Blog

A Letter from our Board Chair

Greetings! I just wanted to take a moment to give a huge thank you to all the incredible people who have helped make the Arkansas Community Foundation the strong organization it is today. From our donors and nonprofits to businesses, professional advisors, volunteer board members, and staff members – you all deserve a round of applause.

Alyson Bradford

Together, we’ve had an amazing year, granting over $47.4 million to Arkansas nonprofits. That’s a massive impact! Our focus is on making a difference in important areas like early childhood literacy and food security through our grantmaking efforts. And let’s not forget the hundreds of grants we make each year through donor advised funds, supporting causes like early childhood development, education, animal welfare, medical research, and financial literacy and more.

In fiscal year 2023, we raised over $1.2 million in donations to help with the long-term recovery after the tornadoes in Central Arkansas and Wynne. Our flagship grantmaking program, Giving Tree, made an amazing 499 grants totaling over $866,000.

Despite the challenges our state faces, the people of Arkansas, especially those in the Community Foundation family, continue to choose hope. We’re ending the year stronger than ever, and I truly believe the future is bright.

We’re so grateful for our partnership with trusted financial advisors who help their clients find the perfect home for their philanthropy. And a special shoutout to all our grantees who work tirelessly to serve our fellow citizens and advocate for positive change. We couldn’t do it without you.

I also want to give a personal thanks to our exceptional team at the Foundation. They’re absolute rockstars – talented, hard-working, and caring. On behalf of the board of directors, I want to express our deep gratitude for everything they do to make Arkansas a better place for all of us.

So, take a moment to dive into our fiscal year 2023 annual report and join me in thanking everyone who’s working tirelessly to fulfill our mission of building strong Arkansas communities. You’re all incredible!

Alyson Bradford 

Board Chair