Enriching western Kansas life through philanthropy, collaboration and leadership.

In 1996, a small group of people dreamed of a way to encourage people to invest in the welfare and future of our community, they began the Western Kansas Community Foundation.

It was decided to expand the small group to include well-known and respected members of the community to assist in establishing the objectives and to identify and contact those individuals who would make up the founding board.

The expanded group then set about to identify individuals who were committee oriented, well respected, and willing to work toward accomplishing the establishment of a foundation that would benefit southwest Kansas forever!

The original board set high ideals and lofty goals and established the criteria to become a founder, with levels of accomplishment that would require many contacts and broad-based community support, yet one that would provide an adequate base of funding to support the necessary administrative costs.

The initial $10,000 founder level that was established was much higher than other recent new Kansas foundations, however in 2003, the goal of raising $500,000 was realized and the fund capped.

What a great vision they had! We are here to help individuals and businesses fulfill their philathropic goals. What a great way to leave something worthwhile to our community.

Let us help you. The WKCF belongs to all of us and together we can make a difference, not only today, but for many years to come.

Stewardship Counseling
Find out how to tailor your existing estate plan to keep transfer cost and taxes to a minimum. Have your current plan reviewed to accomplish all your estate planning objectives. The planning process is offered at no charge, no products such as life insurance or securities are sold. John Griffin, Jr. provides comprehensive planning for you and your family including farm and business transitions. Meetings are by appointment only and are held on the 4th Thursday of every month.

Sponsored by: Commerce Bank, NA; Garden City Community College-Endowment Association and the Western Kansas Community Foundation

County Initiative
This program is designed to pour grant dollars directly back into specific communities. Grant and Haskell counties are establishing funds to preserve their programs so their charities have the needed funding to continue.

Contact the WKCF for more information, or one of your local advisory committee members.

Advisory Committee Chairpersons:

GRANT COUNTY:
Judy Keusler
620-356-2592

HASKELL COUNTY:
Mike Cearley
620-675-8611