Best Cherokee County Grants for Nonprofits in Kansas

Apprenticeship to Educator (A2E) Grant

Educators at all levels play a critical role in preparing the next generation of Kansans for gainful employment and success in life. Kansas HB 2292 (2023) authorizes the Kansas Department of Commerce to develop grant programs that support eligible Teacher Educator Apprentices in their hands on training to fill critical and in-demand teaching jobs in our state. This piece of legislation allocates a total amount of 3 million dollars to be awarded to registered teaching apprentices in programs all over the state of Kansas.

What is the A2E Grant? 

• $2,750 in tuition reimbursement EACH registered teacher apprentice
• Employers have NO LIMIT on eligible apprentices
• DAY 1 ELIGIBILITY! Apprentices are eligible on day one of their registered apprenticeship
• Apprentices are eligible for this grant for up to four years

Eligible employers and applicant schools are encouraged to apply for this funding on behalf of their registered teaching apprentices. There is no cap on the number of apprentices who may apply. The use of grant funds must go toward an apprentice’s tuition, fees, and the cost of books and materials, up to a maximum of $2,750 per year for a duration of four years. Teacher Apprenticeship Grant funds will be reimbursed twice per year and require other documentation such as invoicing to show active scholarships, such as PELL or USDOL/MeadowLARK funding.

About KDOT

Our Values

Our Goals

Congestion Mitigation & Air Quality Improvement Program

The Congestion Mitigation & Air Quality Improvement Program offers funding for transportation projects that help meet Clean Air Act requirements. Eligible projects may include:

• Bike-sharing and shared scooter systems
• Purchasing diesel replacements or zero-emission vehicles
• Modernizing or rehabilitating locks and dams
• Building vehicle refueling infrastructure that reduces emissions

About Enterprise

Enterprise is a national nonprofit that exists to make a good home possible for the millions of families without one. We support community development organizations on the ground, aggregate and invest capital for impact, advance housing policy at every level of government, and build and manage communities ourselves. Since 1982, we have invested $92 billion and created 1.1M homes across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands – all to make home and community places of pride, power, and belonging.

Request For Proposals: General Support for Program Evaluation and Related Services

Purpose

Enterprise Community Partners, Inc. (Enterprise) has initiated a Request for Proposals (RFP) process to select one or more qualified consultants who can provide a range of evaluation-related supports to its in-house Impact and Evaluation department on an as-needed basis.

Enterprise seeks to select contractor(s) who can:

• Conduct quantitative data analysis, using primary and secondary data sources
• Conduct qualitative data collection and analysis
• Provide evaluation-related training and technical assistance
• Prepare reports, presentations, white papers, blog posts, landscape analyses, literature reviews, etc., for a wide range of audiences and purposes

RFP proposals may address all service areas or only one or two. Proposals may also address only a subset of capabilities within a particular service. We do not expect that all proposals will address all competencies and capabilities. Enterprise may select individual consultants, and/or small and large firms, to meet the variety of evaluation-related activities for which we may need support. Preference will be given to those consultants who have experience in the housing and community development fields. 

The Kansas Department of Commerce is committed to helping individuals, businesses and communities achieve prosperity in Kansas. One of the ways it accomplishes this mission is by providing financial assistance and partnership support to further identified goals. 

Kansas Main Street Program

Main Street is a self-help, technical assistance program that targets revitalization and preservation of downtown districts through the development of a comprehensive strategy.

The program has a long history of success throughout the United States and in Kansas. What started as a small pilot program in the late 1970s has now grown to include nearly 2,000 communities in more than 40 states. Throughout the country, communities have utilized the Main Street Approach to rally residents around a focused plan of action that transforms their community and enhances their quality of life.

From 1985 to 2012, more than $600 million in redevelopment took place in participating Kansas communities. This included the opening or expansion of 3,800 small businesses, creating more than 8,600 new jobs. With the return of the state program in 2020, 25 previously participating communities and new programs will once again have the resources and tools they need to breathe new life into their communities and historic commercial districts.

Designated Communities

To become a Designated Kansas Main Street community, registrants must participate in a competitive, annual application process. This process includes attending our Application Workshop and attaining recommendation by the Review Team based on their evaluation of a community’s capacity to achieve success. The completed application must demonstrate:

• Public and private support for the program, as well as the capability of the applicant to successfully implement the local Main Street program.
• Financial capability to employ a paid professional director, fund a local Main Street Program, and support downtown-related projects.
• A cohesive and distinct variety of business activity conducted in a proposed Main Street Program area.
• An interest in, and commitment to, historic preservation, specifically in the designated downtown district.

