The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas is a public non-profit Foundation founded in 2001 by a group of citizens who shared an interest in encouraging charitable giving and a commitment to strengthening communities. Specifically, the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas and affiliate Foundations of Girard and Fort Scott serve the region by helping individuals and businesses fulfill their charitable giving goals in ways that benefit the common good and improve the quality of life.
Since its inception, the Foundation has awarded over $9.8 million in grants through its donor advised funds, unrestricted funds, designated funds, field-of-interest, scholarship, and organizational endowment funds. As the local center for charitable giving, the Foundation works with individuals, families, corporations, private foundations, and not-for-profit organizations to carry out their charitable objectives and address community issues. Across the nation, 780 community foundations help create stronger hometowns where families want to establish roots, with recreational parks, social service programs and scholarship opportunities for local students. Community foundations are at the heart of cities and towns. They know the places of need in the area, and can direct resources to help solve problems.
Donors find that community foundations are an ideal fit for their philanthropy, offering people the opportunity to give back to causes they care about. By partnering with the CFSEK, donors are able to achieve their charitable goals in ways that are easy, flexible, and effective. CFSEK works with individuals who want to provide charitable gifts to create positive impact. Look around our community. Many places you see and enjoy are in part, a result of charitable giving: Immigrant Park, Miner’s Hall Museum, Europe Park, Pittsburg Public Library, Big Brutus, to name a few. Many local organizations, such as the Family Resource Center, Children’s Advocacy Center, Angels Among Us, Healthcare Access for All and Homeless Solutions have funds with the Foundation and can receive charitable donations and available grants. These organizations provide services and projects for health and basic human needs, education and scholarships, children and youth activities and historical preservation, all making our community a better place.
Kit Parks, Executive Director commented “We are so fortunate to have had so many individuals, from the original founders, Board members over the years, to our current 23 individuals serving on our Board who have a personal passion for our area, plus a desire to utilize their skills and talents to support the Foundation. Their belief in charitable giving which the Foundation promotes, helps bring about much benefit in this region and beyond. The Foundation would like to thank donors, organizations and programs who are a force of good in our community”.
The Foundation works to achieve results for our community and is determined to continue the work in collaboration with our partners to realize a better quality of life for all. For more information on The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas, call (620) 231-8897 or visit www.southeastkansas.org.