When South Arkansas native Glenn Freeman talks about his philosophy on giving, he begins with his roots: “Growing up, my family was poor and didn’t have much, but we were in the same boat as a lot of other people. It was not uncommon for one of us to go next door and borrow a cup of sugar.”

Freeman was raised by a proud single mother who, outside of the neighborly baking request, found it difficult to ask for help. He describes pride as a strong feeling against receiving help and an intense desire to be self-sufficient. Rather than giving in a way that creates dependency, Freeman strives to affect long-term change. He believes in creating situations where people can have access to help without asking and supporting organizations that give people opportunities to select the benefits or goods they need, such as food pantries, Goodwill Industries or The Salvation Army. Freeman also advocates for nonprofits that benefit young people, like the Ivy Center for Education (ICE), which helps high school students with ACT preparatory workshops, tutoring and mentoring programs.

But Freeman doesn’t think that kids should only be on the receiving end of gifts. He works with the Community Foundation’s Youth Advisory Council (YAC) to teach the importance of leadership and community philanthropy to high school students. Freeman also mentors college men about the value of investing so that they may one day experience the benefits and impact of giving. He hopes this exposure to philanthropy will help shape their mindset and develop a broader pattern of giving in the minority community. He states simply, “If people didn’t give, there would be nothing to receive.”

Glenn Freeman is a true friend of the Community Foundation. He has set up Community Foundation funds to honor his mother and his wife’s parents, and he has served as a Southeast Arkansas affiliate board member as well as on the state board. Although his contributions to Arkansas Community Foundation are great in both time and donations, Freeman’s devotion to community service is the real gift.

Better information means better decisions. Community advocates and active philanthropists like Jane Hunt know this to be true. Positive change happens when passionate people are connected to the causes they care about – and have the information they need to make smart giving decisions. Positive change happens when there’s an intentional effort. That’s why Jane, in partnership with Arkansas Community Foundation, has organized a “philanthropy club” in northwest Arkansas.

The club, which originated from the idea of networking with mutual friends who were interested in learning about community needs, has visited over eight local nonprofits already this year. The opportunity to see, first-hand, how nonprofits are serving their community makes smart giving a lot easier.

“We determine a focus of poverty and then narrow down to see where we would choose to go and which nonprofits to see. Our hope is to use the nonprofits time efficiently – we’re their partner in giving too,” said Jane. “It’s good practice for these nonprofits to tell their story and give a compelling reason why they need a donor’s support.”

In an effort to create an inclusive group of people that learn first-hand about needs in their community, the philanthropy club has enlisted an unspoken rule of “no pressure.” There are no specific roles or duties for members, no required amounts to give – the sole “requirement” is to learn more about how each nonprofit’s mission addresses a community need.

Jody Dilday, Development Director for the Community Foundation, serves as the “giving guide” and helps the club members identify smart giving options. Whether that’s giving directly to the nonprofit, or it’s considering a long-term giving plan through the Community Foundation.

“Following each Philanthropy Club visit, we invite the nonprofit to submit a program funding request outlining 3 potential projects with 3 separate ‘price points,’” said Jody. “This gives our club members – who have different charitable interests and a different capacity for giving – an opportunity to support the organization in a manner meaningful to them.” 

Jane’s giving journey began because of her parent’s example. J.B. and Johnelle Hunt, well-known for successfully building their trucking company, understood the importance of giving back to the community and raised their children to do the same.

“Community is important to people – it’s how we connect and build relationships. And it’s easy to live in a community and not see problems, but when you start to dig, you see that there are many local causes in desperate need for support” said Jane. “That’s where we can focus what we have, whether that’s time, talent or our financial resources, to make a positive change.”

Through the years, Jane has had the opportunity to passionately support a variety of causes. Her generosity has stretched from nonprofits that support educational enrichment programs to organizations that help women and children build a stable and successful life. When the Northwest Arkansas Women’s Shelter was on the brink of closing their doors, Jane offered a matching incentive to help them continue their mission providing necessary services.

By making Arkansas Community Foundation her partner in giving, Jane believes her role as a contributor to the philanthropy club has been made easy and more purposeful. “The Community Foundation provides the information I need to make educated decisions about where our charitable dollars are well spent. I feel confident that we have the tools we need to each make a difference for the long-term.”

Like any worthwhile endeavor — building a career, earning a degree, raising a family or saving for retirement — smart giving requires planning and effort. Creating a plan for your personal giving is one of the smartest investments you can make in terms of improving your community and giving to the causes you care about most.

Established in 1976, the Community Foundation has deep roots in Arkansas. While our headquarters is centrally located in Little Rock, we work locally through a network of 28 affiliate offices around the state. Each affiliate has a staff person and an advisory board of local leaders to help us understand the unique needs of each community.  Giving through Arkansas Community Foundation and any of its 28 affiliates has several benefits:

Flexibility. Arkansas Community Foundation can customize a giving plan based on your charitable vision. We offer a variety of options tailored to the needs of different kinds of givers. Whether you want to take a hands-on approach to giving or entrust the details to our professional staff and volunteer advisory committees, we’ve got options to suit your needs.