Once selected, Designated Communities receive:

• Comprehensive technical assistance in all areas of the Main Street Approach designed to further economic development downtown.
• Training in strategic planning, program capacity building, and organizational management for the Main Street organization.
• Individualized training for Main Street managers, boards, and other Main Street participants.
• Attendance to statewide, Main Street-specific, quarterly trainings and professional development opportunities for participant communities.
• Access to design services on an as-needed basis to help downtown property owners undertake effective rehabilitation, restoration, adaptive re-use, and infill projects, as well as the reimagining of public spaces within the district.
• Access to state and national grant funds (when available).
• Membership to the Main Street America network.
• At least one paid registration to participate in the annual Main Street America national conference.

Ann B. Zekauskas Family Foundation

Empowerment through Food Awareness, Access, and Education

We are a private, family-directed, not-for-profit philanthropic organization, established through the estate of Ann B. Zekauskas. We are dedicated to educating students, families, and communities, especially the underserved, on producing, preparing, and eating healthy foods, and to supporting organizations focused on hunger relief and careers in the culinary arts.

We perform our mission through collaborations with and support of approved non-profit organizations within these key areas of giving: nutrition education, food access, and culinary arts training.

Culinary Arts Careers - Advancing the Culinary Arts

When Ann B. Zekauskas was headed to college just after the end of World War II, there were not many professional options for women. Ann chose to study home economics. When she graduated, she took that otherwise traditional degree, moved to New York City, and created a new profession in the burgeoning field of food advertising, becoming the first notable freelance food stylist.

For 60 years, Ann worked with and around those in the advertising and food industries. She spent vacations helping her sister, Nell, and brother-in-law Frank, grow, harvest, and sell fruits and vegetables on their prosperous family farm on Long Island. Throughout her life, Ann saw how professional training in culinary arts could lead to success. She mentored young chefs, food stylists, bakers, and pastry artists to help them achieve their dreams of a career in food — whether on a studio set, in a restaurant, or at their own business.

Through direct giving to culinary training and workforce development programs, we support the next generation of restaurant managers, chefs, food stylists, mixologists, bakers, sommeliers, pastry artists, catering professionals, and more.

Request a Grant

The Ann B. Zekauskas Family Foundation is committed to supporting qualified 501(c)(3) organizations that align with our mission and values. We welcome grant requests from nonprofit organizations seeking to make a meaningful impact in their communities in the areas of nutritional education, food access, or the advancement of cuilnary arts careers.

Ann B. Zekauskas Family Foundation

Empowerment through Food Awareness, Access, and Education

We are a private, family-directed, not-for-profit philanthropic organization, established through the estate of Ann B. Zekauskas. We are dedicated to educating students, families, and communities, especially the underserved, on producing, preparing, and eating healthy foods, and to supporting organizations focused on hunger relief and careers in the culinary arts.

We perform our mission through collaborations with and support of approved non-profit organizations within these key areas of giving: nutrition education, food access, and culinary arts training.

Nutrition Education

Ann B. Zekauskas believed that individuals of all ages — especially school-aged children and their families — should be provided with an education to understand how food makes its way from seed to plate —from planting and growing, to harvesting and sourcing, to cooking and serving.

Nutrition education empowers people with the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to make healthy food choices, promoting overall mental well-being and physical wellness.

In carrying out Ann’s legacy, we work with schools, community groups, and other like-minded organizations across the country, supporting their programs that encourage a lifelong practice of healthy eating.

Request a Grant

The Ann B. Zekauskas Family Foundation is committed to supporting qualified 501(c)(3) organizations that align with our mission and values. We welcome grant requests from nonprofit organizations seeking to make a meaningful impact in their communities in the areas of nutritional education, food access, or the advancement of cuilnary arts careers.

National PTA® is the oldest and largest child advocacy association in America. For 125 years, PTA has worked with school communities and decision makers to solve the toughest problems in our nation’s history.

PTA is a network of millions of families, students, teachers, administrators, and business and community leaders devoted to the educational success of children and the promotion of family engagement in schools.

PTA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit association that prides itself on being a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for public education.

The Middle Ground Program Grant

National PTA, in collaboration with the New York Life Foundation, is offering grants of up to $3,500 to support middle school PTAs in creating The Middle Ground—a dedicated, supportive space for students experiencing grief and loss with opportunities for peer connection, creative expression, storytelling and support.

