“I have been planning this since I was 12-years-old,” said Misha Murphy. “I love to cook, and this area doesn’t have enough places to eat. So, here I am trying to fill that need while doing something I love. Arkansas Community Foundation and Communities Unlimited helped make it possible.”

The Community Foundation’s mission of building stronger Arkansas communities relies in part on bustling economies for rural areas. Small business owners like Murphy drive the local economy and can create more jobs. For residents in Almyra, population 249, access to businesses in the area — whether a food truck or a laundromat or a home health care provider — are imperative to rebuilding rural communities.

Murphy is an entrepreneur, wife and mother of twins living in this Arkansas county town. She received a low-interest loan to start a food truck business from Communities Unlimited (CU), one of the Community Foundation’s impact investing partners. Among their broad program portfolio, CU works in multiple states, primarily in rural areas to unwind generations of inequity and disinvestment.

Misha and Nick Murphy serve delicious food from her food truck in DeWitt.

The Community Foundation has partnered with CU since 2016 with an original investment of $1 million. They’ve used that $1 million to make loans to underestimated entrepreneurs like Murphy. That $1 million in funds from the Foundation to CU has moved 2.6 times through 100 loans equaling $2,698,066.

Murphy was introduced to CU by Chantel Poor, one of CU’s community facilitators. “Chantel turned out to live just a few houses down. She connected me with James Custer at CU. He works with entrepreneurs like
me,” said Murphy. “I had the expertise in making food, but James helped me flesh out a business plan. I tend to overthink and create big, grand plans, but he helped me simplify. I held a vision in my mind, but he helped me determine the first step, then the second, and so on.”

When Communities Unlimited makes a loan to an entrepreneur, it is neither the beginning nor end of the relationship. “After working with James for a few months, I was ready to apply for a loan and got it in March of 2024,” she said. “Now, I meet with James every other week because I still need help to grow the business. He helps me look over the financials and makes sure everything is coded correctly. He also helped me find additional funding from another organization.”

“Once you are part of CU, you are family,” said Poor. “Simplified, we are a one-stop-shop organization helping rural communities with anything from lending to housing to broadband access and more. I just happened to meet Misha and was inspired by her drive. I am so proud of her. I was invited to sit in when she signed her contract. It was emotional to see how far she’d come and how hard she has worked.”

Murphy originally wanted a brick-and-mortar location for her culinary business, but that evolved to be a food truck so that she could go to customers in nearby DeWitt and Stuttgart. She serves smash burgers, a variety of desserts and onion rings that are becoming a local favorite. “I have one customer that just wants onion rings,” she said.

The future is bright for Misha Murphy and her food truck, but she still hopes to expand to a physical location one day. “I love to cook and consider myself an entrepreneur at heart, but I’m doing this for my family with the hopes that I can keep growing and leave the business to my children and hopefully set future generations up for success. I want them to have choices.”

It all started in 1889 when Ernest Ritter decided to start a business in Marked Tree, Arkansas. There he laid a strong foundation combining business and philanthropy that would extend six generations.

“He had grit. It took savviness and a strong work ethic to build E. Ritter & Company to what it is today,” said Brittney Ray, who married into the Ritter family and serves as chair of the family council. “The family has made a commitment to serving the communities where we do business. The family, in partnership with the company, has built traditions and structure to formalize the process. We want to model for our children what giving looks like. Hopefully, future generations of Ritters will understand philanthropy and stewardship are in their DNA.”

The Ritter family philanthropy committee: Donna Kesting, Randel Wilder, Wayne Clark, Nichola Clark and Lori Ray Pelc

Ritter’s great granddaughter, Mary Ann, was heavily involved with Arkansas Community Foundation as a state board member. Her son, Ritter Arnold, now serves on the state board. Dan Hatzenbuehler, former CEO of E. Ritter & Co., and part of the fourth generation, helped formalize the company’s relationship to the Community Foundation by establishing the Ernest and Anna Ritter Family Endowment.

“The family began gathering every year to stay connected and eventually established a philanthropy committee that works closely with the Foundation,” said Nichola Clark, a fifth generation Ritter and chair of the family’s philanthropy committee. “The mission of that committee is to support and strengthen the communities where Ritter companies operate by providing resources, leadership and collaboration to meet local needs. We focus on hunger relief, education, affordable housing and health.

