Kansas Grant Resources

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Here’s a fun fact: At one time it was against the law to serve ice cream on cherry pie in Kansas. How did we find that out? Good ‘ol research. How do you find grants for your nonprofit organization in Kansas? Once again: Research! Getting started is the easy part. Check out our list of Kansas State Funding Sources below for the top giving foundations, organizations and corporations that provide grants within the state.

What happens next? Careful analysis of those possible funders. Each one is different, and many provide funding only in their local communities (hint: Check out the Community Foundations section below). Others will fund far and wide, but they have very specific requirements and interests. How do you figure all that stuff out? With our help and expertise!

We have top-notch trainers and coaches around the country providing fast-paced and inspiring workshops designed to guide you in developing those skills and in writing exceptional grant proposals. Our 5-day Grantsmanship Training Program is our industry-leading workshop. Check the listing below or click here on The Grantsmanship Center Training Programs to find our schedule.

Can’t attend a training in person? No problem! Just click here on “Read More” for additional online training resources along with three important steps to develop your new, game-winning strategy.

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KANSAS FUNDING SOURCES
KANSAS RESOURCES & TOOLS

Below are links to elected officials, funding sources and other useful agencies for grant-seeking groups in Kansas. Please let us know about others that you feel would be helpful so that we can continue to improve this listing. Thanks!

 

Government Offices:

Governor Laura Kelly - (877) 579-6757, Topeka

Senator Jerry Moran - (202) 224-652, Washington, DC

Senator Pat Roberts - (202) 224-4774, Washington, DC

Attorney General Derek Schmidt - (888) 428-8436, Topeka

The A.G. is an advocate and resource for the people of Kansas in many ways, including protecting consumers, combating fraud and corruption, investigating and prosecuting crime, and protecting the environment, workers, and civil rights. More than $2 million in grant funds are awarded each year from five different state programs. Click here on Victim-Services Grants for their list of current offerings.

If you’d like to contact your other elected officials, click here on Federal & State Officials.

Kansas State Department of Education - KSDE is committed to preparing all students for success after high school. It's work includes licensing educators, distributing state and federal education money, helping districts implement learning standards, overseeing statewide standardized tests, monitoring schools and districts, and convening districts and individuals to share best practices.

Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) - Kansas -  Distributes scholarships and manages volunteer activities within the AmeriCorps and Senior Corps programs. Interested in hosting a few of their participants? Click on the link above and give them a call.

 

Nonprofit Services:

Association of Fundraising Professionals - Greater Wichita Chapter - The Chapter is committed to supporting development professionals throughout Wichita and the surrounding area. Whether you are a seasoned development director, fundraising consultant, grant writer, volunteer fundraiser, foundation executive or a new development associate, the chapter is dedicated to supporting its members and providing quality educational and networking opportunities for you.

Association of Fundraising Professionals - Greater Kansas City Chapter (aka: Mid-America Chapter) - AFPKC serves fundraising professionals from across Kansas City and throughout Missouri and Kansas, offering members the opportunity to connect with colleagues and mentors, attend top-notch professional development conferences and other events, network with new friends and achieve great results in their work. Scholarships are available for conferences, programs, memberships and attaining your CFRE.

Association of Fundraising Professionals - Topeka Area Chapter - Being a member of the Topeka Area Chapter is an excellent way for advanced executives, mid-career professionals, and those new to the field to connect with colleagues, engage in creative thinking, network with new friends and achieve great results in your work. Members meet monthly for professional development programs including webinars, discussion panels and extended length skill building sessions. In addition to Topeka, membership includes fundraising professionals from Northeast and Central Kansas communities.

KC Volunteer Lawyers & Accountants for the Arts - KCVLAA is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization that provides legal and accounting assistance to qualifying artists and arts organizations from all creative disciplines. Our ArtSmarts program provides seminars in arts law to help artists avoid common pitfalls in their professional arts careers.

 

Kansas Community Foundations:

Have you checked out any of the local Community Foundations in Kansas? They are one of the most valuable -- and available -- funding sources throughout the state. Each one is entirely unique, but their general goal is to recruit donors and their contributions, then help distribute those dollars to local nonprofits, schools, artists, churches and other groups. Click here on Kansas Community Foundations to see a list of them and the geographic areas they serve, or simply click on the specific Foundation names below.

