Blog

October 8, 2025

What inspired Hytrol and the other manufacturing partners to establish the Workforce Training Consortium Endowment?This endowment began with my grandfather’s belief that workforce development was the key to long-term community success. He understood that Hytrol’s investment in the workforce solely for the benefit of our company wouldn’t create the larger impact our region needed. By […]

October 8, 2025

by Jessica Hughes Ford At the Johnson County Library in Clarksville, books are just the beginning. Today, the library has become a lifeline for residents seeking the skills and confidence to enter or reenter the workforce. For library manager Jimmy Ritchie, the mission is rooted in home. He grew up visiting this library with his […]

October 8, 2025

by Andrew Parker, Executive Director at Be Pro Be Proud Arkansas Be Pro Be Proud Arkansas is a statewide workforce initiative designed to change perceptions of technical professions and connect students with high-demand, high-wage career opportunities. Founded in 2016 by the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and the Associated Industries of Arkansas, the program addresses […]

By Jody Dilday, Philanthropic Advisor Many people are surprised by the wide range of giving options available at the Community Foundation, including donor-advised funds (DAFs). If you already have a DAF with a national financial institution, you can even transfer it here. Why choose a donor-advised fund at the Community Foundation? All the basics you […]

By Ashley Coldiron, Chief Development Officer With just a few months left in 2025, now is the time to review your charitable giving strategy, especially in light of the new One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). Here are three tips to discuss with your advisors (and with us—we’d be glad to join the conversation): Take […]

By Lesley Roberts, Philanthropic Advisor At the Community Foundation, we help individuals, families and businesses support the causes they care about—today and for the future. When you establish a donor-advised fund or other type of fund, you likely have favorite charities in mind. Our team can help you continue supporting those organizations and introduce you […]

September 29, 2025

Provision 88 is a food pantry serving the Jonesboro area.  It’s also a place of hope, dignity, and choice for those in need. What began inside the Refuge Church of the Assemblies of God quickly outgrew its original space, where volunteers had to set up and break down the pantry each time it operated. Recognizing […]

By Lesley Roberts, Philanthropic Advisor  Corporate giving just got more complex. Here’s what business owners need to know about the One Big Beautiful Bill Act:  1. A new “floor” arrives in 2026. Charitable gifts won’t be deductible until they exceed 1% of taxable income. Example: A company with $100 million in taxable income must give over […]

By Jody Dilday, Philanthropic Advisor  With new tax laws swirling, many advisors are asking: “Did the rules change for Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs)?”  Here are four key reminders:  1. Rules are unchanged. Taxpayers 70½+ can still direct up to $108,000 from an IRA to a qualified charity, including some funds at the Community Foundation.  2. QCDs […]

By Ashley Coldiron, Chief Development Officer  Since the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) became law on July 4, 2025, one question keeps coming up: “What does this mean for charitable planning?”  Here are three high-level reminders to keep in mind as you guide your clients:  1. “I’ll be back.” While OBBBA extended many favorable provisions—like […]