Simplicity. When you partner with the Community Foundation, it’s like having your own foundation to handle all record-keeping, disbursements, and tax receipts. But unlike a private foundation, there are no start-up costs and we handle all the accounting, compliance and reporting – freeing you up to focus on the rewarding aspects of giving.

Permanence. At the Community Foundation, we take a long-term approach to philanthropy. By establishing endowed funds, we ensure longevity and stability for giving to the causes you care about. Endowed funds are permanently invested and only a portion of the fund is used for grantmaking each year so that the rest can be reinvested for the future. These perpetual funds will respond to the needs of your community now and in the future for generations. 

Transparency. As stewards of community resources, Arkansas Community Foundation is committed to being accountable, accessible and responsible. Our work is guided by these core values:

• We have INTEGRITY. We do what is right, not what is easy.
• We are INCLUSIVE. We respect diversity.
• We are OBJECTIVE. We seek all points of view.
• We are RESPONSIBLE STEWARDS. We take seriously the public’s trust.
• We are STRATEGIC. We strive to achieve positive long-term results.
• We FOSTER ENGAGEMENT. We seek broad community involvement and work through partnerships.

For more information related to our governance, click here.

Performance. The Community Foundation’s highly experienced board members, financial advisors and managers oversee an investment strategy designed to maximize total return within acceptable risk tolerances. Our funds and endowments help you protect, grow and direct your charitable dollars, all while receiving the maximum tax benefits for your gifts.

Impact. No matter who you choose as your investment manager, there will be a fee associated with managing your fund. As a nonprofit grantmaking organization (rather than a for-profit investment firm) our “shareholders” are Arkansans themselves! The fee collected by Arkansas Community Foundation is directly turned around and reinvested in our state through foundation-directed grants and initiatives.

For more information about giving through the Community Foundation, contact our staff: 501-372-1116 or:

Ashley Coldiron, Chief Development Officer, acoldiron@arcf.org

Jody Dilday, Development Director, jdilday@arcf.org

by Heather Larkin, President & CEO

One of my favorite things about summer is the huge variety of produce and products available at our local farmer’s markets. There’s one in a church parking lot just down the street from me where I can get corn just off the stalk, peas fresh from the field, honey from a local producer and fresh flowers for the table.

As the Community Foundation’s staff members travel the state to visit affiliate offices, they often pick up Cave City watermelons, blackberries from BoBrook in Roland, strawberries from Harrison and tomatoes from Warren. Shopping locally instills pride in our state and helps support local entrepreneurs and the economy.

I believe that shopping locally should also include supporting the causes we care about. Throughout all the communities in Arkansas, local nonprofits are working each day to make their towns better places to live, work and grow. Becoming familiar with them and helping them meet their funding needs is a smart way to “shop local” with your charitable giving.

Sometimes it is easier to give to national or global causes we hear about. And that giving is important, too. After all, most of us go on Amazon when we can’t find a product locally. But setting aside a good portion of your charitable budget to give where you live is a smart way to give for several reasons:

• Your local nonprofits understand and embrace the climate and needs of the community they serve. Since the work is done in your community, your neighbors will reap the benefits.
• You are helping the local economy. Nonprofits employ many members of our communities who buy goods and services and contribute in other ways. The nonprofit also makes purchases locally.
• You can see your donation going to work by stopping in occasionally to see firsthand the kinds of programs and services these nonprofits provide.
• It is always a good idea to plan for charitable giving so that the dollars you contribute make the most impact on the issues important to your community.

Arkansas Community Foundation serves all 75 counties in Arkansas and provides easy-to-use tools for giving back to the causes you care about.  If you want to take a look at some of the challenges your community is facing, go to AspireArkansas.org for county-by-county data on topics like health, education, families and community engagement. Or, if you’d like to learn more about creating a donor-advised fund that provides you with a flexible and efficient way to give to those causes, we’d love to chat with you.

With the right tools and information, you can “shop local” with your charitable dollars as you support the causes closest to your heart.

A donor advised fund is one of the easiest ways to make a charitable impact for the causes you care about most. Individuals can give to these types of funds and receive tax advantages while supporting nonprofits in their local community. Think of it like a dedicated account for charitable giving – you can donate to the fund for an immediate tax deduction and recommend grants to the charities of your choice when you’re ready. 

While many commercial companies are capable of handling donor advised funds, Arkansas Community Foundation has provided financial tools like DAFs for more than 41 years. Our experience in the charitable landscape in Arkansas can give you an extra hand in making smart giving decisions to improve local communities.