“We want our philanthropy to be community-led,” continued Clark. “That starts by listening and looking at data from Aspire Arkansas. In Marked Tree, only 11% of students are reading proficiently by the third grade. So we’ve partnered with local nonprofits, along with Excel by Eight, an organization that the Foundation connected us to. Through their resource grid and guidance, we’ve developed a holistic plan called ‘Marked Tree 2030’ with the goal of significantly improving literacy rates there.”

The Ritter family held their annual family gathering at the NASCAR Museum in Charlotte, North Carolina in November.

As the company grows, so does their philanthropic footprint. “People have moved away from Marked Tree, and the company will change, but philanthropy will remain. The sixth generation, or ‘6Gs’ as we call them, are already learning how to make granting decisions and be charitably minded,” said Clark.

“We want our giving to be impactful. But some of the greatest value we all get is the bonding that happens when we give back to the place it all started. I truly believe that philanthropy is what keeps our family together, hopefully for many more generations.”

Nestled in the north region of the Ozarks are two generations of financial advisors who continually refer clients to the Community Foundation and mindfully invest in the local community.

In the spring of 2002, Sam Rhoades, then a financial advisor in Mountain Home, along with other leaders like Judy Loving, Ed Matthews, and Pat Lile, worked together to start the Twin Lakes affiliate of the Community Foundation. In later years, Estella Tullgren, now Sam’s wife, would lead the affiliate.

“While working with clients as a certified financial planner, I noticed that several of my charitable clients were donating to nonprofits outside our community,” Rhoades said. “The Foundation was a great way to channel those donations locally. I worked closely with estate attorneys like Randall Drake to bring new fundholders to the Foundation and develop deferred endowments, many of which are beginning to materialize now.”

Sam and Jackson Rhoades

His son Jackson Rhoades is the president and CEO of Financial Services & Investment Strategies Group (FSISG). The younger Rhoades has followed in his father’s footsteps as a certified financial planner who expertly manages his clients’ portfolios. He not only refers clients to the Foundation but also holds multiple funds of his own. The FSISG team works to integrate investment management with philanthropic, tax and estate planning.

“I enjoy investing to help good things become extraordinary. Through my fund, I support several causes like education, health, and wellness, among others,” Jackson said. “My local favorites are the hospital, Baxter Health, hospice, Mountain Home Public Schools, and the Rotary Foundation, but there are many more. When a co-worker and friend tragically passed away, I started David’s Trail, a 501(c)(3) to remember his community contributions — resulting in the Ozarks Keystone Trail.”

“Jackson has always been interested in doing things that improve the community,” said Sam. “His mother, Mary, set a great example for giving to others. Jackson, Becca, and the FSISG team have grown the business and the number of charitable funds.”

“My mom and dad led by example,” said Jackson. “So, I have spent years giving my time, treasure, and talents to community service and volunteerism. I took graduate classes in philanthropic leadership and design while Dad focused on kickstarting the Twin Lakes affiliate. While my professional focus is optimizing portfolios for growth and income, my philanthropic aspirations are to improve communities and local charitable organizations with permanent income streams. I love both, doing good work with clients.”

Sam Rhoades laid the groundwork all those years ago for a solid philanthropic culture in his business, his family and the Twin Lakes region. Jackson is building on his father’s legacy through his leadership at FSISG.

“Clients love how well their endowments with the Foundation can carry their stories forward, providing perpetual funding for the causes they care about,” continued Jackson. “Their funds allow them to align their stories and interests with elegant efficiency and to make changes when they see fit. While we mourn clients’ passing, we celebrate their memories via the perpetual community assets they leave behind.

“Philanthropic planning is its own reward. Arkansas Community Foundation allows our clients to connect their portfolios with what matters to them in flexible and innovative ways and continue to support those organizations for many generations.”

That powerful quote is attributed to Nelson Henderson, whose son immortalized his father’s words in a book about growing up on their family farm. It reminds me that we have all benefited from the shade of trees planted by the generations before us, so we too are obligated to plant trees for the generations that will come after us.

That is the essence of philanthropy, and the essence of Arkansas Community Foundation, where for almost 50 years our donors, grantees, community partners, and friends have been planting seeds with the promise of making our state better for future generations.

