Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Missouri

The Community Foundation of the Ozarks (CFO) is offering the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Grant Program, which aligns with its broader mission to positively impact the CFO service area by addressing issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. This program seeks to support initiatives that bring awareness to these critical issues and improve the quality of life for under-served and underrepresented individuals within southern Missouri. The foundation's strategic priorities are implicitly focused on fostering a sense of belonging for all residents and driving systemic change within communities. The target beneficiaries of this grant program are under-served and underrepresented individuals and marginalized communities in southern Missouri. The program's impact goals are to increase civic participation, change public norms, and improve community conditions for these groups. Ideal candidates are expected to demonstrate clear, sharp goals focused on achieving tangible impact, aligning with the CFO's theory of change which emphasizes short-term changes in issue visibility, interim changes in norms and practices, and ultimately long-term positive transformations in the region. The grant prioritizes work that impacts systems and norms through a range of inclusion efforts. Key focuses include bringing awareness of diversity and inclusion issues to public light, fostering a sense of belonging for all within the service area, and achieving measurable results in civic participation and community conditions. The program is specifically looking for proposals that articulate how they will achieve these outcomes, demonstrating a clear pathway from intervention to impact. A total of $120,000 is available through the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Grant Program, with individual awards capped at $25,000. Eligible lead applicant agencies include nonprofit 501(c)3 organizations, government entities, school districts, and tax-exempt faith-based organizations. The expected outcomes for funded projects are to demonstrate positive impacts in southern Missouri, with a particular emphasis on creating lasting changes that enhance the quality of life and sense of belonging for marginalized communities.