guided by experience.

The CFO’s staff in Springfield, West Plains and Cape Girardeau stands ready to help our constituents achieve their charitable goals.

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Our Affiliate Team

Coordinators help volunteer affiliate leaders accomplish goals.

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Our Committees

Community members guide decisions.

The CFO owes a great debt to its volunteer leaders, both past and present, for their leadership over the last four decades. These are the individuals who will guide the foundation during the 2023–24 fiscal year.

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Who We Are

Tax & Financial Information

Access important information and documents like the CFO’s EIN, 990 and quarterly performance report.

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Support our mission by becoming a donor today.

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