The Foundation wants Arkansas to be a place where our kids want to raise their kids. In this report, you’ll read how multiple generations across Arkansas are making this a reality. From Mountain Home, where the father-son duo of the Rhoades family have helped their clients become philanthropists for more than two decades. To Marked Tree, where fourth, fifth and sixth generations of the Ritter family are working to improve early literacy rates. To DeWitt, where Misha Murphy, an entrepreneur and mother of two, is building her Delta-based food truck business thanks to a loan from one of our impact investments. And finally, to three generations of the Van Horn family who are serving our Pope County Community Foundation that is making more local grants than ever before.

These stories and the impact of our statewide grantmaking are sustained by a commitment to strategically investing now for future generations. I am proud to report that in fiscal year 2024 alone, we grew our asset base to more than $744 million and deployed $52.9 million in discretionary and donor-advised grants.

While the shade of trees planted before us continues to grow, thank you for joining us as we plant and sow more seeds for generations to come.

With hope and gratitude,

Heather Larkin

President and CEO

Meridith Armstrong, an 8th grade history teacher at Goza Middle School in Arkadelphia, was awarded $5,000 from The AHEAD Fund on January 27 at the Arkansas Department of Education building in Little Rock.

January 27 marks International Holocaust Remembrance Day, commemorating the victims of the Holocaust. In 2021, thanks to the efforts of former Governor Asa Hutchinson, Arkansas passed a state law requiring Holocaust education be taught in all public schools for grades 5-12. In 2023, Governor Sarah Sanders signed legislation into law that designates the last week in January as Holocaust Education Week in Arkansas.

The AHEAD Fund (Arkansas Holocaust Education Award Donation) is held at Arkansas Community Foundation. The fund recognizes Arkansas educators who go above and beyond in teaching the powerful lessons of the Holocaust.

Click here to learn more about The AHEAD Fund.

  • David Ronnel, Founder of The AHEAD Fund and Meridith Armstrong, 2025 Winner

“We are thrilled to celebrate one of Arkansas’s finest educators, Meridith Armstrong. Her passion for teaching the Holocaust is inspiring,” said David Ronnel, Founder of The AHEAD Fund. “Her grandfather, a World War II veteran, instilled in her the importance of Holocaust education and remembrance. In her Arkadelphia classroom, Meridith brings creativity and energy. Holocaust survivors have spoken to her students and she assigns research projects and Ted Talks on the Holocaust. She incorporates Holocaust-specific art, music and food into her lesson plans while also helping her students gain empathy, understanding and appreciation for the things that makes us different, unique and most of all, human.

“On this day, 80 years ago, Allied troops march into the concentration camp known as Auschwitz. They witnessed unimaginable scenes of horror surrounding the systemic murder of more than 11 million people,” said Ronnel. “These liberators were heroes, freeing innocent men, women and children who somehow survived these atrocities.

“Today, the AHEAD Fund serves to honor the memories of the victims, survivors and liberators of the Holocaust. At the beginning of Arkansas’ second annual Holocaust education week, we are encouraged, knowing that more schools across Arkansas are teaching students about humanity’s darkest hours, so that it is never forgotten and never repeated.”

  • David Ronnel, Meridith Armstrong, Jacob Oliva, Arkansas Secretary of Education and Keith Brooks, State Representative

“Holocaust education is important because it can teach students to speak up against injustice, and act as allies to those who are unjustly targeted and marginalized,” Ronnel said. “It can create a more tolerant outlook by helping students become more open to viewpoints that might be different from there own. And, with the flood of misinformation online, including a growing number of claims denying that the Holocaust ever even happened, its important now more than ever, that students learn from the horrible mistakes of the past.”

Everyone knows—or should know—the importance of having a will.

In Arkansas, if someone dies without a plan and leaves behind a spouse as well as descendants, they leave one-third of their personal property and one-third of real property (in the form of a life estate) to their spouse, while two-thirds of personal property and two-thirds of real property in the estate goes to their descendants.

A will is a chance to protect loved ones by naming a guardian for minor children or locking in care for beloved pets. A will is an opportunity to take control of an uncertain future by making financial and real estate plans now, instead of leaving it up to the courts to decide. For a client interested in charitable giving, including an estate gift in their will cements a legacy of making a difference – and it doesn’t cost anything in their lifetime.

