Catalyst
February 2019 Newsletter
'Twas the season for #WCFMonthofGiving December is historically a busy month for the Wichita Community Foundation due to end-of-year giving, and this past year proved to be no different. In fact, Wichitans were
particularly generous, allowing WCF to award a record-breaking grant amount in December - more than $1 million. Because of the compassion of our donors, December was dubbed #WCFMonthofGiving. The month was filled with grant making to a wide array of organizations and causes. For the 13th year, gold coins were awarded to local nonprofits on behalf of the Gold Coin Society Fund. All three nonprofits who were surprised with a coin were first-time recipients.
Also announced in December was a $55,300 investment from the Knight Foundation Fund at WCF to create The Garage at Cleveland Corner, a shortterm, high-visibility retail incubator. The program, with a grand opening set for April, will provide entrepreneurs an opportunity to move through the new business learning curve at an accelerated pace. On page 3, read about other local nonprofits and initiatives that were part of #WCFMonthofGiving.
WCF team welcomes newest staff member
Board of Directors Wayne Chambers, Chair Steve Cox, Vice Chair Suzie Ahlstrand, Secretary Paul Allen, Treasurer Clark Bastian, Past Chair Tami Bradley Yolanda Camarena Sylvia Do Tom Dondlinger Gloria Farha Flentje Jeff Fluhr Gary Gamm Mary Lynn Oliver Dan Peare Todd Ramsey Hale Ritchie Don Sherman Tom Triplett
Get to know WCF's Executive Assistant and Scholarship Coordinator “Life is a journey, not a destination.” That quote seems especially true when you are a military spouse. I was living in St. Louis when I met my husband, who is in the Air Force. Shortly after we started dating, he received orders to move to Europe. Four months later we were married. I left the city I called home and was living in Germany with a new husband on a new journey. There were a lot of adjustments to the new culture, both living in a foreign country and working as a civilian in the military. I was a Colonel’s secretary; it was interesting seeing how the military worked and how world events affected our mission and operations. After four years there, it was time to start over again at McConnell Air Force Base. We’re looking forward to
Jennifer Kwe
exploring Wichita and discovering all it has to offer. People of this city have already made a lasting impression on me with how kind and helpful Wichitans are. It seems to be a core trait here, and it’s the first thing I tell people when they ask me about my new home city. I am a step-mother to three amazing kids (they live in Texas) and a dog-mom to two French Bulldogs, Sir Bubba and Elvira.
Foundation Staff Shelly Prichard President and CEO
Hector Cortez Chief Financial Officer
Courtney Bengtson Director of Strategic Initiatives
James Woods Director of Donor Services
Kali Babich Communications Coordinator
Tammy Honeywell
Photo courtesy of Horizontes The Beechner Grain Elevator mural capped the completion of Horizontes, an artistdriven community engagement project. It currently holds the record for largest acrylic mural painted by a single artist in the world. The Knight Cities challenge winning project received a total of $213,000 in contributions through the Wichita Community Foundation - including from the Bravely Onward Fund, Focus Forward Fund and Knight Foundation Fund.
Accounts Manager
Jennifer Kwe Executive Assistant and Scholarship Coordinator
Let’s get social. Find us on: WichitaCF
@WichitaCF
Spreading good cheer through WCF Month of Giving >> Retail Incubator Initiative
>> An Unexpected Gift
A $55,300 investment from the Knight Foundation Fund at WCF will create The Garage at Cleveland Corner - a short-term, high-visibility retail incubator program. The initiative, a dream of business owner and entrepreneur Janelle King, is focused on accelerating talent retention and offering a low risk, low barrier-toentry opportunity for entrepreneurship in Wichita.
WCF made a surprise visit to the Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation, a nonprofit focused on rehabilitation engineering, specialized services, advocacy, employment training and job placement for people with disabilities. The organization was awarded $10,000 from an anonymous fund at WCF for part of their campaign serving kids throughout Kansas.
