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About Neighbor
Neighbor, created in 2013, functions as the Herschend family’s giving collective. It brings together the philanthropic efforts of over twenty households spanning four generations, and it builds on the family’s long-standing tradition of supporting the communities connected to their businesses, a practice that began in 1950. Neighbor is managed by an Executive Director and an elected board that includes both independent and family members.
In 2023, the Herschend Family further refined its philanthropic strategy, adopting a community-informed, place-based approach focused on creating local impact in Southwest Missouri, the birthplace of their original venture, Silver Dollar City.
This new strategy involved active engagement with the community: listening to local leaders, learning from their insights, and making long-term investments in partnership with the communities themselves. This sharper focus on local strength resulted in a more effective approach.
As Neighbor continues to develop in this approach, they expect to expand to other regions connected to the family businesses, while also investing with national partners and learning alongside other funders.
Neighbor is independent of Herschend Family Entertainment’s giving arm.
Partners
Empowered Regionally
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GRANTED
To Date and Coutning!
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Years
Of Strategic Giving
Our GrantMaking Pillars
Community Engagement
Building collaborative power through regional partnerships and community organizing
Capacity Building
Strengthening organizational infrastructure through leadership development and systemic growth
Learning & Evaluation
Transforming sector practice through community-informed research
Projects & Programs
Executing outcome-driven pilot programs through structured reporting and community sourcing
STRATEGIES FOR SYSTEMIC CHANGE
We utilize a diverse toolkit to support the nonprofit ecosystem, moving beyond traditional grantmaking to build long-term capacity.
Investing in Organizational Resilience and Stability
We believe that for a nonprofit to flourish, it needs more than just project-specific funding. Our direct grants prioritize general operating support and multi-year commitments. This approach provides our partners with the "breathing room" to invest in their own infrastructure, retain high-quality staff, and pivot when community needs change. By moving away from restrictive, short-term funding, we empower organizations to stay focused on their mission rather than their next grant application.
Strengthening the Foundations for Sustainable Scale
Impact is built on the strength of an organization’s foundation. Through our strategic advisory services, we fund capacity-building initiatives such as board development, executive coaching, and long-range strategic planning. We don't just ask our partners to grow; we provide the tools—from technology upgrades to financial management audits—that ensure they can handle that growth sustainably. This is about moving a nonprofit from "surviving" to "thriving."
Amplifying Impact through Strategic Alliances
Complex societal challenges are too large for any single funder to solve alone. Neighbor acts as a catalyst for collaboration, bringing together individuals, families, and institutions to pool their talent and charitable resources. By coordinating our giving, we reduce the administrative burden on nonprofits and amplify our collective impact on the issues that matter most. This collaborative model allows us to take on higher-risk, high-reward innovations that might be out of reach for a lone foundation.
Illuminating Root Causes through Rigorous Analysis
Strategic giving must be informed by evidence. We invest in deep problem analysis to understand the root causes of regional issues—examining the rules, roles, relationships, and resources that shape our community. Our research doesn't just sit on a shelf; we share these insights with our partners and peer funders to redefine how our region understands its challenges. This data-driven approach ensures that every dollar spent is a surgical strike against systemic obstacles.
Bridging Sectors to Foster Unified Action
As a neutral party with a bird’s-eye view of the landscape, we use our convening power to bridge the gap between sectors. We host "Learning Communities" and roundtable discussions that bring together nonprofit leaders, government officials, and community advocates. These gatherings are designed to spark creative problem-solving, build trust-based relationships, and lay the groundwork for collective action that lasts long after the meeting ends.
PERSPECTIVES ON GIVING
Exploring the latest trends in philanthropy, regional needs, and success stories from the front lines of our community partners.
