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This week, CKCF staff hosted our first-ever round-table series for partnering community organizations in our six-county service region. The first session was held Monday at the Flint Hills Bakery in Florence, KS. Due to flooding in South Central Kansas, the second was cancelled. The third was held Friday at the Valley Center Public Library in Valley Center, KS.

All charitable organizations in the region were invited to learn about the Foundation, capture new grant-writing strategies and learn the results of a recent survey by the Foundation to determine the needs of charitable organizations we serve.

We were delighted to have Prairie View, Friends of the Valley Center Library and XXX give presentations to their respective groups on the value of their relationship with CKCF and how the Foundation has helped them better serve their charitable mission.

                       

 

Peabody, Kansas, population 1123, is a typical rural town struggling against typical challenges, including fast WiFi access, public meeting spaces, and maintenance of historic buildings.  With the help of Peabody Community Foundation (PCF), the Peabody Township Library, a Carnegie Library, shines as a success story.

Not only is the building preserved in excellent condition, it has recently become fully ADA accessible and offers a fully-equipped public meeting space on its lower level.  This public space is available for family gatherings, city council meetings, public forums for political candidates, as well as routine meetings for community boards.  The free WiFi is utilized 24 hours per day by students at the four computer work stations, as well as cell phone users who need not enter the building to access the signal.

According to the library board president, Norma Patton, PCF has helped with each of the projects, from an accessible restroom to blinds, and from seating to a smart board and sound system for the public meeting space.  Since 2013, the library has received $7,250 in annual grant cycles from PCF’s Endowment Fund and the Kansas Health Foundation funds.  Additionally, the Township Library holds its own endowed fund with PCF which has yielded disbursements over $8,000 over since 2012.

“PCF hasn’t fully funded any one project, but with demonstrated support we have been able to successfully approach other funding sources,” said Patton.  “Our board is proud to offer this kind of resource [library] to our community.”

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Peabody Community Foundation will be featured in an upcoming Kansas Association of Community Foundations white paper series on rural community foundations.

On Saturday April 6th Aspen Olson, Newton High School Senior received recognition as the first ever recipient of the Newton Area Women of the Year Scholarship during the Annual WOY Brunch.

In 1956, a program was started to honor Newton-area women who gave freely of their time and talents and have made our community a better place to live. Clubs, organizations and individuals were asked to nominate women from the community involved in Community and Civic Service, Education, Religion and Business and Professional Areas, who they felt had contributed to the community.

After more than 60 years this program has now expanded to include a scholarship for young women who already demonstrate these values.

In addition to being a scholar Olson is involved a variety of activities and clubs. These include: Chemistry Club president, Yoga Club, Friendship bracelet club vice president, Do Crew officer, high school varsity soccer, club soccer, Olympic development program soccer, New Creation fellowship church youth group, Mennonite Central Committee, Sources of Strength peer leader, and the high school swim team.

Olson plans to follow the pre-med track with a Major in Biology at the University of Kansas. This ambitious young woman intends to then follow a path for medical school after her undergraduate studies are completed.

Pictured here is Aspen Olsen and Kristie Diller, CKCF Program Officer ~ Scholarships.

2019 Women of the Year honored this year included: Christa Jayha, Lynnette Hendrickson and Val Gleason

Congratulations again Aspen on this very special recognition.

Welcome, Macey Mueller!

We are pleased to welcome Macey Mueller as the new director of the Halstead Community Foundation. She is married to Josh, a fourth-generation farmer and rancher in Halstead, and the couple stays busy raising cattle, crops and their children Conway, Raleigh and G.G. Macey’s career experience is in communications and public relations, and she looks forward to helping strengthen HCF’s presence and impact in the community.

 

Central Kansas Community Foundation recently received accreditation with the nation’s highest standard for philanthropic excellence. National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations® establish legal, ethical, effective practices for community foundations everywhere.

“Meeting the National Standards benchmarks is a rigorous, comprehensive process,” said Randy Royster, board member of the Council on Foundations. “This accreditation is a significant accomplishment that indicates Central Kansas Community Foundation demonstrates a commitment to transparency, quality, integrity and accountability as it carries out its mission.”

The National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations® program requires community foundations to document their policies for donor services, investments, grantmaking and administration. With over 500 community foundations already accredited nationwide, the program is designed to provide quality assurance to donors, as well as to their legal and financial advisors.

“This is critically important to our donors,” said Angie Tatro, Central Kansas Community Foundation executive director. “When people make a charitable bequest or establish a fund, they are putting their trust in us. They are counting on us to manage the investment wisely, honor their charitable wishes and, in some cases, provide lifetime income to a loved one. The National Standards accreditation says our house is in order.”

Central Kansas Community Foundation works to meet critical community needs and support local causes, including supporting the arts, cultivating gardens, expanding literacy and feeding children.

Central Kansas Community Foundation offers a range of charitable funds, allowing donors to advance a cause, support an individual organization, provide flexible support for community needs or recommend individual grants. In addition to affirming the organization’s philanthropic services, the accreditation validates Central Kansas Community Foundation’s grantmaking practices for the nonprofit community.

“Grantmaking is a lot like investing,” said Joel Gaeddert, Central Kansas Community Foundation board chair. “We need to assess risks, weigh potential gains, diversify assets, monitor performance and operate fairly. With our National Standards accreditation, you can be assured that we’re doing just that.”

National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations® is the first program of its kind for charitable foundations in the United States.

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Through philanthropic services, strategic investments and community leadership, Central Kansas Community Foundation helps people support the causes they care about, now and for generations to come.

The Community Foundations National Standards Board is a supporting organization of the Council on Foundations and is responsible for the quality, value and integrity of compliance with National Standards. For more information on the National Standards Board, visit its website at www.cfstandards.org.