March 13, 2025
Five families contribute additional $94,000 from donor-advised funds
The Community Foundation of the Ozarks has granted $214,000 to eight collaborative projects in the annual Jewell Schweitzer Collective Impact Grant Program. Named in memory of the late Springfield philanthropist, the program funds innovative solutions to address Blue Ribbon and Red Flag issues identified in the Community Focus Report for Springfield and Greene County.
With $120,000 initially available for the program, the CFO invited families who have established donor-advised funds to support projects that aligned with their charitable interests. In a similar spirit of collaboration, five families recommended grants from their donor-advised funds totaling $94,000, expanding the grant program by nearly 80%.
Donors and recipients of the CFO’s Jewell Schweitzer Collective Impact Grants celebrated March 13 at the Council of Churches headquarters in Springfield.
The grants, presented during an event on Thursday, March 13, at Council of Churches of the Ozarks, support the following collaborations:
- Child Advocacy Center, in partnership with Springfield Police Department, Greene County Sheriff’s Office and Greene County Juvenile Office: $28,178 to train a pool of court-certified interpreters to assist with cases of child abuse and other crimes involving children.
- Council of Churches of the Ozarks, in partnership with Lighthouse Family Resource Center, Messiah Lutheran Church and Seminole Baptist Church: $15,000, with support from Anne E. and Mac McGregor in honor of Jack Herschend, to conduct a feasibility study and develop a business plan for a child care center at Seminole Baptist Church.
- Drew Lewis Foundation, in partnership with Community Partnership of the Ozarks, Consumer Credit Counseling of the Heartland and Central Bank: $30,000, with support from the John and Beth Raidel Charitable Fund, to renovate a fire-damaged home to provide affordable, quality housing for a low-income family through the Blue House Project.
- Drury University, in partnership with Springfield Public Schools, Ozarks Technical Community College and Republic Public Schools: $30,000, with support from Anne E. and Mac McGregor in honor of Peter Herschend, and from the Kenny J. DeForest Memorial Charitable Fund, to provide living expenses and professional learning experiences for student teachers.
- Legal Services of Southern Missouri, in partnership with Greene County, Community Partnership of the Ozarks, Greene County Family Justice Center and City of Springfield’s Workforce Development: $28,322, with support from the Thomas H. and Josephine Baird Memorial Fund, to expand services at the Access Justice center.
- Missouri Empowerment Project, in partnership with Greene County Juvenile Office, Greene County Children’s Division and Family Therapy of the Ozarks: $30,000 to support the Bio Parent Advocacy Program, which helps parents build the necessary skills and access the resources needed to reunify with their children.
- Ozarks Film Foundry, in partnership with Gillioz Theatre, Plotline, SATO48, Springfield Improv, Mosaic Arts Collective and Roberts Industrial Properties: $22,500, with support from the Kenny J. DeForest Memorial Charitable Fund, to renovate classrooms, equipment storage and a theatre to host filmmaking workshops and productions.
- Renew Missouri Advocates, in partnership with Ozarks Area Community Action Corporation and Drew Lewis Foundation: $30,000, with support from anonymous donors, to address energy burdens by providing weatherization kits to low-income community members.
In the spirit of Springfield-Greene County’s collaborative problem solving — a perennial “Blue Ribbon” in the Community Focus Report — projects funded by the Jewell Schweitzer Collective Impact Grant Program must include at least three organizations. The lead agencies must be 501(c)3 nonprofits or organizations with similar tax-exempt status. More than 30 organizations are involved in the eight funded projects.
“We’re incredibly grateful to our donor-advisors for joining us to support innovative organizations that are addressing high-priority issues through collaboration,” said Winter Kinne, president and CEO of the CFO. “Jewell Schweitzer set a remarkable example for philanthropy in Springfield. It’s fitting that these families carry on that tradition through this grant program.”
The Jewell Schweitzer Collective Impact Grant Program selection committee comprised CFO board member Margo Spilde, Travis Liles, Julie Gray, Nicole Holt, Chase Snider and Tony Lewis.
What’s a donor-advised fund?
A donor-advised fund allows individuals, families or businesses to make a gift into a fund and receive an immediate tax deduction, then recommend grants to their favorite nonprofits over time. The CFO manages the investment of the fund, increasing the amount available for grants without additional tax burdens. During the CFO’s 2024 fiscal year, grants from about 570 donor-advised funds totaled $14.3 million.
