Garden City, KS─ Western Kansas Community Foundation (WKCF) will join in a nationwide celebration, November 12-18, 2025, to recognize the increasingly important role that community foundations play in strengthening localities and mitigating social issues like food insecurity, or strengthening vital community resources related to health, education and social services.
For more than a century, philanthropic institutions have served as a trusted partner and resource whose effect can be seen in the lives of millions and in the vibrant neighborhoods that continue to thrive through their mission-driven work. During this annual celebration, community foundations convene to share and reflect on the stories of impact from their recent work.
Rural communities, especially, rely on collaboration and partnerships to thrive. To that end, WKCF Is launching MatchDay on November 17th: a 2-week giving campaign in support of the local nonprofits. MatchDay recognizes the tremendous impact of philanthropy, volunteerism and community service in the City of Garden City. MatchDay ends on December 2nd, (Giving Tuesday) with an in-person giving event from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm at the First United Methodist Church, 1106 N. Main in Garden City.
“The Match Day concept is simple: For a limited time, between November 18- December 2nd, WKCF offers $150,000 in matching funds to multiply the gifts of donors. By partnering with nonprofit organizations, the community foundation generates urgency around focused giving, expands engagement among nonprofit partners and donors, spurs greater interest in the community as a local resource, and involves hundreds of individuals in the community,” said Conny Bogaard, WKCF’s Executive Director. “In addition, anyone from around the world can give online through our secure donor portal which has proven to be very helpful especially for people who have moved away from the area but still feel connected to western Kansas.”
Community foundations are independent, public entities that steward philanthropic resources from institutional and individual donors to local nonprofits and represent one of the fastest-growing forms of philanthropy. In the past 9 years, WKCF’s MatchDay has greatly increased the visibility and support of the local nonprofits and generated nearly $5m in support of their work.
As community foundations find solutions for communities large and small, urban and rural – it is the collective work of these organizations that will have the most profound impact. Community Foundation Week was created in 1989 by former president George H.W. Bush to recognize the work of community foundations throughout America and their collaborative approach to working with the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to address community problems.