West Plains community foundation, board leader recognized by CFO

The Community Foundation of West Plains and one of its board leaders recently received
regional recognition and funding during the Community Foundation of the Ozarks’ annual
affiliate awards presentation in Rolla.
West Plains board member Jen Anselm received a Board Member of Excellence award from the
CFO in recognition of her outstanding leadership and service to the local affiliate during the April
23 recognition event. Anselm was honored for her strong organizational leadership as board
secretary and for her role in establishing and shaping "The Impact," the foundation’s local giving
circle, which recently presented its inaugural grants of $40,000 to area nonprofits.
In addition to Anselm's leadership honor, the Community Foundation of West Plains received a
$5,000 Affiliate Action Grant from the CFO. The local foundation will use the money to
encourage its area nonprofit partners to establish permanent endowments by offering matching
funds of up to $2,000 per organization.
The awards were presented prior to the Rural Philanthropy Summit, a conference held April 24
at Missouri University of Science and Technology and co-hosted by the CFO and Philanthropy

Missouri.
“The leadership, generosity and commitment of our affiliate communities is so important to
celebrate,” said Ashley Silva, vice president of development and philanthropic services for the
CFO. “Across our region, volunteers and partners are doing meaningful work every day to
improve quality of life."
Led by local volunteer boards, affiliate foundations partner with the CFO to connect with regional
donors, manage charitable funds and address long-term community needs through
grantmaking. The CFO provides fund management, administrative back-office support and
additional philanthropic resources to 55 regional affiliate foundations. As of June 30, 2025, the
Springfield-based public charitable foundation reported $549 million in assets under
management.