We talk with Marsha Pope about how the Topeka Community Foundation grew from a $10,000 idea to a $120 million engine for local change and why the team moved from quick fixes to upstream solutions. We explore impact investing, mental health, housing, and the power of data to guide funding.

• Origin story of the Topeka Community Foundation and Junior League roots
• How donor-advised funds stay local and responsive
• Endowments, spending policy, and grant making basics
• From apples to upstream: reframing health through zip code data
• Social determinants of health and Shawnee County mapping
• Mental health, housing, community safety as health priorities
• Impact investing examples, including fixing predatory contracts for deed
• Leadership pipelines, student social enterprise, and collaboration culture
• What Topeka needs for identity and civic pride
• How to apply for grants or impact loans and who to contact

Find us on Facebook and Instagram, and visit TopekaCommunityFoundation.org for grant guidelines and details
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0:00 - Meet Topeka’s Community Foundation
2:35 - How a $10K Idea Became $120M
6:50 - What Donor-Advised Funds Do Locally
11:30 - Marcia’s Path Into Philanthropy
16:45 - Community Development Is Economic Development
22:40 - From Apples to Upstream Solutions
27:45 - Zip Code vs Genetic Code
33:10 - Mapping Health and Targeting Need
36:50 - Mental Health, Housing, and Safety Priorities
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