Who We Are - CAP Foundation

Mission

Our mission is to improve people’s health by:

• Developing tomorrow’s pathology leaders through awards for advanced training, research, and education.
• Mobilizing pathologists to expand health equity in medically underserved communities within the US and globally.

Vision

Our vision is that pathologists are equipped to bridge health disparities and enhance outcomes globally.

CAP Foundation History

For over 50 years, the CAP Foundation has granted millions of dollars to support pathology education, research, training, and travel grants, with the purpose to:

• Enhance the role of the pathologist in the provision of medical care.
• Advance pathology through the education of the medical community.
• Encourage the clinical application of research developments.

Our Core Values

• Advancement: We are committed to pushing the boundaries of pathology and patient care through scholarships, grants, and educational programs.
• Collaboration: Through effective partnerships, we significantly enhance our capacity to fulfill our mission.
• Excellence: We are dedicated to achieving the highest standards in pathology education, research, and community service.
• Service: Service reflects our core mission of improving health equity by providing access to healthcare and pathology expertise, particularly in underserved communities.

Presidential Pathology Scholarship

This scholarship allows the sitting CAP President to personally support educational creativity, expand awareness of pathology, and connect communities through the CAP Foundation’s mission to develop tomorrow’s pathology leaders. This scholarship is established in honor of each sitting CAP President, as a commitment to the CAP Foundation’s efforts to advance the specialty by supporting creative projects that encourage interest in or expand the reach of pathology. Up to two scholarships will be supported each year. Ranging from $500-$1,500 per awardee, to be used toward the selected project(s).

Each year the sitting CAP President will select a focus area to support based on at least one of the CAP Foundation’s Five (5) Pillars. CAP Foundation Five Pillars:

• Global: Expands global pathology access, capacity, training, and equity.
• Future Leaders: Builds pipeline through learning, leadership, mentorship, and awards.
• Ethics, Research, Innovation: Advances ethical practice, discovery, innovation, and diagnostic excellence.
• Advanced Training: Delivers specialized skills through grants, workshops, and roundtables.
• Community Engagement: Increases visibility and connection with patients, partners, and the public.

ASEEES Internship Grant Program

Funded by an external grant, ASEEES’s Internship Grant Program provides incoming, current, and recent (i.e. those who have graduated no more than two years prior to the competition deadline) MA, PhD, and professional school students with grants that make it possible for them to accept unpaid or underpaid internships in areas broadly related to Russia, including Russia’s relations with other regions/countries.

The grant offers $2,000 a month, to be paid directly to the grantee (intern) during their internship. In the case of underpaid internships, ASEEES will work with the host institutions and the grantees to make sure the grantee receives a combined stipend of $2,000 per month or has an extended duration for the internship.

LaFrancine Stallings Math & Science College Scholars

The LaFrancine Stallings Math & Science College Scholarship will provide renewable need-based scholarships of up to $6,375 to undergraduate juniors enrolled full-time pursuing a Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM) major at any four-year accredited HBCU in the 2026-2027 school year.

ASTS-iMDx Research Grant for Understanding the Health Economics of in-house vs send-out diagnostics

As new diagnostics become available to the transplant community, the development of in-house expertise and infrastructure vs send out testing becomes a critical decision. In-house diagnostic testing provides faster results, improving immediate patient care and reducing follow-up visits, while send-out testing (reference labs) is better for complex, rare, or high-volume specialized tests. This grant will support health econometric research projects comparing in-house vs outsourced testing and the potential impact on patient care. The output of this research would show a model of the costs and benefits of diagnostic testing in transplantation to educate transplant centers and labs on their choice of assays.

Amount:

• $100,000 fpr 12 months.

Funds Support:

No more than 25% of grant can go towards the individual applicant’s salary; no indirect costs, but salary support for post-docs and collaborators are permitted at the NIH cap. Funds for this grant are being supplied by Insight Molecular Diagnostics (iMDx).

The Bernie Smillie Memorial Scholarship was established in 2010, in memory of Freeland resident and business owner Bernie Smillie. Bernie passed away in 2000, due to complications from a lung transplant he had received in 1994. In 2005, family and friends of Bernie established the Bernie Smillie Memorial Golf Outing. Proceeds of this outing has helped to promote organ donor support and awareness and establish this scholarship fund.

Bernie Smillie Memorial Scholarship - Medical

Evaluation Criteria

• Leadership ability
• Financial need
• Academic performance
• Standardized test scores
• Special skills
• Awards and honors
• Community service
• Work experience
• Extracurricular school activities
• Overall involvement
• Career goals as demonstrated in essay
• Letter of recommendation.

