No. 10: Nonprofits reach milestones, receive major gifts

A giving milestone was reached in November as Community Foundation of the Ozarks Inc. announced it reached $500 million in grants and distributions since its inception in 1973.

CFO officials noted donation highlights including more than $5 million through its COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund, a $1.3 million grant to the Northwest Project poverty initiative and $6.1 million in grants toward Joplin tornado recovery efforts.

CFO’s first grant was $10,000 to Dickerson Park Zoo in 1975. Today, it’s the 69th largest community foundation in the United States in terms of assets and the ninth busiest in transaction volume. It has 53 regional affiliate foundations.

CFO wasn’t the only nonprofit hitting milestones. A handful of local nonprofits received game-changing donations in 2021.

The Discovery Center of Springfield Inc. took home a $1 million national prize for its education work during the coronavirus, including child care services for health care workers and the launch of a private school. The inaugural STOP Award was given during the Forbes 30 Under 30 list live launch party in December in partnership with the Center for Education Reform.

Council of Churches of the Ozarks Inc. in October launched a $6.2 million capital campaign to bring its nine community service programs under one roof. At the announcement from its future headquarters, a former SRC Holdings Corp. building on Division Street, officials said the nonprofit had already raised $3.8 million. The campaign was supported by estate gifts and a first for the nonprofit: six-figure gifts from living donors. As of late December, the total was just shy of $5 million.

Just before Thanksgiving, Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield Inc. was presented with a $100,000 donation from comedian Kevin Hart and Sam’s Club. It was one of five nonprofits nationwide to receive the funds.

Earlier in the year, Boys & Girls Clubs’ capital campaign was helped by another large donation: $500,000 from the O’Reilly family. The nonprofit announced in February it surpassed its goal and raised $1.3 million.