Philanthropy: Doing good while staying connected

Each year, David Meeks Jr. gathers with 20 or more family members for coffee and doughnuts on the porch of a family cottage in Michigan for the annual meeting of the KAKATU Foundation. The “formal” meeting, part of a traditional family vacation, brings together generations of the Meeks family for fun and philanthropy.

“We have a lot of fun, but philanthropy has added another dimension to our family relationship,” said David about his family, who serve as the board for the family’s foundation. “It’s just one other thing to unite your family. It’s giving together.”

David Meeks, Jr. is one of four children of David and Joanna Meeks, who spent much of their lives in Muncie. David was born in the community and was introduced to Joanna through mutual friends. The two married in Hawaii before David served in the diplomatic corps.

Soon after their marriage, the couple returned to Muncie, where David took over Meeks Mortuary, a family business established in 1844 and operated by Meeks family members for several generations.

David Jr. recalls his parents’ active life and wonderful friends across Muncie. The family attended First Presbyterian Church and regularly gave their time and resources to community projects. David and Joanna instilled in their children an interest in helping others and their communities.

In memory of David and Joanna, the Meeks children and grandchildren established the KAKATU Foundation in 1999 to celebrate their lifelong interests and perpetuate a legacy of philanthropy. The name is a contraction of the Hawaiian names by which David and Joanna were known to their grandchildren – Kanaka for oldtimer (or grandfather) and Tutu for grandmother.

The Meeks family established the KAKATU Foundation to give back to the community their parents called home. But with no family members living in Muncie anymore, the family didn’t feel they could identify the needs and priorities.

To help with this, the family partnered with The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County to establish the KAKATU Foundation/David and Joanna Meeks Fund, a field of interest fund focused on the same areas of priority as their foundation – education, health, environment, arts, and social services.

Today, that fund is used to support Community Grants. Since its first grant was awarded in 2010, nearly 50 grants have been awarded, totaling more than $165,000. David recalls the fund has been used to award grants to Greater Muncie, IN Habitat for Humanity, the 8twelve Coalition, and Hillcroft, all of which are organizations he has been able to connect with while visiting Muncie.

The Meeks family finds joy in the impact of their philanthropy.

“We’ve noticed over the years that we’ve filled spots in the organizations that wouldn’t have been filled otherwise,” said David. “And cumulatively, over 24 years, we’ve made a huge difference for lots of organizations.”

While the grantmaking of the KAKATU Foundation covers communities across the country, the KAKATU Foundation/David and Joanna Meeks Fund at The Community Foundation ensures that the Meeks family legacy of giving will continue to make a difference for organizations serving Muncie and Delaware County.

“The Community Foundation is important in helping families develop a plan for philanthropy,” said David. “They provide a service to people trying to make a difference in the community.”

This story was featured in the September 2023 issue of The Community Foundation’s Legacy Newsletter. This edition of Legacy tells the story of a family who stays connected through their philanthropy, features grants in action from our community partners, and lists grants from the third quarter of 2023. Read the full newsletter for more stories from the Foundation!