Here are five reasons why creating a donor-advised fund with Arkansas Community Foundation makes good giving sense:

• When you work with the Community Foundation, you receive recommendations based on your personal charitable interests. Because of our local and statewide knowledge about programs working to improve local communities, we’re equipped to give you specific information to help with your giving decisions.
• The minimal fees you pay support the communities you love. No matter who a donor chooses as their investment manager, there will be a fee associated with managing that fund. As a nonprofit grantmaking organization (rather than a for-profit investment firm), our “shareholders” are Arkansans themselves. The minimal fee we collect is turned around and re-invested in our state through foundation-directed grants and initiatives. Learn more about our Aspire Arkansas report, a county-by-county look at the quality of life in Arkansas. 
• Our organization works with local leaders who understand Arkansas. The Community Foundation is a nonprofit organization; our operations are not dictated by shareholders. Instead, we work under the leadership of a board of volunteers who represent the entire state with our citizen’s best interests in mind.  Read more about our bylaws. 
• We take a local approach to giving. Local people, local decisions, local impact. Arkansas Community Foundation is a statewide organization serving all 75 counties in Arkansas. Each of our 29 affiliates has a staff person and local advisory board to help us understand the special needs of each town and city. Our affiliates also provide in-person support for the you and nonprofits we partner within each community. Learn more about our local Giving Tree Endowments.
• Not only do we promote Smart Giving, we practice it. Helping generous people like you give through vehicles like donor advised funds is one of the many services we offer. The Community Foundation also uses its own foundation-directed dollars to meet community needs. By making grants and sharing knowledge, we support programs that work and we partner to create new initiatives that address the gaps. 

In Central Arkansas, contact Ashley Coldiron to discuss how a fund can help you support the communities you love.
In Northwest Arkansas, contact Jody Dilday. Or give us a call at 501-372-1116.

It seems like just a few years ago that Arkansas Community Foundation’s central office moved from the beautiful historic house on Rock Street to Union Station. Much has changed since then, but our commitment to serving our donors, professional advisors, community leaders and nonprofits remains the same.

Today we’re preparing to move away from the train station to the Riverdale neighborhood in a building overlooking the Arkansas River. The new location provides plenty of space for our growing staff, reliable infrastructure and easy access off Cantrell Road from either I-430 or I-30. With plenty of free parking near the building, we welcome you to visit us in the coming months at our new location:

5 Allied Drive
Suite 51110
Building 5, 11th Floor
Little Rock, AR 72202

The Community Foundation is now one of the 75 largest community foundations in the country based on assets, and with continued growth bringing new requirements, we’re excited for what the next chapter holds. With expansive views of the Arkansas River, both northwest to Fort Smith and southeast to Helena, we’ll have a constant reminder of our work promoting smart giving to improve communities throughout our great state.

In service,

Heather Larkin,
President & CEO

Misti and Will Staley are creators. Misti, a freelance artist and creative director of Reclaimed Helena, found herself in Arkansas by way of Douglassville, Georgia, alongside her Arkansas-native husband, Will, co-founder and creative director of Thrive Helena. The Staleys formed the Freeman Foundation after their son, Freeman Ellis, passed away in 2015.

Freeman’s life, although short, was inspirational beyond measure. Reflecting the Freeman Foundation’s mission, the Freeman Playground was created when the community joined together to raise funds for a playground to serve children of all backgrounds and abilities.

The playground met its budget after a successful 2017 ArkansasGives, and construction to provide a place of fun and laughter in downtown Helena began. “There’s no way we could have built the Freeman Playground without the support of community members, family and donors,” Misti said. “We’re so thankful for them.”

Misti and Will created a fund at Arkansas Community Foundation to ensure the mission of the Freeman Playground would last forever. The spendable amount each year will provide permanent resources to ensure the space is maintained. “Freeman’s life was much bigger than himself, and his impact will be felt for years,” Will said. “This playground is a testament to the strength of this community and how everyone recognized the need for it.”

Dr. Carolyn Blakely, retired professor of English and founder of the Honors College at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, learned the practice of giving early. Her grandmother instilled in her the joy of giving. “I think that is why she lived to be 105 — she was always doing something for others,” said Carolyn. “That’s what we do at Arkansas Community Foundation — we identify the needs in a community and then give to organizations that can meet those needs.”

Carolyn was particularly impressed when she was on the Board of Pine Bluff Area Community Foundation with the development and growth of their Youth Advisory Council. “These young people work together to earn money and make grants to organizations that can help others,” she said.

Now a member of the state board of directors, Carolyn believes individuals and organizations give to the Community Foundation because the Foundation creates endowments, manages the investments wisely and helps them direct the income from their funds.

“The Community Foundation is one of our state’s greatest assets because of our passion and compassion,” she said. “I have been fortunate to meet people throughout our state that recognize we are not in this alone. Together we can improve our communities.”