Creating a will can seem overwhelming or too expensive. SimpleWill is an online platform that makes creating a will simple and affordable. Enjoy peace of mind about the future by planning for the unexpected and preventing unintended consequences.

If you need to make a plan for your legacy and need help getting started, call our office for a code that allows you to consult with a local attorney to create a simple, affordable plan using SimpleWill.  

We hope you find this resource useful. You’ll value the peace of mind it creates.

Call 501-372-1116 and ask to speak with a member of our Development team to get your code.

by Linsley Kinkade, Chief Program Officer

In Arkansas, expanding access to safe, reliable, and affordable childcare presents an opportunity to strengthen families and increase the state’s economic potential. Arkansas Impact Philanthropy (AIP) recognizes the growing demand for infant and toddler childcare and continues to support efforts that ensure adequate care is available to meet the need. Investing in early childcare is not just about supporting families—it’s about empowering the workforce and fostering economic growth. 

By strategically supporting initiatives like Excel by Eight (E8), philanthropy is helping fuel a mission to expand access, drive systemic change, and attract national investments that bring innovative solutions and resources to Arkansas. 

Snapshot of Childcare in Arkansas

Childcare is not just a personal challenge for a singular family—it’s a collective one. According to a recent Aspire Arkansas report produced by Arkansas Community Foundation, in 2023 there were enough high-quality publicly funded slots to serve just 10% of Arkansas’s infants and toddlers; there were 15 counties that had no publicly funded quality slots. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce found that 76% of parents surveyed stated that they missed work because of lack of childcare. These are not numbers. These are lives, real people trying to make it all work. So, what happens when they can’t?

Thirty-four percent of Arkansans say they or someone in their household has left a job, declined a job offer, or made significant career changes due to childcare challenges. 

These are critical development years for the child and career-building years for the parent—a time when everything should be growing, not falling apart. 

Randy Zook, CEO of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Arkansas, recognizes not only the childcare challenges employees face, but the impact on employers and the state’s economy if it persists.  

“Although it should not be incumbent on employers to provide childcare for their employees, employers should be attentive to and supportive of improving child care availability within their region when they can,” Zook said. 

Excel by Eight: A Strategic Approach to Childcare Solutions

Since 2020, Excel by Eight has brought hope and innovation through their efforts to ensure children thrive by the age of eight. E8 understands that early childcare is the foundation of everything else—education, health, opportunity. 

Through a dynamic coalition, E8 has led the charge amongst Arkansas businesses to address three critical areas of the early care crisis—accessibility, affordability, and quality. With more than 75 active businesses, nonprofits, and chambers of commerce across the state, E8’s Business Coalition has worked to identify gaps in childcare services, implement solutions and align resources. They use data to pinpoint needs, ensuring every dollar and every effort makes a difference. Grounded in collaboration, Excel by Eight is building new programs, stronger systems and better outcomes.

Their message is simple: When you invest in early care and education, you invest in the future. 

Philanthropy’s Opportunity

Early care is not just a family issue, it’s an economic one. Philanthropy has a unique role and opportunity to do what others can not: move quickly, think creatively and take risks. Philanthropy can play a variety of roles to advance this important work. Arkansas Impact Philanthropy funders are actively:

  • Supporting Workforce Development: Funding training programs to expand the pool of qualified childcare providers, particularly in underserved areas.
  • Investing in Infrastructure: Collaborating with community organizations, like Excel by Eight, to create more childcare centers that specialize in infant and toddler care.
  • Advocating for Policy Change: Working with policymakers to prioritize early care access through funding and regulatory support.

The data is clear: Arkansas families need better and more access to care for young children, and the consequences of inaction extend far beyond individual households. Now’s the time to elevate solutions that benefit our families, our workforce, and our communities. AIP invites additional investment in this space to grow our impact and partnerships.

Click these links to learn more about Excel by Eight and the Business Coalition.  

Resources:

Arkansas Community Foundation is a member of Arkansas Impact Philanthropy. A collaborative of 12 national, regional and community foundations that convenes to influence, invest in and collaborate for systemic change for a more equitable Arkansas.

The Southern California wildfires have been a devastating start to the new year – as of Thursday morning, the fires have burned about 45 square miles, destroying communities and forcing over 100,000 people to evacuate.

We are sending love and support to the individuals, families, and communities impacted by the wildfires. During these difficult times of crisis, we believe in the importance of collective care and action.

