After 70 years, the estate of J.A. Schowalter, a farmer from the Newton, Kansas area, has generated nearly $27 million in charitable donations.
“Today we celebrate the far-reaching and extensive financial blessings that have multiplied over the last 70 years, said Diane Yoder, Schowalter Foundation president. “It’s inspiring to think about the huge impact stemming from one man’s desire to leave a legacy.”
J.A. Schowalter lived a generous and sacrificial life during the Dust Bowl and Depression years. During his lifetime, sharing his material blessings with organizations that aligned with his Anabaptist values was a priority for Schowalter. In those lean years, his passion for agriculture led him to rescue several family farms from bankruptcy, allowing farmers to continue to draw a livelihood through farming.
Schowalter wanted his farming operations and sizeable estate to remain viable beyond his lifetime. He also wanted the proceeds of those farming operations to provide ongoing charitable support to the Anabaptist organizations and local communities that he cherished throughout his lifetime.
To carry on Schowalter’s desired dreams and goals, the Schowalter Foundation was established in 1954. Today, 70 years later, his $1 million estate has generated nearly $27 million in charitable giving to various Anabaptist and local ministries and educational institutions that mattered most to him, providing support to more than 100 different organizations in the past ten years alone. This funding has supported multiple projects within these organizations for mission work, disaster recovery, Bible training, local ministries, and Anabaptist publications, colleges, and schools.
For the organizations supported by the Foundation, the impact of these grants has been far reaching. The Foundation has provided support for everything from a new, accessible website for the Anabaptist Disabilities Network to supporting African farmers and pastors.
“The Schowalter Foundation has been an indispensable ally in African Inter-Mennonite Mission’s efforts to empower African partners, said Bruce Yoder, co-executive coordinator of AIMM. “Funding for agricultural development, entrepreneurial training, and seed funds for pastors’ income generation initiatives have changed lives for our African communities of believers.”
This sentiment was echoed by other organizational leaders, including Karen Horsman, director of development for Mennonite Mission Network. “Because of the charitable support from the Schowalter Foundation, Mennonite Mission Network has been a stronger, more effective blessing to many around the world,” said Horsman.
As a supporting organization of Everence, the Schowalter Foundation, manages farmland and investments, distributing farm income to charitable causes that align with Mr. Schowalter’s priorities. Charitable distributions are distributed to Board-approved applications twice each year.