About Us

Building strong sustainable communities

"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." – Helen Keller

Our Vision Statement

Our vision is to strategically guide our Affiliates to:

  • Inspire Donors To Give
  • Prudently Grow Contributions
  • Connect Gifts To Causes

Our Mission Statement

Our mission is to empower our donors, affiliates and charitable partners through education, stewardship and regional collaboration, to create thriving communities and impact present and future generations.

Our Guiding Principles

Integrity: Earning the trust of those we serve by operating ethically and transparently.
Excellence: Always striving for higher standards and quality performance.
Community: Collaborating around a common goal or interest.
Visionary: Finding potential and opportunity with progressive ideas to forge new paths forward.
Resilient: Having the ability to adapt to dynamic circumstances and gain strength through transformation.

2023 Annual Report

We are excited to announce that our annual report is completed! Dive in to learn about the incredible progress made, the impactful programs launched, and the community support that has

Learn more about what we set out to achieve

Our vision is progress in action! Today, GNWKCF represents a 15-county area of Northwest Kansas and is comprised of 13 Affiliate Foundations, 1 Agency Foundation, 6 Agency Partners, 2 Supporting Organizations, and numerous other funds.

We have a strong partnership with the Dane G. Hansen Foundation which generously supports 26 counties in Northwest Kansas to improve the quality of life for area citizens. The Hansen Foundation has been instrumental in building area community foundations through offering opportunities to establish and grow permanent endowment funds to provide a source of local grants forever.

We are a member of the Kansas Association of Community Foundations with a strong belief in networking together to maximize philanthropic impacts.

Greater Northwest Kansas Community Foundation is an organization exempt from Federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, a public charity, and a nonprofit corporation organized in the State of Kansas.

Timeline

Explore our history

2024
Graham County Community Foundation became an Affiliate; Logan County Community Foundation changed its status from an Agency Foundation to an Affiliate Foundation; Norton County Community Foundation changed its status from an Agency Foundation to an Affiliate Foundation; Wallace County Foundation changed its status from an Agency Foundation to an Affiliate Foundation.
2023
Osborne County Community Foundation joined as an Affiliate; Smoky Hills Community Foundation joined as an affiliate.
2022
Russell County Area Community Foundation became an Affiliate; Bird City Century II Development Foundation changed its status from an Affiliate to a Supporting Organization; and Friends of Cottonwood Ranch became a Supporting Organization.
2018
In 2018 ACE Foundation in Rawlins County became an Affiliate, Wallace County Foundation joined as an Agency Foundation, and Graham County Community Foundation, Phillips County Community Foundation and Thomas County Community Foundation became Agency Partners with only their Hansen Established Funds managed by GNWKCF.
2017
Logan County Community Foundation became an Agency Foundation; Cheyenne County Kansas Community Foundation joined as an Affiliate; Norton County Community Foundation changed its status from an Affiliate Foundation to an Agency Foundation.
2016
GROW Decatur County Foundation joined as an Affiliate.
2013
Norton County Community Foundation joined as an Affiliate.
2012
Gove County Community Foundation, Sheridan County Community Foundation and Sherman County Community Foundation joined as Affiliates.
2009
The Greater Northwest Kansas Community Foundation (GNWKCF) was formed to increase exposure and opportunities for philanthropy throughout northwest Kansas and the tri-state region. In 2009, realizing the benefits to regionalization, the Bird City Century II Development Foundation affiliated with GNWKCF.

GNWKCF Directly Owned Funds

Endowment Type

Fund Type

County

Carol and Douglas Sloper Family Fund

Foundation
County
Fund type
Endowment type

Coleen and Jay Jensen Family Fund

Foundation
County
Fund type
Endowment type

Dane G. Hansen Fund for Logan – Endowment Fund

Foundation
County
Fund type
Endowment type

Dane G. Hansen Fund for Logan – Grant Fund

Foundation
County
Fund type
Endowment type

Domsch Family Fund

Foundation
County
Fund type
Endowment type

Douglas M. and Mary L. Albin Family Fund

Foundation
County
Fund type
Endowment type

Douglas M. and Mary L. Albin Family Fund

Foundation
County
Fund type
Endowment type

DSNWK – Andy Betzen Memorial Endowment Fund

Foundation
County
Fund type
Endowment type

DSNWK – Jim and Rose Blume Endowment Fund

Foundation
County
Fund type
Endowment type

DSNWK – Joey Weber Endowment Fund

Foundation
County
Fund type
Endowment type

DSNWK – Live with Purpose Fund

Foundation
County
Fund type
Endowment type

Erma and Bob John Memorial Scholarship Fund

Foundation
County
Fund type
Endowment type

FOCR Non-Managed Assets Fund

Foundation
County
Fund type
Endowment type

Frontline Workers Fund

Foundation
County
Fund type
Endowment type

G.H. Lippelmann, Jr. Educational Trust #1 Scholarship Fund

Foundation
County
Fund type
Endowment type

GNWKCF Affiliate Services Enhancement Fund

Foundation
County
Fund type
Endowment type

GNWKCF B & L, LLC Fund

Foundation
County
Fund type
Endowment type

GNWKCF Land, LLC

Foundation
County
Fund type
Endowment type

GNWKCF Pass-Thru Fund

Foundation
County
Fund type
Endowment type

GNWKCF Planned Giving Initiative Fund

Foundation
County
Fund type
Endowment type

People

Learn about the team behind GNWKCF

Darci Schields

Executive Director/CEO

Andi Culwell

Director of Affiliate Relations

Jane Young

Director of Finance

Carol Sloper

Director of Grants & Scholarships

Makayla Norris

Affiliate Relations Coordinator

Coleen Jensen

Office Manager

Jana LaBarge

Accounting Clerk

Doris Clingenpeel

Grants & Scholarships Coordinator

Mike Posson

Board Chair

Joan McKenna

Vice-Board Chair

Tom Keller

Treasurer

Mitch Gillespie

Secretary

Harry Joe Pratt

Board Member

Travis Rickford

Board Member

Raelene Keller

Board Member

Tony Haffner

Board Member

Chuck Moore

Board Member

John O. Farmer

Board Member

Kris Yost

Board Member