Arkansas Community Foundation works locally through a network of 28 affiliate offices around the state. Each affiliate has a staff person and local advisory board comprised of passionate community leaders who understand the special needs of each town and city. Read more about Molly Carpenter, board chair of our affiliate in Sharp County.
Molly Carpenter was born and raised in Ash Flat, a small town in North Central Arkansas and serves on the Sharp County Community Foundation’s Board of Directors as board chair. After spending a few years in Jonesboro attending Arkansas State, she returned to Sharp County where she began her career at FNBC as a fourth-generation community banker. She joined the board in 2014 and began her first terms as board chair in July 2016.
We asked Molly a few questions about her service with the Community Foundation and some of her favorite things about Arkansas. Keep reading to meet Molly!
What’s your favorite Arkansas past-time?
“Arkansas has so much to offer! In the summer, I love to get out on the lakes and rivers in Sharp County. In the fall, you can find me on my parents’ farm, one of my favorite places in the world, spending time with my family and enjoying the cooler weather and gorgeous autumn colors. And in the winter, well, I’m just praying for warmer weather!”
How were you introduced to the Community Foundation?
“I am a second generation Community Foundation board member. My dad, Martin, helped charter the Sharp County Community Foundation over a decade ago. Philanthropy and supporting our community is a passion of his, and he has been a tremendous example of servant leadership for me and many others.”
What do you find most special about the local community?
“The people of Sharp County are what make it so unique. They are generous, encouraging, supportive, passionate and they rally around one another whenever needed. We have some really bright and innovative individuals living and working in Sharp County, too, and it’s exciting to see the work they’re doing to make our communities stronger and better for generations to come.”
What’s your favorite Community Foundation program?
“The Giving Tree program allows our small affiliate to reach a lot of people and grow awareness locally. Food insecurity is a problem in Sharp County, and our hunger fund has allowed us to feed a lot of families over the years.”
What’s something memorable that your local board/affiliate accomplished during your service?
“We have a really exciting project in the works right now! With the support of the Little Rock office, we are working on aggressively growing our Giving Tree Endowment Fund to the tune of $1 million! We’re only a few months in and are 20% of the way to our goal. It’s not going to be easy, but we are excited about the impact we can have in Sharp County and in the years to come.”
What would you say is a benefit of working with the Community Foundation?
“The Community Foundation has the ability to grow your invested dollars in ways other small nonprofits aren’t always able. It provides a resource that allows you to be able to give to the local causes most important to you long after you’re gone. With tools like Aspire, the local Community Foundation affiliates can keep a finger on the pulse of your community’s greatest needs and direct funds to worthwhile causes accordingly.”
What advice can you give about smart giving?
“As you’re thinking about what you’re going to give to each year, I encourage you to consider the impact your dollars could make if given in a strategic, directed way. There are a lot of needs in Arkansas right now, but if we join together and put real resources behind big issues, we can create positive change instead of just applying temporary bandages.”
Learn more about Sharp County Community Foundation.