Community Foundation of the Ozarks

The Community Foundation of the Ozarks

The Community Foundation of the Ozarks (CFO) was established in 1973, and in 2000 implemented a regional strategy to build philanthropic infrastructure throughout the Missouri Ozarks. Based in Springfield, CFO works with donors, affiliated community foundations, and agency partners to support resource development, community grantmaking, collaboration, and leadership initiatives.

CFO currently has $145 million in charitable assets, 41 affiliated community foundations, and 342 agency partners. In FY09, CFO distributed $15.6 million in grants, including over $6 million in targeted rural grantmaking.

The Importance of Rural Schools

Public schools play a critical role in the well-being of small, rural communities and towns that serve as rural hubs. Schools provide a focal point of activity, a sense of civic pride, and a reason for families to stay in place. Schools are the main thread in the community fabric; they provide a sense of purpose.

Our Ozarks Region

The Community Foundation of the Ozarks’ 50-county service area is firmly grounded in the hills of the Missouri Ozarks, a unique cultural and geographical region. Predominantly rural, a significant portion of the Missouri Ozarks is designated by the United States Department of Agriculture as an area of “persistent poverty.” In fact, the Foundation currently works in nine of Missouri’s ten poorest counties, including Shannon County, annually listed as one of the poorest counties in the nation.

CFO Response

Recognizing the overarching importance of schools to rural development, the Community Foundation of the Ozarks’ board of directors has launched the Rural Schools Partnership, a holistic program to strengthen small school districts.

The Rural Schools Partnership resulted from a year-long planning process involving CFO’s regional committee, public school leaders, affiliated foundation leadership, and area business people.

The Rural Schools Partnership embraces three consensus-based strategies for strengthening rural schools:

Develop alternative resources Promote collaborations and partnerships Support place-based education strategies

Program Features: Placed-Based Education

The Louis L. and Julia Dorothy Coover Charitable Foundation Regional Grantmaking Program of Commerce Trust will provide $150,000 per year in grantmaking support for cooperative ventures that enhance teaching and learning AND innovative place-based education programs.

Place-Based Education

Learning that is rooted in the unique history, environment, economy, and culture of a particular place. The community is the context for learning

Student work focuses on important community issues

Community members are resources and partners in teaching and learning

Products of student learning address community needs.

Place-Based Education

Pairs relevance with academic rigor Deep thinking in critical content areas Sustained academic work as

researchers and scholars Meet or exceed state and local

accountability standards

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Place-Based Education

Models the democratic principles upon which this nation was built Challenges historic patterns of racism, power

and low expectations for some children Values the contribution that every child can

make Honors every child’s right to exist and

succeed

Place-Based Education

Increases the social capital available to address pressing community needs and interests Engages youths in partnerships with adults

and organizations to provide services the community might

not otherwise be able to provide Strengthens young people’s ties to their

communities

Local Example - Forsyth

Local Example - Purdy

Local Example – Route 60 Gardening Project

The Application Process

The Coover grantmaking program will provide $150,000 per year in grantmaking support for cooperative ventures that enhance teaching and learning through innovative place-based education programs. Eight to fifteen projects funded annually (range: $10,000 to $20,000 per project).

CFO encourages proposals that include local matches or other leveraged resources.

Applicants who receive funding will be required to make a presentation on their respective projects at the Rural Schools Partnership conference on May 6, 2010 in Thomasville, MO at the historic Thomasville High School.  Please include a travel stipend in your budget proposal.

The Application Process (Continued)

You will notice the application process focuses on the conceptual nature of your project or program.  One of the highlights of the Rural Education Rendezvous in Thomasville will be an implementation workshop for  grant recipients with Dr. Doris Williams of the Rural School and Community Trust.  Dr. Williams is a nationally recognized leader in the place-based education movement.

Applications require a primary contact, program/project description, collaborating partners, a list of existing resources that ensure success and a program/project budget.

Questions and Answers

Applications can be found at:

http://www.ruralschoolspartnership.org/

grants

Thank you!

Gary Funk gfunk@cfozarks.org

Julie Leeth jleeth@cfozarks.org

Community Foundation of the Ozarks425 E TrafficwaySpringfield, MO 65806(417) 864-6199