Want to learn more about Community Foundations before approaching your nearest one for funding, or to learn about their other offerings? Click here on What’s a Community Foundation? Remember, research and insight are key to developing a successful Letter of Intent (LOI) and proposal writing approach.

Buhler Community Foundation - Hutchinson Community Foundation inspires philanthropy, collaboration and innovative leadership to strengthen communities across Reno County.

Caring Community Foundation - Based in Onaga, CCF was initiated in 2015 to serve the general geographic area of Pottawatomie, Marshall, Nemaha and Jackson Counties. From its inception, the Foundation has been busy pursuing its action-oriented vision: Enhancing Vibrant Communities!

Central Kansas Community Foundation - The mission of CKCF is Building Stronger Communities Through Charitable Giving. Located in Newton, CKCF is a host foundation to many affiliates in the central Kansas region. Those affiliate community foundations include:

Augusta - Growing a philanthropic base that will enhance the lives of our citizens.

Douglass - Located in Butler County, Douglass Community Foundation was created in September 2013.

El Dorado - Continuing to provide scholarships, community funds and grants for worthy projects and the opportunity for those who wish to establish a legacy for their favorite scholarship or charitable cause possible.

Elk County - Serving the greater Elk County area’s educational and community needs by building scholarships and community endowment.

Florence - Enhancing the quality of educational, cultural, civic and economic life in Florence both today and in the future.

Fredonia Area - Dedicated to building endowment for the area of Fredonia by creating a Fredonia Area Community Impact Fund.

Goessel - Promoting community service and community projects that focus on the needs or enhancement of the community.

Halstead - Donors to this foundation will see their gifts matched in support of public health initiatives and operations for their foundation.

Hesston - Dedicated to helping everyone in Hesston Harvest the Good Life.

Hillsboro - Building our community by connecting donors who care with causes that matter.

North Newton - The North Newton Community Foundation supports efforts that enhance community well-being through expansion of educational opportunities, cultural enrichment and improvement of human health and the physical environment.

Peabody - Assisting in providing resources for a broad range of existing and future charitable needs in the Peabody area.

Remington Area - Enhancing the quality of life in Whitewater, Potwin, Furley, Elbing and other surrounding communities for the benefit of generations to come.

Valley Center - Providing an avenue to fund community projects and amenities through grants, giving donors a structure for tax-deductible endowments and targeted giving.

Women’s Community Foundation - A local charitable “giving circle” managed by Central Kansas Community Foundation, WCF was established to provide an avenue for women to engage in local philanthropy in the Newton and Harvey County area.

Coffeyville Area Community Foundation - CACF is the go-to resource for philanthropic and charitable solutions for the entire community and all who care about it; whether it is the doers - the nonprofits who seek funds to make the community better; or the donors - the philanthropically inclined people who invest their dollars to make that happen - and their advisors.

Community Foundation of Dickinson County, Inc. - Based in Abilene, CFDC seeks to support organizations capable of making a significant impact in its County and area communities. CFDC partners with local nonprofit organizations that contribute so much to the area’s quality of life by providing them financial and operational support.

Community Foundation of Ellis - CFE’s mission is to enhance the quality of life in Ellis and the surrounding area. With local donations and planned giving from people that are a part of this great community, CFE seeks matching funds from regional and national foundations that are set up to help communities grow and improve.

Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas - Based in Pittsburg, CFSK and its donors grant thousands of dollars to organizations in the southeast Kansas region for projects in arts and culture, human needs, children and youth activities, youth volunteerism, at-risk youth, and women's health through competitive grant application processes annually.

Community Foundation of Southwest Kansas - Based in Dodge City, The Foundation receives and manages capital of all amounts from individuals, families, businesses and foundations. The income from this capital is applied to uses that serve the best interests of the community through grants to non-profit organizations, schools and government entities. One particular area of focus is specifically on children’s issues.

Council Grove Area Foundation - CGAF’s mission is to serve donors, nonprofit organizations and the local community as a whole. Based in Council Grove, CGAF also serves the communities of Alta Vista, Americus, Burdick, Bushong, Council Grove, Dunlap, Dwight, Herington, Latimer, Wilsey and White City.

Derby Community Foundation - “In order to better our lives, we must better where we spend our lives.”  This is why the Derby Community Foundation was established: To enrich the quality of life in the Derby area by being a catalyst for connecting people and resources with community needs and initiatives.

