“In any kind of activity in life, there are many ways to do a thing, but among them there is a best way,” said Paul M. Thomson, president and CEO of the Truman Heartland Community Foundation.
For Thomson, this applies to the donation of money. He says that by keeping its donors informed about needs in the community, the foundation provides the best way for people to find those causes they are passionate about.
In the words of Thomson, the foundation seeks to “increase the financial supply that is so important in our community.” Truman Heartland focuses on helping donors to set up funds that benefit local charities or non profit organizations. Those who wish to set up a fund, contact the foundation to discuss charitable objectives. They then determine the type of gift they wish to give, name the fund, create an instrument of transfer, and decide how the fund will be invested in the foundation’s Fund Investment Program.
The foundation has also set up a Community Grants Fund.
To ensure that the next generation is fully educated about philanthropy, the foundation has introduced the Youth Advisory Council, which gives its 81 members from 12 area high schools the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in dealing with funds, grants, and other aspects of the foundation.
More than 500 donors have made donations to the foundation, and in the past year, over $4 million in grants have been given to the community.
For more information, visit www.thcf.org, or call the main office at 816-836-8189. The office is in the main lobby of Commerce Bank, 300 N. Osage St., Independence.
