CFO grants $14,100 in Inclusion & Belonging program

The Community Foundation of the Ozarks has selected the second round of recipients of its Inclusion & Belonging Grants for the 2024–25 grant cycle.

The program supports small grant requests to ensure equitable participation and engagement in communities across the region.

The six recipients, receiving a total of $14,100, are:

• Special Olympics Missouri: $3,000 to expand inclusive sports opportunities through Unified Basketball programs in southwest Missouri high schools, including Webb City, Nixa and Republic.
• Empower: Abilities: $3,000 to support the Restaurant Access Points Initiative, a program that improves accessibility in local restaurants, educates community members on accessibility standards, amplifies the voices of people with disabilities and drives change in the private sector.
• Lincoln School Project: $3,000 to support the Lincoln University Music Department’s visit to West Plains for a Black History Month event on Feb. 22.
• Nixa Public Schools: $1,500 to install a classroom sensory swing for students with sensory needs.
• Ozarks Regional YMCA: $1,500 to support the Pat Jones YMCA Lunch and Learn program that provides opportunities for older adults to connect and learn in a welcoming environment.
• Remember to Dream Therapeutic Riding Center: $2,100 to support the Sponsor a Rider project in central Missouri, providing a rider with equine therapy from certified instructors at the Cole Camp-based riding center.

About $14,000 remains available in the Inclusion & Belonging Grant Program. Agencies may apply for up to $3,000 to support expenses related to:

• Ensuring diverse representation in leadership roles and the community;
• Providing students with equitable opportunity for community engagement and leadership; and
• Hosting events that ensure visible representations of belonging in the Ozarks.

Applications are reviewed and awarded through May 1. To learn more about the CFO’s grant application process, visit cfozarks.org/applyforgrants.

The Community Foundation of the Ozarks is the region’s largest public charitable foundation serving donors, nonprofit partners and 55 regional affiliate foundations with assets totaling $494 million as of June 30, 2024. The CFO’s mission is to improve the quality of life for everyone in central and southern Missouri through resource development, community grantmaking, collaboration and public leadership.