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CKCF FINANCIALS

CKCF 2024 FINANCIALS

As part of our ongoing commitment to transparency and accountability, we are pleased to announce that the most recent financial statements and IRS Form 990 have been added to the CKCF website. These documents offer a detailed view of our financial activities, demonstrating how we steward the resources entrusted to us in support of our mission.

In addition to the current year’s financials, past reports are also available in the same section of our site. This archive allows donors, partners, and community members to review our financial history and better understand our long-term impact and fiscal responsibility.

As a nonprofit organization, we believe that open access to this information is essential to maintaining the trust of those who support our work. We invite you to visit our website and explore the financials page to learn more.

FOUNDATION CONNECTION ZOOM JULY 11

FOUNDATION CONNECTION

July’s “Foundation Connection” meeting will be the 2nd Friday of the month (due to the 4th of July holiday) at NOON.

Each month we will host these zoom meetings on a variety of topics. The July 11th topic will be about Evaluate, Achievements & Mid-Year Review

This is a great time for Q & A so please join us to learn more and to ask questions!

Other upcoming dates and topics include:

  • August 1st – Assessing Spendable Balances
  • July 11th – 2026 Budget Planning & Other Reporting

SCHOLARSHIP UPDATE

2026 SCHOLARSHIP UPDATE

What a successful scholarship season! CKCF and affiliates together awarded 131 scholarships, for a total of $157,175, to 97 students from 77 competitive scholarship funds in the 2025 scholarship cycle. El Dorado Community Foundation had the largest amount of scholarships awarded at $34,025, and Newton Community Foundation came in close behind, granting $30,950.

With the rising costs of education and other living expenses, scholarships are a vital component in educating the youth in our communities. It is not too late to speak with us about taking the first steps in establishing your own scholarship or adding your donation to an existing fund.

Your generosity makes a world of difference as you will see in the note below from recipient: Cade Gossen- Peabody- Burns, recipient of 4 scholarships through Hillsboro CF and Peabody CF; the Ewert Family Scholarship, Vernon & Laura Slocombe Memorial Scholarship, Rod’s Tire and Service Scholarship as well as the Earl Wineinger Scholarship for a total of $4,500.

“I wanted to say how truly appreciative I am of the $2,500 scholarship that you have blessed me with. In part to you, my first year of college appears to be completely paid for through scholarships. This is something that I am immensely grateful for and can’t thank you enough. The weight of college debt will be drastically removed from me, and I will now be able to be more financially sound when I graduate. 

I recently graduated from Peabody-Burns High School as the valedictorian of my class. I have enrolled at Hutchinson Community College, with the intention of pursuing a degree in Agriculture. I’ve already mapped out my first semester, with 4 of the 5 classes being Agriculture classes, something in which I’m very excited about. I’m eager to get started there and further my education. I also have plans to work at Hutch CC on their livestock farm. Once again, thank you for this generous scholarship, it will be put to excellent use.” 

Thank you!

Cade Gossen

WOMEN’S COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF HARVEY COUNTY

WOMEN’S COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF HARVEY COUNTY – CELEBRATING 25 YEARS!

Women’s Community Foundation of Harvey County (WCFHC) has been supporting local charitable causes for over two decades, 25 years to be exact! Over that time, leadership of WCFHC have demonstrated a heart for senior citizens, recognizing the importance of quality nutrition on a daily basis that Newton Meals on Wheels provides. The first grant to this program was made in 2007, and since then Meals on Wheels has been a consistent recipient of WCF grants totaling $22,255 over the years.

WCFHC was formed by a small group of local women leaders who felt that if women joined together they could make an impact on needs in their community. In 2024, WCFHC expanded its service area to the entirety of Harvey County and assumed leadership of the Women of the Year awards and scholarships. Its current mission is building stronger communities through grantmaking, encouraging charitable giving, and recognizing women as volunteers and philanthropists.

Their motto is “Together we can accomplish great things!” This is evident as, in all, over $424,000 has been awarded to support charitable causes since the inception of WCFHC. The 2025 WCFHC Grant Cycle will be open Aug 5th – Sept 4th! More details will be available soon ONLINE!

For more information on upcoming events or how to get involved, visit the Women’s Community Foundation of Harvey County WEBSITE or Facebook page!

PFF MATCH CAMPAIGNS

CKCF and ten of its affiliates have been awarded the opportunity to raise up to $100,000 each in matching fund grants through the Patterson Family Foundation (PFF) during 2025, this is a $30,000 increase from the previous years. We are excited to announce that two of the affiliates have hosted their match events and have exceeded their $100,000 goal!

PFF MATCH SUCCESS TO DATE…

Fredonia Area Community Foundation raised $106,170 between Feb 8 – March 8!