Doniphan County Community Foundation - Based in Troy

Douglas County Community Foundation - Based in Lawrence, DCCF partners with local people and organizations to build funds that serve the public good. Some funds are endowed to provide for future generations. Grants go to arts, cultural, educational, environmental, health, housing, human services and youth organizations in Douglas County and beyond.

Emporia Community Foundation - ECF connects the diverse citizens and communities of Lyon and its contiguous counties of Chase, Greenwood, Morris, Osage, Coffey and Wabaunsee. They provide charitable contributions through a variety of funds established for the purpose of bettering the lives of individuals within its communities.

Golden Belt Community Foundation - Provides non-profit organizations in the central Kansas counties of Barton, Pawnee, Rush and Stafford with a permanent source of support and to serve as a vehicle for charitable giving for donors. The Foundation believes the strength of its communities is exemplified in neighbors giving to neighbors to enhance their quality of life, and to support the causes community residents care about, from supporting the health and well-being of its youth to cultivating leadership within the counties its serves.

Greater Manhattan Community Foundation - In August of 1999, a small group of philanthropists in Manhattan decided it was time to do something to facilitate the efforts of people who wanted to make charitable contributions to the community, yet avoid the trouble and expense of establishing private funds or foundations. The result was the establishment of the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation. Based in Manhattan, GMCF is also the host foundation to 9 affiliates in the northeast corner of the state. Those affiliate community foundations include:

Blue Rapids Community Foundation

Clay Center Community Improvement Foundation

Doniphan County Community Foundation

Dover Community Foundation

Frankfort Community Foundation

Greater Geary Community Foundation

Marysville Community Foundation

Greater Sabetha Community Foundation 

Wamego Community Foundation

Greater Northwest Kansas Community Foundation - GNWKCF represents a 12-county area of Northwest Kansas and is comprised of eight Affiliate Foundations:

Bird City Century II Development Foundation

Cheyenne County Kansas Community Foundation

Gove County Community Foundation

GROW Decatur County Foundation

Logan County Community Foundation

Norton County Community Foundation

Sheridan County Community Foundation

Sherman County Community Foundation 

In 2018, Wallace County Foundation joined as an Agency Foundation, and Graham County Community Foundation, Phillips County Community Foundation and Thomas County Community Foundation became Agency Partners with select funds managed by GNWKCF.

Greater Salina Community Foundation - Based in Salina, GSCF has become the “hub” of a region of smaller communities, each with its own Affiliate Community Foundation.

The first affiliate was established in 2000, and is now one of 14 regional affiliate foundations serving north central Kansas. As a result of its inclusive efforts, GSCF is now the largest community foundation in the state with more than 600 funds serving the needs of hundreds of nonprofits, initiatives and funds throughout greater Salina and north central Kansas. Affiliates include:

Catholic Community Foundation of the Diocese of Salina

Community Foundation for Cloud County

Heartland Community Foundation (Ellis, Trego & Rooks counties)

Jewell County Community Foundation

Osborne County Community Foundation

Ottawa County Community Foundation

Post Rock Community Foundation (Lincoln County and areas served by USD 298 & USD 299)

Republic County Community Foundation

Russell County Area Community Foundation

Smith County Community Foundation

Smoky Hills Charitable Foundation

Smoky Valley Community Foundation (Lindsborg area)

Solomon Valley Community Foundation (Mitchell County)

Washington County Community Foundation

Hutchinson Community Foundation - HCP inspires philanthropy, collaboration and innovative leadership to strengthen communities across Reno County.

Kansas Rural Communities Foundation - KRCF exists to help concerned individuals mobilize charitable giving to support the betterment of Kansas communities and organizations. To this end, the Foundation assists many communities in rural Kansas to provide or continue essential services, such as health care, telecommunications, education, environmental protection, libraries, community centers, parks/recreation, and scholarships. Donated dollars have established scholarships, built new community playgrounds, assisted families who have children with disabilities, and aided historical preservation, just to name a few. Some of the communities that have benefited from the services provided by the KRCF include Havensville, Manhattan, Norton, Olsburg, Onaga, St. George, St. Marys, Wamego, Westmoreland, and Wheaton.

