OVERVIEW: The Community Foundation of the Ozarks supports arts and culture, seniors, youth, poverty, rural needs, education, and other community needs in central and southern Missouri.
FUNDING AREAS: Arts and culture, seniors, youth, poverty, rural needs, education
IP TAKE: This large community foundation offers several grant opportunities. Learn about its local affiliates.
PROFILE: Established in 1973, the Community Foundation of the Ozarks (CFO) is a community foundation based in Springfield, Missouri. It administers at least 3,100 charitable funds and has 49 affiliate foundations. The foundation aims to “enhance the quality of life in our region through resource development, community grantmaking, collaboration, and public leadership.” CFO funds local efforts for arts and culture, seniors, youth, poverty, rural needs, education, and other community needs.
The Community Foundation of the Ozarks announces its grant programs and deadlines in early July of each year. There are opportunities to apply for grants with the Metropolitan Springfield Grantmaking Program and Louis L. and Julia Dorothy Coover Charitable Foundation Regional Grantmaking Program. The Northwest Project addresses local poverty, while other grants target specific interests, such as the arts, seniors, and youth. CFO awards annual scholarships for students from the Ozarks. There are also numerous specialty grants available that address a wide variety of topics, such as pediatric cancer support, Holocaust education, firefighters and police, and women making mid-life career changes. Other specialty grants focus on youth orthodontics, conservation education, wounded war veterans, and end-of-life care.
Grants range between about $500 and $30,000. Learn more about this funder’s local giving by examining its recent tax records. Grantmaking focuses on central and southern Missouri. This includes the 58 counties of Missouri that are south of the Missouri River. Past local grantees include the Diaper Bank of the Ozarks, Dogwood Ranch, Equi-Librium Therapy Center, and Faith Community Health Center.
This foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits for certain programs. Grant cycles run from July 1 to June 30. Each opportunity has its own set of grant guidelines and deadlines. Direct general questions to the staff at cfo@cfozarks.org or 417-864-6199.
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