Commission receives update on Community Foundation

Cape Girardeau County Commissioners received an update Monday on local community foundation efforts and were asked to help spread awareness and encourage others to become involved.

The Community Foundation of the Ozarks announced in April that it was opening a new office in Cape Girardeau, to be led by retired local banker Maurice "Moe" Sandfort.

Sandfort, who spent 46 years in executive management positions in banking before his 2011 retirement from The Bank of Missouri, is also a senior adviser of philanthropy for the east region. Other community foundations in the region include the Ste. Genevieve County Community Foundation and the Perry County Community Foundation, which was established in December.

The presentation delivered to the commission explained some of the ways the foundation will be able to give back to the community and the help it requires before it can begin meeting community needs. Often, Sandfort said, the first hurdle he has to clear when making his pitch to others is explaining what a community foundation is.

"It is a tax exempt public charity that enables people like us to establish a charitable fund," he told commissioners. A charitable fund allows for donations to a number of groups, including not-for-profit organizations, churches and public schools, he continued.

Funds have been set up for indigent burial needs, Sandfort said. The county writes into the budget each year money to cover expenses for residents who die without assets and who don't have family members who can provide the cost. In 2012, requests surpassed the amount of funding the county had available and the Community Foundation of the Ozarks stepped in and offered to reimburse the county up to $400 when a resident is unable to pay the expense and no family members can be found.

The mission of the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, Sandfort said, "is to enhance the quality of life of our citizens and future generations by building community endowments." The core money of an endowment is "put aside permanently," he explained, but earnings from the principle can be spent.

"In order for us to join the Community Foundation of the Ozarks as a community foundation in the greater Cape/Jackson area is to find $30,000 unrestricted," he said. "So it has to be totally an endowment, permanent funding."

So far, the group has about $17,500 raised or committed, Sandfort said. Outreach in Jackson, speaking to city and chamber of commerce officials, has only recently started, so he's hopeful the remaining money can be raised soon. Once the full $30,000 is in place, people can begin making donations to go toward specific needs or projects, he said.

The cities of Cape Girardeau and Jackson are on board with the community foundation and Scott City could also be included. Sandfort said he expects to meet with the mayor and council soon to confirm.

Besides the donations, the foundation also needs volunteers to serve on the board of governors. Communities typically have 13 to 15 people on these boards, and Sandfort said seven people have expressed interest in serving so far, all from the Cape Girardeau area. He encouraged the commissioners to reach out to those who would be strong candidates.

"It needs to be people who to know what the needs of the community are, so not just a random person," said Sandfort. "It's somebody that's been involved in the community and various fundraisers who know where the needs fall."

srinehart@semissourian.com

388-3641

Pertinent address:

Cape Girardeau, Mo.

Jackson, Mo.

Scott City, Mo.