>> Gold Coin Society Fund
>> Record-Setting Grants
For the 13th year, the Gold Coin Society Fund awarded coins to local nonprofits who serve Wichitans in need. All three organizations were first-time recipients: Union Rescue Mission (pictured above), Kansas Food Bank and The Salvation Army.
In December, WCF fundholders granted $1.1 million to a diverse range of Wichita area nonprofits. THANK YOU to our donors who made WCF's Month
of Giving possible. Call us for assistance regarding your charitable goals.
Endowed gift will continue Free Saturdays at Wichita Art Museum $1 million gift to WCF will allow a legacy to live on in perpetuity Most locals who see a photo of a vibrant confetti chandelier know it resides in the Wichita Art Museum (WAM). The museum has been enriching Wichita's art scene for more than a century. By partnering with the Wichita Community Foundation, benefactors are working to make sure that institutions like WAM continue to provide considerable value through the creation of endowed funds. Colby Sandlian, a long-time Wichita philanthropist, is actively involved in creating cultural opportunities in Wichita. Sandlian recently made a $1 million gift to WCF to establish an endowed fund to benefit WAM in perpetuity by
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“I have been supporting the Free Saturdays at the Wichita Art Museum for years, and I wanted to make sure it continues after I'm gone." - Colby Sandlian
making Saturday admission free. Because of the WAM Art Access Fund at WCF, this program and Sandlian's legacy will live on long past his lifetime. Read more about Sandlian's endowed gift at bit.ly/GiftforWAM.
Sandlian began supporting Free Saturdays in 2003, which account for nearly half of WAM’s annual attendance. Photo courtesy of WAM.
In 2018, 936 donors contributed
$248,000 Since 2000, contributions have provided $3.6 million to the working poor. Thanks to your support, 3,600 families have breathed a little easier during the holiday season.
Chili Cook-off generates record income Wagonmasters awards $28,000 to Wichita area nonprofits Leave it up to the Wichita Wagonmasters to raise thousands of dollars from mixing some beans, hamburger and tomato sauce together in the streets of downtown. In February, they announced 29 local nonprofits will be awarded nearly $28,000 from the Wichita Wagonmasters Good Life Grants Fund at the Wichita Community Foundation. The sole funding comes from the Downtown Chili Cook-off. Read the details of each project at bit.ly/2019Wagonmasters.
Grant Recipients • • • • •
The Arc of Sedgwick County Assistance League of Wichita Bread of Life Distribution Center Camp Hope-Heartland Central Plains Health Care Partnership/Project Access • Children First: CEO Kansas
• Episcopal Social Services • Family Promise of Greater Wichita • Freedom Hooves Therapeutic Riding Center • Fundamental Learning Center • Good Shepherd Episcopal Church • GraceMed Health Clinic • Independent Living Resource Center • Inter-Faith Ministries • Kansas Children's Service League • Kansas Society for Children with Challenges • Laughing Feet Performances • Medical Services Bureau • Museum of World Treasures • Novus Orsa Ministries • Passageways • Raise My Head Foundation • Real Men Real Heroes • Ronald McDonald House of Charities • Saint Paul's United Methodist Church • Union Rescue Mission • Wichita Area Sexual Assault Center • Wichita Family Crisis Center • Wichita's Littlest Heroes
The Wichita Wagonmasters is made up of 100 business and professional men - all who are focused on the primary goal of aiding those who are making an impact in our community.
Magnify grantees attend The Fund Raising School
October 2018 cohort
In July, the Wichita Community Foundation announced the second round of Magnify - a strategic initiative of WCF focused on nonprofit professional development. Through June 2019, 46 grantees will attend trainings at The Fund Raising School in Indianapolis. Four courses were selected: Fundraising for Small Nonprofits, Principles & Techniques in Fundraising, Developing Annual Sustainability and Proposal Writing & Grant Management.
See snapshots from the debriefing sessions at bit.ly/DebriefPhotos
301 N. Main St., Ste. 100 Wichita, KS 67202 316.264.4880
UPCOMING GRANT DEADLINES
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Knight Foundation Fund
Scholarship Applications
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