Updated:
Arkansas Community Foundation
Arkansas Community Foundation was established in 1976 with an initial $258,000 seed from the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation. It functions as a public...
Arkansas Community Foundation
Arkansas Community Foundation was established in 1976 with an initial $258,000 seed from the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation. It functions as a public community foundation serving the entire state rather than a single donor family. The foundation allocates across global equities at 61 percent of the endowed pool, private equity at 7.25 percent, hedge funds, and real assets including oil exposure and mixed-use properties in Arkansas. Confirmed holdings include positions in Southern Bancorp, Fund for Arkansas's Future, and Communities Unlimited. Geographic reach centers on Arkansas with limited national co-investments. The team numbers 50 professionals at the Little Rock headquarters. Cambridge Associates serves as investment advisor and FORVIS as auditor. January 2026 marked the 50th anniversary with a $1 million grant announcement alongside the Arkansas Black Philanthropy Collaborative. Governance separates the endowed investment pool from supporting organizations such as Arkansas Gift Foundation, which holds direct real estate. Board members include representatives from E. Ritter & Company and Farmers Bank and Trust.
General information
Firm type
Endowment / Foundation
Year founded
1976
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Little Rock
Corporate office
5 Allied Dr, Building 5, 11th Floor, Little Rock, AR 72202, United States
Principals
Jessica Hughes Ford
President and CEO
Heather Larkin
President Emeritus
Tracy Cude
Board Chair
Corey Moline
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Arkansas Community Foundation?
Jessica Hughes Ford serves as President and CEO. Corey Moline acts as CFO and Treasurer. Cambridge Associates provides external investment advisory services.
How does Arkansas Community Foundation source proprietary deal flow?
The foundation receives assets primarily through donor contributions of cash, real estate, and securities. It maintains relationships with local banks and operating companies in Arkansas.
Does Arkansas Community Foundation participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
It commits to private equity pools and hedge funds while also holding direct real estate through Arkansas Gift Foundation. Limited partner positions exist in Southern Bancorp and FORGE Community Loan Fund.
What investment stages does Arkansas Community Foundation typically target?
Allocations include early-stage venture through Fund for Arkansas's Future and buyout exposure via private equity pools. The endowed pool emphasizes long-term total return.
Where does the underlying wealth come from?
Assets originate from individual and corporate donors across Arkansas. The Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation provided the 1976 founding grant.
Does Arkansas Community Foundation maintain philanthropic structures, and how are they separated?
It oversees more than 2,600 component funds plus affiliates. Arkansas Gift Foundation operates as a supporting organization for real estate holdings.
What is Arkansas Community Foundation's known posture on co-investments alongside external GPs?
The foundation acts as a limited partner in venture and private equity vehicles. It does not lead direct co-investments outside its real-asset portfolio.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
Need institutional-grade insight on endowments & foundations?
Altss delivers:
Prefer a guided tour?
We’ll walk you through: