By GAVIN HARSH

The word “money” can bring about a multitude of feelings based on your current situation, your family history, your childhood memories, certain life events or most likely, all of them in one tangled mess. All of those defining moments are valid points in how we quantify and emotionally tie ourselves to the word “money.” But the concept of stewardship is rarely discussed among families due to its immense complexity. 

The basic definition of stewardship is the responsible management, care, and protection of something entrusted to one's care, such as resources, property, or environment.

Taking it up a notch, stewardship is another level of financial management that is beyond traditional means of “spend less than you make” or “which investment vehicle is best.” 

Stewardship is complex. It entails many factors to be labeled as a good “steward.” Some that come to mind are: intentional decisions, measuring effectiveness, sustainability of spending, and many more. The art of being a good steward is a conscious effort to honor and fulfill one’s mission. 

Reflecting upon serving on the McCook Community Foundation Fund Advisory Committee (FAC), I cannot state enough the positivity each and every FAC member approaches our granting capacity with stewardship top of mind. We evaluate and grade each application on how well it aligns with our mission and vision. Among the voting members, scrutiny of each application is welcomed as we truly do believe iron sharpens iron. Those conversations that sharpen the iron builds confidence if an application garners a grant and if so, how much should be granted?
As mentioned before, part of being a good steward is reflection and ours takes place in two key areas. 

First, a thorough review of each approved grant, using the time to honor and appreciate our donor’s intent that they entrusted us. Oftentimes, this process reveals grants that match a specific interest area, allowing gifts to continue the donor’s ongoing legacy. 

But also in our time of reflection, it is an opportunity to evaluate how effective other grants have impacted our community. Through our review process, we learn from each and every grant of how we can push more granting dollars into true transformative grants that leave an everlasting impact on our community. 

As I conclude my final year as a board member, I do so with deep gratitude and confidence in the future of the McCook Community Foundation Fund. The intentional stewardship demonstrated by past and current members has laid a strong foundation—one rooted in abiding in our mission, accountability to donor’s intent, and community impact. Because of that commitment, MCFF is not only well-positioned for the future, but uniquely equipped to continue investing in transformative work that will make McCook a better place to call home for generations to come.

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Gavin Harsh has served not only on the MCFF Advisory Committee for the past several years, but he began his connection with MCFF as a member of the first Youth Change Reaction class in 2009.