The Diastole Scholars’ Center

The formal name of our facility is The Mary Clark and E. Grey Dimond Scholars’ Center. Dr. and Mrs. Dimond began building Diastole in 1976 and lived here until Mrs. Dimond’s death in 1983. The Dimonds’ intent was to provide a serene yet stimulating off-site event facility that would enhance the endeavors of the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC).

Today, a much expanded Diastole is available for a wide variety of UMKC functions including retreats, recitals, lectures, continuing education, committee and staff meetings, journal clubs, reunions, study groups, luncheons, dinners and University social gatherings. Non-University groups are welcome on a limited basis for scholarly, educational, civic and community enhancing events. We’re sorry, but Diastole is not available for weddings, birthday parties, or any other personal social events.

Diastole, pronounced (dy-AS-tuh-lee), is a medical term for the interim between heartbeats, when the heart muscle relaxes. Systole is when the heart beats and delivers life’s blood downstream. The heart rests following each systole, and fills with the blood of the next pulse. This period, the heart at rest, is Diastole.

For more information or to host your next meeting at Diastole, visit their website.


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For the benefit of the nonprofit sector everywhere, we wanted to provide resources for ways we can continue to operate and grow within this era. And once social distancing begins to fade, what lessons can we take from this to improve our operations permanently. Come back often for more updates.

Accounting & Fiscal Management

  • Structure general ledger, chart of accounts, setup assistance
  • Monthly accounting support: accounts payable, accounts receivable, deposits and receipts, bank reconciliation
  • Payroll preparation
  • Preparation of management reports
  • Financial report preparation for board meetings
  • Grant tracking and reporting
  • Preparation of IRS Form 990
  • Preparation of annual 1099’s
  • Preparation of schedules for independent audit, assistance with audit completion
  • Cleanup of past accounting records
  • Budget preparation assistance, reporting and analysis
  • QuickBooks training

Governance & Strategy Development

  • Governance training
  • Executive mentoring and coaching
  • Board retreat facilitation
  • Strategic planning documents
  • Outcomes and impact measurement and reporting
  • Survey assistance

Database Management

  • Database design and development
  • Gift and demographic data entry
  • Donor acknowledgement letters
  • Import and export of data; mail merges; exports to mail house
  • Data and donor analysis
  • Integration with accounting systems, fund development and social media activities
  • Database training
  • Ongoing support and technical assistance

Fund Development

  • Create annual fund development plan
  • Fund development plan audits
  • Board Training
  • Capital campaigns
  • Grant management: research, writing and reporting
  • Major gifts and planned giving
  • Special event planning and support
  • Annual fund drives
  • Annual appeal mailings