Want to help? We are getting information from other community foundations in California about the best place to give to support wildfire recovery efforts. Below are links and information to help you make informed giving decisions. 

Our partners at California Community Foundation and Pasadena Community Foundation have activated funds to provide essential aid and support recovery. Learn more and support the funds below:

Images show Palisades Fire in Los Angeles and other Southern California blazes - CBS News

by Jody Dilday, Philanthropic Advisor

The end of 2024 may have been hectic for you and your clients, but now is the perfect time to help families start planning their charitable giving strategies for 2025. While year-end giving often feels urgent, planning early in the year offers even greater advantages.

Here are the benefits of adopting a year-long charitable giving strategy:

  1. Supporting Nonprofits Year-Round: By giving consistently throughout the year, clients can help nonprofits maintain steady budgets, ensuring they can serve their communities effectively.
  2. Maximizing Employer Matching Gifts: Encourage clients to take advantage of matching gift programs early in the year, when funds are available, and paperwork can be processed smoothly.
  3. Improving Cash Flow Predictability: A proactive giving plan ensures clients can support their favorite causes without last-minute stress. Consider setting up automatic contributions to Donor Advised Funds or similar funds through the Community Foundation to formalize this process.
  4. Becoming Informed Donors: Early planning allows clients to leverage the Community Foundation’s expertise and resources, making their giving more impactful.
  5. Engaging Family Members: With more time, clients can involve children and grandchildren in their charitable giving and tax-planning discussions, creating valuable learning opportunities for the entire family.
  6. Avoiding Year-End QCD Rush: If clients are over 70½, executing a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from their IRA in the first quarter can simplify the process and support eligible charities, such as unrestricted or field-of-interest funds at the Community Foundation.
  7. Exploring Complex Giving Options: Early planning provides ample time to consider sophisticated strategies, such as gifts of closely-held business interests or charitable remainder trusts, which can deliver significant tax benefits while meeting charitable goals.

As always, the Community Foundation is here to support you. Contact our team to learn how your clients can maximize their impact, take advantage of tax benefits, and avoid the stress of year-end giving. By planning ahead, everyone wins.

by Lesley Roberts, Philanthropic Advisor

Advisors often share that their happiest clients are those who include charitable giving in their estate and financial plans. Whether philanthropy inspires happiness or happy people are drawn to giving, one thing is clear: incorporating charitable giving into financial planning delivers emotional and practical benefits. Advisors who embrace this conversation are often seen as more effective, impactful, and well-rounded, helping clients improve their lives and find peace of mind.

Why Aren’t More Advisors Talking About Philanthropy?

Despite its benefits, many advisors feel unprepared to discuss philanthropy with their clients. A survey revealed that only 5% of advisors feel “very confident” in addressing charitable giving, and 72% don’t bring it up during initial client discussions. This gap represents a significant opportunity to strengthen client relationships and enhance advisory services by integrating philanthropy into your conversations.

The Health Benefits of Giving

Beyond the tax and financial implications, charitable giving has been shown to improve mental and physical well-being. A recent Wall Street Journal article highlights these benefits:

  • Improved Mood and Health: Donating to charity can boost happiness, lower blood pressure, and even extend lifespan.
  • Hormonal Benefits: Acts of giving may trigger the release of serotonin and dopamine—hormones associated with happiness—while reducing stress-inducing cortisol levels.
  • Scientific Backing: Studies by neuroscientists and economists confirm that generosity can positively affect mental health and overall well-being.
  • Sustained Positivity: The positive feelings associated with giving can have lasting health benefits.

While not every client may experience these benefits in the same way, the potential for charitable giving to enhance their lives is an important consideration.

More Than a Tax Strategy

While the tax benefits of charitable giving are often top of mind, the primary motivation for philanthropy remains a desire to help others. Advisors who understand this balance can better serve their clients by addressing both the financial and emotional aspects of giving.

The Community Foundation is Here to Help

Our team at the Community Foundation is ready to assist you and your clients in navigating the complexities of charitable giving. From tax planning strategies to exploring the emotional rewards of philanthropy, we’re here to ensure your clients achieve their financial goals while making a meaningful difference in their communities.

Let’s work together to make philanthropy a powerful and rewarding part of your clients’ financial plans. Reach out anytime—your clients will thank you.