SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: community foundation of west tn

For 40 years, the Community Foundation of West Tennessee has been fueling some of the most meaningful work in Jackson and the surrounding counties. While you may not always see its name in headlines, you’ve almost certainly felt its impact — whether it’s in a backpack full of school supplies, a local arts project in your community, or a parent receiving legal help for their child.

Founded in Jackson in 1985 with a focus on healthcare, the Community Foundation has blossomed into a multifaceted support system for nearly every aspect of nonprofit life. Its mission is to strengthen the health and well-being of the communities we serve through support of philanthropic initiatives. 

“A lot of people don’t even realize we’ve been around that long,” Beth Koffman, Chief Operating Officer, said. “I like to talk about our logo — it's a tree, because we're rooted in the community and have deep roots that are strong, but then also branching out and changing and growing as the community changes.” 

What started as a way to assist patients and families has expanded into supporting education, housing, food security, the arts, and so much more.  One way the Community Foundation does this is through Community Project Funds, which allow groups to receive charitable donations for their causes through the foundation. These funds have helped them expand into so many areas of our community of West Tennessee.

For example, Heaven’s Cradle is a fund of the Community Foundation that was born from grief after a local couple lost a baby at birth. Today, it helps families access counseling and support they wouldn’t have had just a decade ago. Another example is a fund created by a husband to honor his wife, a schoolteacher, ensuring that her students never miss out on field trips or basic needs, like shoes that fit.

“We just want to remind people that these organizations are serving your friends and neighbors, making our city a more beautiful place to live, encouraging us to be kind and celebrate our differences,” Beth said.

Most of the time, the Community Foundation is behind the scenes because it’s funding the organizations on the ground doing the work. When the team gets to meet people and hear the stories of how funding has directly touched people’s lives, it is moving. Funding from the Community Foundation could impact your neighbor, coworker, or even you personally. This organization has touched so many aspects of what makes Jackson a home. 

The Community Foundation’s Community Impact Grants, which were launched in 2016 with just over $6,000, have since grown to $120,000 annually, directly funding organizations like West Tennessee Legal Services, All Saints Immigration Services, RIFA, Habitat for Humanity, and more.

“We just see a whole scope of issues in our community, and being able to take those grants and to get to see the work that these organizations are doing with this funding, I mean, that’s what is making Jackson a better place,” Haley Fortune, Community Impact Manager, said. “It’s incredible to see how that money multiplies through the work of local nonprofits.”

The Community Foundation also supports communities outside of Jackson and into the rest of West Tennessee, with regional chapters in Humboldt, Milan, Trenton, and Henderson County. This allows it to make an impact on other communities while allowing the people who are living in those spaces to do the life-changing work that is needed.

“I am a firm believer that problem-solving is not accomplished by people who are not actively affected by the issue making decisions for people who are. We believe problem-solving starts with the people closest to the issue,” Beth said.

One of the Community Foundation’s newer programs is 100 Women Who Care, a giving circle where every woman contributes at least $100 annually, then votes to decide which organization will receive the funds they’ve given. This group connects women of all ages, backgrounds, and circles in the community, allowing the impact to spread even farther. It also helps to make philanthropy less intimidating to the younger generation, as they can get involved within a group of women from all ages.

“I feel like for a lot of people, especially the younger generation like myself, we can be kind of intimidated by philanthropy, but philanthropy doesn't have to be scary,” Haley said. “You know, even just giving $10 a month can really add up to make a big difference. And I think 100 Women Who Care highlights that, because $100 for a year may not seem like a lot, but when you take 100 women who are giving $100, you're maximizing that impact for the organization that's going to receive those funds. So we really want to make philanthropy more accessible for our younger generation.”

At 40 years old, the Community Foundation of West Tennessee is still growing. Still rooted. Still reaching out. And Jackson — and the region around it — is better for it.

 “We’re not on the front lines, but we get to fund the people who are,” Beth reflected. “And that means we get to see the best parts of this community — the neighbors who show up, the leaders who step forward, and the small ideas that grow into movements.”

“How can I get involved?” you may ask. You can always donate, and there’s a variety of ways you can give no matter what you feel called to do. You can give your time and connections by bringing community issues to the Community Foundation’s attention — they might have a solution or funding for that problem. If the foundation does not have an answer or solution to the problem, its team wants to connect you to someone who does.

“We turn visions into a reality for people,” Haley said passionately. 

“I’m in the relationship business. Everything we do is built upon relationships — whether it’s with a donor, a partner agency, it’s all about building that relationship,” Beth concluded. “And it’s one of the greatest things because these aren’t just people I pass. These are people I’ve known for over a decade sometimes. It’s beyond just funding a project. We’re all members of this community, and we’re all working to make it a better place.”