CFO issues $80K in diversity grants

In its second year providing grants through the Springfield-Greene County Diversity and Inclusion Program, Community Foundation of the Ozarks upped the ante.

CFO last week issued $80,000 in grants, according to a news release. That’s up 33% from the $60,000 awarded in the inaugural grant cycle a year ago.

Seven grants were issued Nov. 26 out of the 21 applications to CFO.

The largest grant, at $16,621, went to the Promo Fund to increase LGBTQ civic engagement through leadership development, as well as promotion of service on boards and commissions, according to the release.

The other grants, by amount, are:
• $15,060, for Community Partnership of the Ozarks to host a series of bimonthly community forums on poverty and diversity;
• $15,000, for the Student African American Brotherhood National Headquarters to work on initiatives improving retention and graduate rates of students of color;
• $11,283, for the Library Foundation to make the Springfield-Greene County Library District’s 10 branches more inclusive for people with autism and developmental disabilities;
• $10,086, for Leadership Springfield to support members from Minorities in Business and the Rosie group for women in business;
• $8,950, for Missouri State University to conduct research in partnership with the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce and others on recruitment of diverse professionals; and
• $3,000, for Hillcrest High School to provide job-skills training.

“We know from the 2019 Community Focus Report that while the diversity of our city is increasing, gaps in achievement and representation for certain populations continue to persist,” said Bridget Dierks, vice president of programs for CFO, in the release. “By improving opportunities to succeed for more members of our community, we can improve our entire community.”