Elk County Community Foundation generated $123,366 during their campaign May 10 – June 10!

UPCOMING MATCH CAMPAIGNS….

Halstead Community Foundation 

July 11 – Aug 11

North Newton Community Foundation

Aug 1 – 30

Newton Community Foundation

Sept 1 – 30

Hesston Community Foundation

Sept 1 – 30

Hillsboro Community Foundation

Oct 1 – 31

Central Kansas Community Foundation

Nov 3 – Dec 3

Peabody Community Foundation

Nov 25 – Dec 25

EL DORADO COMMUNITY RESPONSE FUND

EL DORADO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

ACTIVATES COMMUNITY RESPONSE FUND

After severe flooding in El Dorado and surrounding area on June 3, the

El Dorado Community Foundation board activated its Community Response Fund. 

The City estimates that there were 143 properties impacted, with about 40 having severe damage. Butler County incurred $4,000,000 in damages, with most of it concentrated in El Dorado where the two branches of the Walnut River meet.

The El Dorado board is currently working to finalize a partnership with a local non-profit to receive and distribute aid to victims of the flood. Donations may be made ONLINE   

PHOTOS:

Top – This is North Main Park. You can see the playground and tennis courts under water on the left side of the photo. They had to evacuate homes just east of there by boat.

Bottom – This is Towanda Ave just west of Skelly Elementary.

LEGACY GIVING FEATURE / WALTER CLAASSEN

WALTER CLAASSEN

A True Philanthropist

The Newton community lost Walt Claassen at the age of 96 in June 2013. Walt left behind an incredible legacy of generosity and nowhere was it more evident than through the Central Kansas Community Foundation.

The “Helen E. Claassen Fund” continues to provide support for the Newton Public Library. The “Susan Claassen Endowment” supports childcare. The “Susan Claassen Nursing Scholarship” supports Hesston College students. Through the years Walt was a major contributor to the “Mid-Kansas Symphony Orchestra Endowment” and he helped to build the “Carriage Factory Art Gallery Endowment.”

The true magic is these charitable causes will receive gifts in memory of Walt’s daughter Susan, and wife, Helen, in perpetuity. We are delighted to celebrate the legacy Walter Claassen left through the establishment of these heartfelt gifts.

NEW GODDARD FUNDS

EXPANSION IN SEDGWICK COUNTY

We’re thrilled to announce the expansion of our work in Sedgwick County with the launch of three new component funds supporting key initiatives in the City of Goddard. These funds will help enhance community life, recreational opportunities, and senior engagement—advancing the mission of building a stronger, more vibrant community for all.

  1. Goddard Community Events Fund CONTRIBUTE
  2. Goddard North Park Fund CONTRIBUTE
  3. Goddard Senior Center Fund CONTRIBUTE

Goddard Community Events Fund – This fund supports the City of Goddard’s year-round calendar of community events, including Main Street Markets, Neighbors United, National Night Out, the Fall Festival, and Christmas on Main Street. Contributions will help bring these beloved events to life—building connection, tradition, and pride across the community.

Goddard North Park Fund A new public-private partnership is taking shape to develop Goddard North Park; a premier recreational space planned for southwest of Maple St. and 183rd St. The first phase is slated for 2025 and will feature a modern playground, pavilion, food truck zone, yard games area, walking paths, pickleball courts, and a dog park. This fund directly supports the park’s design, construction, and future enhancements.

Goddard Senior Center – This fund strengthens programming and services offered by the Goddard Senior Center, which provides vital opportunities for learning, wellness, and social connection among local seniors. Donors can also support specific initiatives—such as the upcoming 2025 transportation project—with earmarked contributions to ensure their gift aligns with their philanthropic goals.

CKCF is honored to partner with the City of Goddard to launch these impactful funds and look forward to seeing the positive difference they will make in the lives of local residents. Learn more about how you can support these initiatives on our website.

Looking for some past information? We now have an archive of our newsletters on the CKCF website!

400 S. Main | Suite 100 | Newton, KS 67114

www.centralkansascf.org

(316) 283-5474

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Central Kansas Community Foundation | Augusta Community Foundation | Burrton Community Foundation Douglass Community Foundation | El Dorado Community Foundation | Elk County Community Foundation Florence Community Foundation | Fredonia Area Community Foundation | Goessel Community Foundation Halstead Community Foundation | Hesston Community Foundation | Hillsboro Community Foundation

Newton Community Foundation | Newton Public Library Foundation | North Newton Community Foundation

Peabody Community Foundation | Remington Area Community Foundation | Trinity Heights UMC Foundation Valley Center Community Foundation | Women’s Community Foundation of Harvey County