Walmart Foundation provides $175,000 grant to Jones Center

Walmart for Good recently gave $175,000 to the Jones Center in Springdale. Over the past three years, the foundation has provided a total of $825,000 to support the Jones Center’s programs as part of the Raise NWA initiative.

The three-year initiative was designed by Bentonville-based goodmakerU to strengthen the fundraising capacity of small and mid-sized nonprofits in Northwest Arkansas. The final year of the initiative will focus on evaluating the program’s long-term impact, fostering peer learning, and equipping program alumni to build sustainable fundraising practices within their organizations.

In 2024, participating nonprofits raised more than $2 million, had 78 new or major donors, and achieved significant growth in individual giving, including a 1,103% increase in funds raised during NWA Gives from participating organizations.

“Raise NWA was built to transform how nonprofits think about fundraising,” said Jesse Lane, founder and CEO of Branches Mission Lab and goodmakerU. “It’s not just a task to check off, but a core leadership practice rooted in clarity, confidence and community. The growth we’ve seen from these leaders is remarkable, and this capstone year allows us to measure long-term impact, understand ongoing challenges, and create a model that can benefit communities beyond Northwest Arkansas.”

This year, there will be quarterly alumni gatherings, monthly peer learning circles, access to goodmakerU’s Goodmaker Pro community, and a comprehensive alumni impact assessment. An impact report will be released at a public event in late 2026.

“For 30 years, Jones Center has invested in the nonprofit sector,” said Emily Ironside, chief strategy officer at Jones Center. “Raise NWA is an extension of that commitment. This final year enables us to better understand how the program has shaped leaders, supported organizations, and contributed to a more sustainable nonprofit ecosystem.”

The Raise NWA initiative is part of the Jones Center’s Jones Community for Nonprofits impact pillar, supporting area nonprofits through networking opportunities, training, and discounted events and office space.