Heartland Community Foundation
The Heartland Community Foundation is celebrating a milestone 10th annual Match Month, generating an impressive $789,069 in total impact thanks to the generosity of 509 donors across Ellis, Rooks, and Trego counties.
Match Month is designed to grow the unrestricted grantmaking funds that support local needs through the Ellis County Legacy Fund, Rooks County Legacy Fund, and Trego County Legacy Fund. These funds provide grants for community priorities and create lasting impact across the region.
In addition to strong support for the county legacy funds, donors also gave to 34 other charitable funds, a powerful reflection of the generosity and community spirit across the region. During February, donors contributed a total of $389,069 across all Heartland Community Foundation funds:
· Ellis County: $139,132 (248 donors)
· Rooks County: $134,323 (155 donors)
· Trego County: $115,613 (105 donors)
From those donations, support for the legacy funds remained central to the campaign, with contributions totaling:
· $110,215 to the Ellis County Legacy Fund
· $73,470 to the Rooks County Legacy Fund
· $97,031 to the Trego County Legacy Fund
For a combined $280,717 in unrestricted funding that will directly support local needs through grants from the endowed county legacy funds.
These gifts were significantly amplified through two key matching opportunities. The Dane G. Hansen Foundation provided a 2:1 match on each county’s legacy fund, contributing $300,000 in matching dollars – that’s $100,000 for each Heartland county. In addition, the Patterson Family Foundation provided a $100,000 match to support the foundation’s operations on gifts made to any Heartland Community Foundation funds during the month, further increasing the campaign’s reach and impact.
“Match Month continues to showcase the incredible generosity of our communities,” said Sarah Meitner, Heartland Community Foundation executive director. “Not only are donors investing in the long-term strength of Ellis, Rooks, and Trego counties through our legacy funds, but they are also supporting a wide range of causes that matter deeply to them.”
As the Heartland Community Foundation marks a decade of Match Month, the campaign’s continued growth highlights a shared commitment to building permanent resources and strengthening rural Kansas for generations to come.
“We extend our sincere gratitude to the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, the Patterson Family Foundation, and every donor who made this milestone year a success,” said Meitner.
Since its inception, Heartland Community Foundation’s Match Month campaigns have raised over $2 million, with a total impact — including matching funds — of more than $4 million.
Community members who are inspired to give are reminded that donations can be made to Heartland’s legacy funds or any fund at any time. HCF also offers guidance to individuals and families looking to establish charitable giving plans now or as part of their estate that reflect their values.
For more information about Heartland Community Foundation or to explore giving opportunities, visit www.heartlandcommunityfoundation.org.