The competitive grants program at Truman Heartland Community Foundation (THCF) received a total of 125 grant requests this year from local nonprofits, covering a wide range of impact areas, including arts, culture, and historical preservation; community betterment; adult/non-traditional education; children's education; health and human services; and Missouri wildlife conservation. The cumulative dollar amount of these grant requests reached more than $1 million, reflecting the continuing need for substantial funding for various initiatives across the region. Two competitive grant programs are available through THCF: the Community Grants Program and the Jelley Family Foundation Endowment for Children's Education. 

Following a thorough review process by the volunteers serving on the foundation’s grants committee, 63 competitive grants were awarded, providing vital support to projects and initiatives that directly impact our local communities.  The primary source of these grant dollars are the 20 endowed funds established at your Community Foundation through estate gifts of generous legacy donors. These endowed funds provided $431,179 of the $508,205 total.  These legacy donors were generous in their lifetime, and their legacy of supporting the community lives on through their endowed funds.  

We are also grateful to the Junior Service League (JSL) for once again participating in our grants process and providing $8,000 in grant dollars for four organizations. We also had for the first time a grant from the Eileen Normile Weir Community Impact Endowment fund, providing $1,878.  The balance of the grant dollars was provided by our donor advised fund holders, who helped fill the gap between what we wish we could provide in grants and what we had available. We are very grateful for their generosity again this year. 

This rigorous review process could not have been completed without the steadfast dedication of the foundation’s Board and Advisory Board volunteers serving on the Grants Committee.  These individuals spent countless hours poring over each grant application. Members of the grants committee include Allan Thompson, Committee Chair; Cathy Allie; Beth Franklin; Lori Halsey; Liesl Hays; Damon Hodges; Mayor Mike Larson; Dave Mayta; Ritchie Momon; Jovannah Rohs; Steve Noll; Tom Rohr; Bridgette Shaffer; Dr. Beth Rosemergey; DeeAnn Stock; Rob Binney; Ryan Crider; Dr. Joy Vann-Hamilton; and Zac Sweets. And the JSL representative was Leslie Cutshall. We are also very grateful to our Youth Advisory Council members who made site visits with organizations requesting grants and provided valuable information and feedback to the grants committee. These local high school students truly help us make better decisions about our grants and provide a valuable service to the Foundation. 

Our November 14th Grants Luncheon celebration is dedicated to the memory of Dave Mayta, a devoted member of the THCF Board of Directors and Grants Committee. Dave, who passed away earlier this year, was a valuable member of the grants committee for many years, and we will honor his service at the luncheon.