Today we’d like to introduce you to Geoffrey Kump.
Hi Geoffrey, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Helping the Heartland began in early November 2024 from three brother Andrew, Charles, and Geoffrey Kump. It came from a simple realization that there are many people in our community doing good work who see real needs every day but do not have the structure, funding, or nonprofit status required to truly scale their impact. We also realized that the people closest to these challenges often understand the needs of the community best, and we simply wanted to help them be more successful. We wanted to create something flexible, a nonprofit focused on general community development that would not be limited to just one issue or population.
The vision was to support a wide range of needs, from helping the unhoused to providing supplies for newborns to supporting families facing financial hardship. A big part of our mission is partnering with existing grassroots efforts like neighborhood food pantries, diaper drives, and families sponsoring others for the holidays, and giving them the support system they are missing, whether that is funding, administrative structure, or access to grants and corporate donations.
In short, Helping the Heartland was created to support and strengthen the people already doing the work in our community. We connect local, grassroots efforts with the funding, structure, and partnerships they need to grow and continue serving others. Our purpose is to make sure good ideas and good intentions do not stall due to a lack of resources.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a completely smooth road, and that has been one of the biggest learning experiences for us. Getting started is tough when you do not yet have established relationships with large donors, and while grassroots donations are incredibly important, they can be difficult to build in the current financial climate.
We have also seen some hesitation from other organizations. Nonprofits understand how limited the donation pool is, and in some cases there is concern that collaboration could impact their own grants or funding initiatives. That has been eye-opening for us.
One of the biggest challenges has been realizing how little many organizations in the community actually work together. Rather than a unified effort, there can be a sense of competition over resources. That has only reinforced why Helping the Heartland matters. Our goal is to break down those barriers and show that collaboration and shared support can lead to a stronger, more effective impact for everyone involved.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Helping the Heartland for now is our passion project with the goal to make a real impact. Currently Andrew, Charles, and Geoffrey do all work in various areas that bring a vast amount of experience.
Andrew brings legal and financial expertise from his work as in-house counsel for Shamrock focused on contracting, financial transactions, and securities, and he also serves as the Wyandotte County Commissioner At-Large Elect. Geoffrey contributes his experience as a healthcare regulatory counsel for SelectQuote, along with his leadership as KCKCC Board of Trustees Elect and Chairman of the Bishop Ward High School Board. Charles provides entrepreneurial and operational expertise, having previously run his own audio engineering business, and now serves as CFO for Helping the Heartland he was also the treasurer for Andrew’s campaign.
Collectively, we are most proud of our involvement in Turkey Tuesday, which was our first initiative. We helped distribute hundreds of turkeys to families in need for Thanksgiving, and seeing the immediate impact on people’s lives showed us the difference that coordination, dedication, and collaboration can make. That event highlighted why Helping the Heartland exists: to fill gaps in community support and empower those who are already doing good work locally.
What sets us apart is that we combine professional experience, leadership, and hands-on action. We are able to provide guidance, structure, and oversight while remaining deeply connected to the people we serve. We focus on results and sustainability, ensuring that good ideas and good intentions can grow into lasting impact.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
For those who are just starting out, our biggest piece of advice is to focus on collaboration and persistence. When we began Helping the Heartland, we quickly realized that even the best ideas need relationships, resources, and follow-through to succeed. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, build partnerships, and rely on others who share your vision. Also, when pursuing your passion, sometimes it’s hard to know when to take a step back and let other take the lead, don’t be too afraid to let others succeed if it means your mission is successful.
Pricing:
- Donations are always welcome.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.helpingtheheartland.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/17qNS7mUhN/
