Successful Match Events Empower Rural Communities Across the State of Kansas
Community foundations across the state of Kansas are celebrating the success of 2023 match events that empowered communities and catalyzed positive change. Through collaborative efforts and generous contributions from local donors, businesses, and philanthropic partners, these match events have amplified the impact of charitable giving and addressed pressing needs in rural areas.
“These match events demonstrate the incredible spirit of generosity and community that exists across Kansas,” said Christy Tustin, executive director of the Kansas Association of Community Foundations. “By coming together to support local initiatives, they make a tangible difference in the lives of residents. They also strengthen the fabric of our rural communities and build the capacity of our Kansas community foundations.”
More than 100 Kansas community foundations held a match day or event in 2023. For some, this was the first year for this type of giving opportunity; others have hosted their events year after year.
Collectively, Kansas community foundations raised more than $23 million in gifts and matching funds for their community or service area.
Here are just a few examples of 2023 successes.
Sheridan County Community Foundation
The Sheridan County Community Foundation, an affiliate of Greater Northwest Kansas Community Foundation, was doubly blessed during its most recent match event because two entities pledged matching funds. This led to surpassing the one-million dollar goal for the endowed Cultivate Sheridan County fund, as well as setting a fundraising record.
The two entities involved were the Dane G. Hansen Foundation and Patterson Family Foundation.
“Dane G. Hansen began this matching challenge in 2016 to help build a large endowment fund,” said Karl Pratt, SCCF executive director. “We exceeded our fundraising goal every year, which was $50,000 until 2023 when we upped it to $70,000 with the combined Hansen and Patterson match programs.
“Dane G. Hansen has invested in our community foundation in a variety of ways. These include the match opportunity, as well as 10 years’ worth of pass-through grant funds.”
The pass-through program enables foundations and organizations to learn how to apply for grant funding. Dane G. Hansen also provides educational opportunities and resources for staff and board members; staffing grant assistance for wages; planned giving information; and more.
“They have assisted us with the lifecycle of what a community foundation can be,” Pratt commented. “Hansen gives us tangible tools that help us plant seeds for growth and sustainability. Our goals are furthered by our affiliation with the Greater Northwest Kansas Community Foundation in Bird City.”
In addition, the Dane G. Hansen Foundation provides bonus incentives for reaching the $50,000 goal, Pratt emphasized. These incentives include $45,000 that is added to the Operating Endowment Fund and $5,000 for immediate operating needs.
“These incentives are wonderful examples of Hansen’s understanding that doing good work does incur costs,” Pratt said. “And, as we all know, raising funds to cover administrative costs isn’t always fun and attractive to folks. So, we are more than grateful for these additional funds.”
SCCF’s match day raised a record $100,050; the average had been in the neighborhood of $70,000 in recent years.
“We feel certain that having both matching pools contributed to the incredible success of our 2023 campaign,” Pratt noted. “Not only did we surpass our goal, we exceeded the million-dollar mark in our endowed fund by $20,787.
“Now that we have this million-plus in principal funding, we will compile application materials and forms. We are eager to get our ducks in a row and officially open the funding up for grant applications.”
A couple of Patterson Family Foundation funding decisions have already been made. SCCF has pledged $10,000 to the Sheridan County Childcare Fund to support the Daycare Duplex Facility that SCCF built in Hoxie.
“We will soon furnish this facility and make it available to two new private childcare providers who will lease it from us for their daycare businesses,” Pratt reported. “Also, we will use a portion of our 2024 operating budget for potential use toward new fund development and/or additions to funds.”
The credit for much of SCCF’s recent success goes to matching funds that have “proven themselves to be a huge incentive for local donors. It gives donors confidence in our organization because they realize we are trusted by these well-known and generous private foundations. And donors can see the double and triple value of their gifts, no matter the size.
“There are no words to express how grateful we are to both foundations,” Pratt continued. “We do believe in the power of ‘thank you,’ and we say it over and over. We are honored to have these opportunities, which are truly lifechanging. It’s even more exciting because we get to witness these changes in this lifetime, as we plant seeds for future generations.”
South Central Community Foundation
Not only did South Central Community Foundation in Pratt raise $435,000 during its first-ever match event, it also established 11 new endowment funds.
“Our Foundation had always been interested in hosting a match day,” said Holly Launchbaugh, SCCF executive director. “And late in 2023, we were afforded the perfect opportunity to begin our match-day journey, thanks to the generosity of the Patterson Family Foundation.
“The Patterson Family Foundation offered $70,000 as a match and we, in turn, set our fundraising goal at $70,000. Unfortunately, we didn’t have any unrestricted dollars available to add.”
Nevertheless, “we were simply blown away by the response,” Launchbaugh emphasized. “The donations just kept coming in.
“Our communities in the seven counties we serve really respond to matching grants,” she added. “They love to see their donations multiply with these incredible opportunities. Match day encouraged local donations, as well as some from community members who now live in other states.”
The outpouring of support led to 11 new endowment funds that support a wide range of community needs.
For example, SCCF started new non-profit funds for three different art centers/museums, two youth-related funds, two health foundations, a library, two entities that help underserved community members and an entity that assists with higher education for women.
Each specific fund is available for the non-profits’ needs.
“Adding this number of endowments is important because we know the support for these non-profits will go on forever and, we hope, increase over time,” Launchbaugh said. “A variety of funds allows donors to give to causes that mean the most to them.
“Match days are a great way to introduce new donors to your community foundation,” she added. “Contributors appreciate the extra support and are encouraged to get involved and support our Foundation and their communities.
The official match day was Nov. 28 but early-bird giving began two weeks earlier.
Nemaha County STEP Foundation
Tory Jost and her Nemaha County colleagues were contemplating their first match day when COVID hit in 2020. This put their plans on hold – but not for long.
As executive director of the Nemaha County STEP (Striving to Ensure Progress) Foundation, Jost figured the best way to learn more about match days was to approach those with experience.
“So, I attended the Dickinson County Community Foundation event, which is called Donate Dickinson County Day,” Jost recalled. “It was a wonderful day. Donors were bringing stacks of checks, while the staff shared incredible stories with me about the impact of previous match-day donations.
“I knew we had to start this program in Nemaha County.”
The first year, “we tried to communicate the importance of a local day of giving. With only 16 funds, we were just getting our toes in the water. The following year, we had 23 funds and the word was spreading. Then we had our feet wet.”
The local radio station participated and donations totaled $133,900. Last year, on the third annual match day, $234,000 was raised, including the $70,000 match from the Patterson Family Foundation.
“This total meant we were beyond getting our feet wet; we were completely submerged,” Jost said. “It was the largest giving day yet, with 29 funds. We are blessed to live in such a generous county.”
The 29 funds represent both endowments and expendable funds. Each received donations ranging from $50 to more than $28,000. Eight funds secured the maximum $4,000 match.
The General Endowment Fund brought in the most, with $28,263.69, followed by Saints Peter and Paul Schools with $20,325. Next was the Centralia Project Fund at $15,450. A total of 381 gifts were received, including one donation of $20,000.
Each organization represented received up to $4,000 in matching funds for their various projects. The Seneca Free Library, for example, has used $4,000 to purchase a new microfilm scanner.
“STEP is grateful to the Patterson Family Foundation for its generous matching grant,” Jost emphasized. “We heard several donors express their willingness to give because they wanted to make sure STEP received this grant. It was a true encouragement for giving and a blessing.
“In addition, our heartfelt thanks to local businesses, families and individuals who gave so generously. We know that together we are making Nemaha County a great place to live, work and give.”