Legacy Regional Community Foundation -  When complex issues arise, the Foundation works with caring community members to find adaptive solutions and create positive change.  Its work is focused on cultivating a stronger, healthier and more prosperous Cowley County area by fostering informed leadership through Leadership Cowley County, strengthening its non-profit organizations and encouraging volunteerism. LRCF also provides services to its affiliate, the Belle Plaine Community Foundation located in Winfield.

McPherson County Community Foundation - Through long-term investment of capital given by individuals, organizations, and corporations, MCCF makes grants to enhance the quality of life in the community. Grants may benefit youth, education, arts and culture, human services, health care, or other charitable purposes as designated by donors.

Parsons Area Community Foundation - PACF’s mission is to improve the quality of life within Parsons and communities within a 25 mile radius by investing in its communities through grants, leadership, and special projects.

Scott Community Foundation - While initially established to support health care services, the Foundation expanded its philanthropic interests over the years to include education, recreation, history, the arts and other special projects.

South Central Community Foundation - The mission of SCCF is to assist donors; manage charitable dollars; give grants; provide estate planning services; work with youth on leadership and philanthropy; and collaborate on community solutions to create an organization that is “Assuring a Bright Future for South Central Kansas.” Participating counties include Barber, Comanche, Kingman, Kiowa, Pratt, Rice and Stafford.

Thomas County Community Foundation - TCCF pools the resources of many donors and focuses grant making efforts in Thomas County.

Topeka Community Foundation - Connecting donors with their interests and community needs, increasing charitable giving in our community, providing leadership on key community issues and ensuring stewardship and accountability for effective community investment of donor dollars.

Western Kansas Community Foundation - WKCF has expanded to cover 15 counties in southwest Kansas and now includes assets of over $32 million and more than 200 funds. In addition to grants made from these donor funds, the Foundation's pool of unrestricted funds provides grants to support local nonprofits and charitable organizations on a quarterly basis. The grants plant seeds for new growth and initiatives, nurture and develop projects already in place, or sustain things we love and value in Western Kansas.

Wichita Community Foundation - WCF’s mission is to create lasting legacies by partnering with people, families and organizations to devote resources to causes that matter. WCF donors may identify specific causes that they care about deeply and support financially. On average, its donors create funds that provide $3.2 million to both local and nation-wide nonprofit organizations. Competitive grant opportunities are available through some of these funds.

 

United Ways of Kansas

All United Way organizations around the country are dedicated to supporting projects within the four main areas of Health, Education, Financial Stability and Disaster Recovery of Individuals. While they share this common focus, each UW chapter also provides funding and support for programs customized to the needs of its home area. To find out more about a specific UW and its resources and nonprofit funding opportunities, please click on the links below or call the phone number listed:

Atchison Area United Way - (913) 367-6510

Cowley County United Way - Winfield, (620) 221-7224

Finney County United Way  - Garden City, (620) 275-1425

Harvey County United Way - Newton, (316) 283-7101

Kansas State Professionals Association - Emporia, (620) 342-7564

Konza United Way - Based in Manhattan, and serving Clay, Marshall, Pattawatomie, Riley, Wabunsee and Washington counties.  (785) 776-3779

Rice County United Way - Lyons, (620) 257-2314

Salina United Way - Based in Salina, and serving Cloud, Ellsworth, Jewell, Lincoln, Mitchell, Osborne, Ottawa, Republic and Russell counties. (785) 827-1312

Seward County United Way - Liberal, (620) 624-5400

United Way of Bourbon County - Fort Scott, (620) 223-9317

United Way of Central Kansas - Great Bend, (620) 792-2403

United Way of Dickinson County - Abilene, (785) 200-6260

United Way of Dodge City - Dodge City, (620) 227-8793

United Way of Douglas County - Lawrence, (785) 843-6626

United Way of El Dorado - El Dorado, (316) 321-6200

United Way of Ellis County - Hays, (785) 628-8281

United Way of Franklin County Assn - Ottawa, (785) 418-2015

United Way of Greater Topeka - Topeka, (785) 273-4804

United Way of Junction City-Geary County - Junction City, (785) 238-2117

United Way of Leavenworth County - Leavenworth, (913) 682-2592

United Way of McPherson County - McPherson, (620) 241-5152

United Way of Paola - Paola, (913) 294-8090

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