In The News 

Fortune Magazine named Hope Credit Union’s Free checking account among the best in the country.

Sherece West-Scantlebury announced Thursday (June 19) she will retire as president and CEO of the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation (WRF) in October. She has served in leadership at the helm of WRF for 18 years and has spent 33 years in philanthropy.

Andrea Dobson, Chief Operating and Financial Officer of the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, will retire in September 2025 after more than 25 years of visionary leadership. She transformed WRF’s financial strategy, aligning over 80% of its endowment with values of justice, sustainability, and equity, while helping redefine how capital can serve communities.

Arkansas, we need to plan for our kids was published in the Opinion section of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette on June 9, 2025.

You might know an Alice or two, or many. It's a popular name, but the reality is Alice isn't just one person, at least not in Arkansas. Nearly a million residents, approximately 31 percent of our state's population, can be called ALICE: Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed.

Nine ALICE individuals from across the state were recruited to share their perspectives, their lived experiences, shedding light on the combination of hard work, perseverance, creativity, and sheer determination that defines life on the edge of economic stability.

Forward Arkansas' LeARner Collective accelerates schoolwide transformation across Arkansas, now in Phase II—building educator capacity through peer collaboration and personalized support.

Sixteen rural municipalities are leading equity-centered planning to support ALICE households through local solutions for food, housing, and infrastructure. These community-driven strategies have already leveraged over $1.48 million in funding.

How can foundations ensure that their financial investments reflect their mission? In this powerful story of transformation, the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation (WRF) shares its ongoing journey toward values-aligned investing. Learn how WRF aligned 80% of its portfolio with racial, economic, and gender equity goals—without compromising returns.

Read the full article here: Putting Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 

Arkansas United helped organize a community-led rally in Springdale on March 31, 2025, amplifying ALICE immigrant voices in response to policy threats and public concern.

High school students across Arkansas are taking action through the ALICE Youth Leadership Coalition (AYLC), advocating for policies that support families struggling to make ends meet. AYLC members recently championed key legislative bills to provide financial relief and resources for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) families.

Access the full conversation here. 

Equity remains at the heart of WRF’s mission, despite political and social challenges. This opinion examines how the Foundation navigates anti-equity rhetoric while pushing forward initiatives that advance economic education, racial and social change across Arkansas.

A new cohort of businesses is now in Arkansas, supporting Arkansas workers. Rev. Shantell Hinton-Hill and Mollie Palmer tell us how they are hoping to create change.

Philanthropy has long been synonymous with charity, but at the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation (WRF), we know that real, lasting change demands more than writing checks. Our goal is not simply to ask, “How can we help?” Instead, we ask, “How can we change the system so that help is no longer needed?”

Access the full conversation here.