Learning, Connecting, and Growing Together in Wichita

GMCF and its affiliate community foundations attended the Annual National Conference for Growing Community Foundations, bringing home new ideas, valuable connections, and fresh perspectives on the future of philanthropy.

From October 14–16, members of the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation (GMCF) team and our affiliate community foundations gathered in Wichita for the Annual National Conference for Growing Community Foundations.

The conference provided an opportunity to learn from community foundation professionals across the country, exchange ideas, and explore new ways to strengthen the communities we serve. This year, GMCF also had the opportunity to contribute to the conference programming.

While each attendee took away something different, several common themes emerged throughout the three days: the importance of relationships, the need to adapt as philanthropy evolves, and the value of working together to address community needs.

Building Connections and Learning from One Another 

One of the most valuable parts of the conference was connecting with other community foundation professionals, including those serving communities of different sizes, and at different stages of growth.

The conference's Peer2Peer Program provided another opportunity to build these relationships. Designed to foster meaningful connections among community foundation leaders, the program creates space to share ideas, work through challenges, celebrate successes, and learn from one another.

Several GMCF team members participated in the program, including Jayna Ukrazhenko, who connected with Leah Wilson of the Greater Salina Community Foundation; Ashley Kracht, who connected with Kristie Diller of the Hesston Community Foundation; Shane Shivley, who connected with Jessica Hanzlicek of the Wichita Foundation and Will Norton of the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas; and Marla Brandon connected with Kathy Graeff of the Legacy Regional Community Foundation.

For our affiliate directors, time spent together and with their peers provided opportunities to exchange ideas, discuss shared challenges, and learn from the experiences of other foundations.

Conversations with organizations such as the Patterson Family Foundation and Foundant also provided opportunities to explore resources, partnerships, and approaches that could support our work.

The conference also included a special recognition for Marla Brandon, who completed six years of service on the Kansas Association of Community Foundations (KACF) Board. Marla received an award in appreciation of the leadership, wisdom, and support she has shared throughout her time on the board. We congratulate Marla and thank her for her dedication to strengthening community foundations across Kansas.

A recurring reminder throughout the conference was that community foundations don't have to navigate challenges alone. There is tremendous value in learning from one another and building relationships that extend beyond the conference.

Sharing Our Expertise 

GMCF's own Tyler Downey, Director of Media Outreach, was among the conference presenters, leading a session titled "Finding the Story: Filmmaking for Regular People."

The session focused on making video storytelling more approachable and helping community foundation professionals think about how they can use filmmaking to share meaningful stories.

As community foundations continue looking for ways to communicate their impact, storytelling remains an important tool for connecting donors, nonprofits, and community members with the work happening around them.

Adapting to a Changing Philanthropic Landscape 

Several sessions explored how charitable giving and community needs continue to evolve.

Attendees learned about generational shifts in philanthropy, changing trends in rural America, and the importance of making charitable giving opportunities accessible to more people.

Discussions also highlighted donor-advised funds, Gift of Grain, other agricultural giving opportunities, and the role of generational wealth in shaping the future of philanthropy.

Other sessions encouraged foundations to think differently about identifying community needs, engaging residents, and exploring tools such as impact investing.

Together, these conversations reinforced the importance of understanding how our communities are changing and ensuring our services continue to meet people where they are.

Strengtehning Our Capacity to Serve

The conference also offered practical ideas for strengthening community foundation operations, leadership, and communications.

Topics ranged from board development and leadership skills to prioritizing work, embracing change, and exploring how artificial intelligence can support organizational capacity while protecting sensitive information.

One particularly meaningful discussion examined how community foundations in Texas came together during devastating flooding. Their experiences highlighted the importance of collaboration, clear communication, and coordinated responses when communities face unexpected challenges.

For GMCF, these conversations sparked ideas for communicating about future community projects, strengthening partnerships, and continuing to improve how we serve donors, nonprofits and affiliate foundations.

Making Room for Creativity 

Not every valuable lesson came from a traditional presentation.

One session explored how fun, creativity, and unexpected moments can make community foundation work more memorable and strengthen relationships.

Whether through thoughtful gestures of appreciation, creative storytelling, or finding new ways to engage community members, the message was simple: meaningful work can also be enjoyable.

It's a reminder that building strong relationships doesn't always require a major initiative. Sometimes, small moments of creativity and connection leave the greatest impression.

Bringing What We Learned Back Home 

Perhaps the most important takeaway from the conference was the opportunity to return home with fresh perspectives and renewed connections.

From supporting rural communities and strengthening nonprofit partnerships to exploring new charitable giving opportunities, the ideas shared throughout the conference will help inform conversations and future initiatives across the GMCF network.

We're grateful for the opportunity to learn alongside our affiliate community foundations, share our own experiences, and connect with other professionals who are committed to strengthening the places they serve.

The conference may have lasted three days, but the conversations, relationships, and ideas will continue shaping our work long after we've returned home.