Kingdom Konnections, a Columbia-based nonprofit dedicated to helping families navigate the complexities of the foster care system, was awarded the Columbia Chamber of Commerce’s 2026 Nonprofit of the Year honor on Tuesday morning.
The organization received its recognition during the chamber’s quarterly membership breakfast, where it was celebrated alongside four other finalists, each addressing distinct and pressing community needs ranging from affordable housing to youth development.
“Nonprofits are, in fact, the backbone of our community,” said Matt Jenne, Columbia Chamber of Commerce chair. “So much of the heavy lifting done in our community has been done through our nonprofits.”
Established four years ago, Kingdom Konnections offers comprehensive support to biological parents and families working through the foster care process, with a particular emphasis on family reunification, preservation, and parenting education.
Founder and Executive Director Shanelle Moore addressed attendees at the Hilton Garden Inn, explaining that she launched the organization after identifying a critical gap in available services for biological parents , a reality she encountered both through her professional work in child welfare and her personal experience as a foster parent.
“The goal is always, when they go to court, reunification,” Moore said. “But where the gap is at, there were no support services for biological parents and their families to actually be successful.”
Since its founding, the nonprofit has experienced remarkable growth, expanding from serving 12 families in 2022 to more than 200 families and children in the most recent year , a milestone that followed the organization’s first major contract from the Boone County Children’s Services Fund.
Over the course of last year alone, the organization completed 461 home visits and delivered 1,071 hours of case management services. Moore noted that by July of the current year, the organization had already surpassed those figures.
Despite this considerable growth, Moore emphasized that sustaining the organization’s services remains an ongoing priority. Currently operating with a team of four staff members, the nonprofit continues to seek additional funding, personnel, and board members to support its expanding mission.
The remaining four finalists included the Boys & Girls Club, the James & Annelle Whitt Entrepreneurial Development Foundation, Show-Me Central Habitat for Humanity, and the Voluntary Action Center.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Columbia delivers free after-school programming, academic support, and mentorship opportunities to children throughout the community. CEO Martina Hoyt-Vail shared that the organization opened two new school-based locations at Alpha Hart Lewis and Derby Ridge elementary schools in August, enabling it to serve an additional 120 children.
Despite that expansion, more than 100 children remain on the organization’s waitlist.
“Kids don’t belong on a waitlist,” Hoyt-Vail said. “We want them inside our programs.”
Hoyt-Vail expressed the organization’s intention to open two additional school-based locations within the coming year, while acknowledging that securing sustainable funding remains a central challenge in achieving that goal.
Show-Me Central Habitat for Humanity works to support families in achieving homeownership through affordable housing construction and strategic community partnerships. Lacey Pratt, the organization’s fundraising and community outreach manager, indicated that it anticipates serving close to 40 families during the current year. Its Boone Prairie subdivision, situated off Brown Station Road, is projected to include 143 affordable homes upon completion.
The James and Annelle Whitt Entrepreneurial Development Foundation was established in memory of James Whitt to carry forward his dedication to supporting minority- and women-owned businesses through grants, mentorship, and professional training. President Annelle Whitt reported that the foundation has distributed more than $233,000 to 88 entrepreneurs over its five years of operation, contributing to the creation of 21 jobs within the community.
“Behind that story is the commitments that we’ve made to this community, and really, most importantly, continuing the legacy of my husband,” Whitt said. Community leader James Whitt passed away in 2021.
Annelle Whitt further noted that the foundation aims to broaden its educational initiatives through a partnership with Rising Tide, with plans to introduce a 12-week entrepreneurial training program in the fall of 2028.
The Voluntary Action Center provides immediate assistance with food and other essential resources to Boone County residents facing financial hardship and homelessness. In July, the organization opened its approximately $19 million VAC Opportunity Campus, consolidating emergency shelter, meals, and a range of supportive services through partnerships with more than 30 community organizations. Executive Director Ed Stansberry reported that the campus had served 249 individuals through its Waypoint Shelter, with 21 of those individuals securing stable housing within its first 100 days of operation.
The breakfast provided each organization with an opportunity to highlight their accomplishments and draw attention to the meaningful work they continue to perform across Columbia.
“Each finalist has made a meaningful difference over the past year, often in ways that go unseen but deeply felt,” said Jayme Prenger of the Missouri Women’s Business Center, who assisted in presenting the award.