Who We Are

Saginaw County is home. It is a beautiful community you’d be foolish to underestimate. We may have our challenges, but seeing its cities, villages and townships continue to grow and flourish gives us a sense of satisfaction and pride like none other.

Back in 1984, The Saginaw Community Foundation was founded to enhance the quality of life in our county by providing leadership, education, and support for philanthropy. Today, we still continue this mission of supporting the needs of our community through targeted grants, investments, and scholarships.

In addition to our grantmaking and scholarship programs, the Foundation also offers donor advised funds, which allow donors to recommend charitable grants to organizations of their choice. We also manage several endowed funds, which provide ongoing support for specific causes or organizations.

Saginaw Community Foundation is governed by a Board of Directors composed of community leaders and volunteers. A staff of professionals oversee our day-to-day operations and work with donors and community organizations to identify and address community needs.

CTE Scholarships

Dreaming of a career in welding? Maybe managing your own auto mechanics garage fuels your thoughts or you would love to become an electrician. Perhaps studying to become a chef in a culinary arts program suits your tastes.

No matter what your career path may be, there is little doubt that in recent years interest in Career and Technical Education (CTE) has grown. The increased need for workers skilled in the trades has resulted in larger numbers of students seeking out CTE programs.

Schools offering CTE encompass a wide variety of hands-on education, from HVAC to carpentry to cosmetology. In the past, financial assistance has been hard to come by for these areas of study, but that is no longer the case. Saginaw Community Foundation has several scholarship opportunities for those who have the desire to pursue CTE.

According to leading economists, not everyone needs a four-year degree. In fact, millions of good-paying jobs are opening up in the trades. And some pay better than what the average college graduate makes.

For aspiring welders, electricians, carpenters, and other valued skilled trade workers, there is great opportunity to take advantage of tailored CTE programs. The demand is massive as an estimated 3 million trade jobs in the United States remain vacant.

Our CTE scholarship awards range between $500 – $4,000 typically.

Can-Amera Games Scholarship

The Can-Amera Games started in 1972 as an international goodwill sporting competition between Saginaw Township and Galt, Ontario. The games were centered on friendly competition in a variety of sports for youth ages 9-18. As the years progressed, the games expanded to include other townships in Saginaw County, as well as those communities, including Galt, that joined together to become the city of Cambridge, Ontario. The Can-Amera Games were the efforts of an all-volunteer organization that worked year-round to ensure that the games would be successful in meeting the purpose of this friendly international competition. Can-Amera Games ended in 2006 at the completion of the 35th annual event.

All past board members, volunteers, and athletes would like to honor a deserving high school senior who best represents the spirit of competition, sportsmanship, friendship and community involvement with the Can-Amera Scholarship as a way to symbolize the spirit and memory of the Can-Amera Games.

Innovation in Religion and Spirituality Seed Grants Call for Proposals

The Religion and the Public Sphere program at the Social Science Research Council aims to foster research on the wider implications of new forms of religious and spiritual life. This program is offered with the support of the Luce Foundation, the John Templeton Foundation, and the Templeton World Charity Foundation.

Overview

In recent years, scholars have noted that religious and spiritual life is being substantively reshaped. “Innovation” is one way of framing these changes, but it remains a partial and contested analytic lens, and is popularly associated with the sudden emergence of a “new” element introduced into an otherwise static tradition. Scholarship on religion and spirituality, however, points to a more complex set of processes. The essays in an ongoing forum for The Immanent Frame have set out some initial parameters of these dynamics: rather than invention ex nihilio, what we often see is the strategic recombination of existing elements within a broader context of social, political, and cultural change.

Research Themes

This request invites proposals that examine the dynamics of religious and spiritual change that fall within the frame of “innovation.” Possible topics include, but are not limited to: 

• Explorations of innovations within transnational or diasporic religious and/or spiritual communities within the United States, particularly related to the circulation of ideas and culture from or to the Global South.   
• Gendered knowledge of innovation. 
• Studies of the process by which an innovation attains—or does not attain—legitimacy, relevance, or authority within a given community or institution. 
• The relationship between contemporary economic conditions—poverty, economic insecurity, and competitive pressures for time and money—and innovations in religion and spirituality. 
• Historical studies of innovations in religion and spirituality; the creation, reception, transformation, and longevity of an innovation over time.  
• Civic participation and the social mobilization of new or innovative religious identities, as well as the reinterpretation of religious or spiritual traditions or ideas in the service of particular political or ideological projects.

Program Terms 

The program offers research support over a period of up to 6 months. The grant funds will be up to $10,000 per award.