Local Gift Boosts Give Fest Match Pool to $160,000
Boeckner Family Fund contributes $50,000 to increase matching dollars available to Ellis County organizations
Give Fest is getting a $50,000 boost, thanks to a generous gift from Joseph and Jodi Boeckner, of Hays, through the Boeckner Family Fund.
The gift increases the Heartland Community Foundation’s 2026 Give Fest match pool to $160,000, making more matching dollars available to 73 local organizations participating in the third annual community giving day on Wednesday, October 7.
The Boeckners designated their $50,000 gift specifically for Ellis County organizations, increasing the amount of match dollars reserved for Ellis County from $20,000 to $70,000. Joseph Boeckner said this gift is a way to help everyone, adding that he hoped this gift may also encourage others to consider contributing to the Give Fest Match Pool in future years.
The 2026 Give Fest match pool is now allocated as follows:
- $70,000 reserved for Ellis County organizations
- $20,000 reserved for Rooks County organizations
- $20,000 reserved for Trego County organizations
- $50,000 available to be shared among participating organizations across all three counties
The remainder of this year’s match pool includes a $50,000 gift from the Patterson Family Foundation and $60,000 from the Heartland Community Foundation’s County Legacy Funds. Those permanent funds have been strengthened through the Foundation’s annual Match Month campaigns, creating an ongoing source of community grantmaking.
“Give Fest is about so much more than a one-day gift,” said Sarah Meitner, executive director of the Heartland Community Foundation. “It brings together the power of collective giving, the power of investment, and the power of community support. Donors get to make a difference today while building permanent resources that help local organizations continue their work for generations.”
Through Give Fest, donors make gifts to participating organizations’ endowed funds at the Heartland Community Foundation. Those gifts become part of a permanent fund for the organization, while matching dollars are made available to the organizations for immediate needs.
Donations to participating endowed funds will be matched proportionally, up to 100%, from the available match pool. The match structure means every participating organization has the opportunity to benefit from the community’s collective generosity. No one organization can receive more than $15,000 from the match pool. Individuals donations per donor, per organization, are eligible to be matched, up to $10,000.
“We want Give Fest to become something our communities look forward to every year,” Meitner said. “We chose the name Give Fest as a nod to the local Oktoberfest celebrations that have been part of our communities for years. We hope early October becomes Give Fest season — a time when people come together, have some fun and celebrate the organizations doing good work right here at home.”
As the event grows, the Foundation hopes the Give Fest Match Pool will grow with it, making even more matching dollars available to local organizations and providing an additional incentive for donors to participate.
Give Fest Returns October 7
Give Fest 2026 takes place Wednesday, October 7, across Ellis, Rooks and Trego counties. Online giving opens October 1 and continues through October 7, followed by in-person Give Fest celebrations in each county on October 7.
The community giving day brings donors and local organizations together for a full day of giving, food, fellowship and fun.
Ellis County
Hays Rec Center Main Gym
1105 Canterbury Dr., Hays
9 a.m.–6 p.m.
The Ellis County celebration will wrap up with Happy Hour from 4:30–6 p.m., featuring tasty bites and mocktails.
Rooks County
Plainville Township Hall
108 S. Jefferson, Plainville
9 a.m.–4 p.m.
A Brats & (Root) Beer Lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. Lunch is free, with free-will donations encouraged to the participating organization of each attendee’s choice.
Trego County
Trego County Fairgrounds
13th and Russell Ave., WaKeeney
9 a.m.–4 p.m.
A Brats & (Root) Beer Lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. Lunch is free, with free-will donations encouraged to the participating organization of each attendee’s choice.
How to Give
- Online: Give at HeartlandGiveFest.org beginning at midnight October 1 through 11:59 p.m. October 7. Online gifts made during the giving period are eligible for matching funds.
- In Person: Bring donations to any of the three Give Fest events on October 7. Donations may also be dropped off at the Heartland Community Foundation office, 1200 Main St., Suite 102, Hays, from 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
- By Mail: Send donations to Heartland Community Foundation, PO Box 1673, Hays, KS 67601. Donations must be received by October 7 to qualify for Give Fest matching funds.
- Out-of-Town Donors: Donors may send their gift directly to a participating organization to be delivered for Give Fest. Checks should be made payable to Heartland Community Foundation with the participating organization’s name in the memo and accompanied by a donor form.
For more information about Give Fest, participating organizations and ways to give, visit HeartlandGiveFest.org, call 785-621-4090 or email heartland@gscf.org.
