LOGAN — The Dane G. Hansen Foundation has announced a commitment to infuse up to $150,000 in new funds for 2016 in each of the 26 counties in its service area. The funds will support immediate needs for local community grants and build or grow permanent funds for future community grants.
The foundation’s total commitment for this initiative will be from $2.6 million to $3.9 million. Funds will be disbursed in each county through its community foundation or grant advisory committee.
“We recognize that local communities are in the best position to recognize their own needs, and the Hansen Foundation is pleased to be able to provide the resources to assist them in meeting those needs,” said Hansen Trustee Gary Poore.
The announcement of the additional dollars was revealed to community foundations March 16 in Hays at the Hansen Foundation’s first-ever Community Foundation Forum. More than a hundred community-minded people from across northwest Kansas gathered for the event.
Attendees included representatives from community foundation boards, grant advisory boards, economic development professionals and other civic professionals from the Hansen Foundation’s service area.
At the forum, the Trustees announced a commitment to renew $100,000 in expendable grants to each county for projects to be determined by local community foundations or advisory boards. In 2015, the Foundation made similar awards to community foundations: $50,000 was awarded in April and again in September. The dates will be the same for 2016.
In addition, Trustees announced a new initiative designed to encourage the growth of permanent funds in each county. Each community foundation will select a particular month in which it will host a matching-event or campaign.
The Dane G. Hansen Foundation then will provide a 100 percent match for every dollar raised for the participating community foundation’s endowed, unrestricted community grant fund, up to a maximum of $50,000 per county.
“The money provided by the Hansen foundation has enhanced our community greatly and has brought great publicity to our community foundation,” said Sandy Labertew, Post Rock Community Foundation, Lincoln.
“Our community, its leaders and our citizens have chosen to succeed,” said Ashley Hutchinson, Cloud County Economic Development Corporation. “I’m excited the Hansen Foundation is providing a role in helping with that mission.”
For counties that do not have a community foundation, the Hansen Foundation will provide a matching grant, following the same guidelines and process, for a permanent grant fund, restricted for that county, to be held by a host community foundation.
In addition to the funding announcements, the Hays event included a session on community vitality efforts, presented by K-State Extension agent Nadine Sigle; board recruitment, by consultant Bill Riley; and the grant review process, by Betsy Wearing, Hansen coordinator of programs, communications and new initiatives.
In addition, Trustees shared information on new and renewing initiatives for community foundations. Scott Sproul, President of the Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation Center, shared information about the work this new organization will be doing. Attendees also enjoyed a presentation on the life and history of Mr. Hansen.
For more information, contact Betsy Wearing, Coordinator of Programs, Communications and New Initiatives, 785-452-8888.
For more information on the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, visit www.danehansenfoundation.org.