Funding source uncertain for one non-profit

Leadership Marion County and Leadership Marion County Children’s Foundation were originally funded in 2009 by the Kansas Health Foundation, who gave Central Kansas Community Foundation a $100,000 endowment to equally fund both programs, according to Chase Willhite, KHF assistant vice president for communications.

CKCF, which still has a donation portal for the programs on its website, is the manager of the money for the initiative.

Angie Tatro, executive director of CKCF, said LMC can request up to five percent of the endowed fund annually, and money is paid in separate checks payable to Marion County on behalf of the two programs.

The most recent checks, for $4,229.49 each, were sent March 11, 2016, Tatro said. More than $90,000 of the original $100,000 remains in CKCF’s possession, she said.

Although no further requests have been made for LMC funds, CKCF continues to maintain funds for the program.

“We’re in a holding pattern as to how they want to re-ignite their program,” Tatro said.

The newspaper could not determine the source of Flint Hills Resource Conservation and Development Area’s funding.

Betty Richmond, district manager of Marion County Conservation District, said FHRCD used to have a federal employee on the board. The organization formed with four counties, then added additional counties, Richmond said.

“It was to promote the area,” Richmond said. “It’s been several years ago. We didn’t have anyone who went to meetings.”

Richmond did not know where the organization’s funds came from.

Guidestar, a non-profit information website, lists FHRCD as an active organization which filed an IRS Form 990 for tax year 2016.

That Form 990 listed assets of $80,117 for that year, and $29,208 assets for the prior year.

It also listed Huffman as president/treasurer, Ken Thomas as vice president, Colleen Anderson as secretary, and Randy Barton, Joe Beeman, and Jeff Davidson as board members.

Attempts to reach the other members were unsuccessful. Thomas has moved to Florida and a phone number provided for him is not in service. Phone numbers for the others could not be found.