CFSEK Launches 2026 Elm Acres Foundation Grant Cycle

Since 2017, the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas (CFSEK) has hosted the annual Elm Acres Foundation grant cycle to help fund projects and services supporting at-risk youth in Southeast Kansas. Since its inception, the Elm Acres Foundation grant cycle has awarded over $185,000 to vital service projects benefiting area children in Crawford, Cherokee, and Labette … Continue reading →

CFSEK Announces New Accounting Manager

The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas (CFSEK) is excited to announce the hiring of Kayley Hartman as its new Accounting Manager! Kayley comes to CFSEK and its affiliates in Columbus, Fort Scott, and Girard with a passion for helping those in need, and great hopes and aspirations for the future of our communities in Southeast … Continue reading →

2026 Mt. Caramel Foundation Grant Recipients Announced

The Mount Carmel name has been synonymous with quality healthcare in Southeast Kansas for over 100 years. When the Mount Carmel Foundation ceased operations in 2024, it transferred its assets to the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas to establish the Mount Carmel Foundation Legacy grant cycle. During the inaugural grant cycle in 2025, $214,000 was granted for healthcare projects in Southeast Kansas.  The Mount Carmel … Continue reading →

Scholarship Stories: Brayton Brueggen, Milling for the Future

The future of agriculture is no longer confined to local borders; it is a global industry that requires world-class expertise. For students like Brayton Brueggen, the path to mastering the ancient craft of milling now leads from the heart of the Midwest to the cutting-edge laboratories of Europe. Brayton, a Louisburg native and junior at … Continue reading →