Making community possible

At U.S. Bank, we are dedicated to supporting our communities through responsive and humbled actions focused on addressing racial and economic inequities and creating lasting change in our communities. Through our Community Possible Grant Program, we are partnering with organizations that focus on economic and workforce advancement, safe and affordable housing and communities connected through arts and culture.

The U.S. Bank Foundation is committed to making Community Possible through Work, Home and Play. We advance this work through collaborative grant making to bring equitable and lasting change through our focus on sustainable, high-impact funding with 501c3 nonprofit partners.

Home

Children and families are better positioned to thrive and succeed in a home that is safe and permanent. Access to sustainable low-income housing is increasingly challenging for low- to moderate-income families. In response, our giving supports efforts that connect individuals and families with sustainable housing opportunities.

Access to safe, affordable energy-efficient housing

We provide financial support to assist people in developing stability in their lives through access to safe, sustainable and accessible homes. Examples of grant support include:

• Organizations that preserve, rehabilitate, renovate or construct affordable housing developments for low- and moderate-income families, individuals, seniors, veterans, and special-needs populations
• Organizations that provide transitional housing as a direct stepping stone to permanent housing
• Organizations that focus on veterans housing and homeownership
• Construction of green homes for low- and moderate-income communities
• Clean energy retrofit programs for low- and moderate-income housing developments
• Organizations that provide access to renewable energy
• Improving waste management systems to include recycling and composting programs

Homeownership education

Owning and maintaining a home requires significant financial knowledge, tools and resources. We support programs that assist low- and moderate-income homebuyers and existing homeowners. Examples of grant support include:

• Homebuyer education
• Pre- and post-purchase counseling and coaching
• Homeownership-retention programs designed to provide foreclosure counseling

Work

We know that a strong small business environment and an educated workforce ensure the prosperity of our communities and reduce the expanding wealth gap for communities of color. We provide grant support to programs and organizations that help small businesses thrive, allow people to succeed in the workforce, provide pathways to higher education and gain greater financial literacy.

Investing in the workforce

We fund organizations that provide training for small business development, as well as programs that support individuals across all skill and experience levels, to ensure they have the capability to gain employment that supports individuals and their families. Examples of grant support include:

• Small business technical assistance programs
• Job skills, career readiness training programs with comprehensive placement services for low- and moderate-income individuals entering or reentering the labor force

Providing pathways for educational success

• To address the growing requirements for post-secondary education in securing competitive jobs in the workplace, we support:
• Organizations and programs that help low- and moderate-income and at-risk middle and high school students prepare for post-secondary education at a community college, university, trade or technical school and career readiness
• Programs and initiatives at post-secondary institutions that support access to career and educational opportunities for low- and moderate-income and diverse students

Teaching financial well-being for work and life

Financial well-being is not only critical for financial stability, it’s crucial in helping individuals be successful in the workplace. Examples of grant support include programs that positively impact:

• K-12 and college student financial literacy
• Adult and workforce financial literacy
• Senior financial fraud prevention
• Military service member and veteran financial literacy

Supporting the green economy through workforce development

The green economy is fast becoming an area of opportunity for workforce development programs. Funding support includes:

• Reskilling or retraining for jobs in renewable or clean energy
• Building and maintaining infrastructure to support renewable energy, including EV charging stations and bike/transportation programs

Play

Play brings joy, and it’s just as necessary for adults as it is for kids. But in low-income areas there are often limited spaces for play and fewer people attending arts and cultural events. That’s why we invest in community programming that supports ways for children and adults to play and create.

Access to artistic and cultural programming and arts education

Our investments ensure economic vitality and accessibility to the arts in local communities, as well as support for arts education. Examples of grant support include:

• Programs that provide access to cultural activities, visual and performing arts, zoos and aquariums and botanic gardens for individuals and families living in underserved communities
• Funding for local arts organizations that enhance the economic vitality of the community
• Programs that provide funding for arts-focused nonprofit organizations that bring visual and performing arts programming to low- and moderate-income K-12 schools and youth centers

Supporting learning through play

Many young people across the country do not have the resources or access to enjoy the benefits of active play. Supporting active play-based programs and projects for K-12 students located in or serving low- and moderate-income communities fosters innovation, creativity, and collaboration and impacts the overall vitality of the communities we serve. Funding support includes:

• Support for organizations that build or expand access to active play spaces and places that help K-12 students learn through play and improves the health, safety and unification of neighborhoods in low- and moderate-income communities
• Programs that focus on using active play to help young people develop cognitive, social and emotional learning skills to become vibrant and productive citizens in low- and moderate-income communities

Outdoor places to play

Environmental stewardship enhances and improves the livability of our communities. Supporting efforts to preserve, protect and enhance outdoor spaces is now part of our Play pillar of giving. Funding support includes:

• Cleanup efforts in community spaces, including (but not limited to) beaches, rivers, and streams
• Protecting green spaces within the community, including planting trees, mangroves and seagrass
• Programs that support community, native and/or pollinator gardens, including community composting

NOTE: Applications can be submitted at any time, but must be at least 6 weeks before the first event.

Humanities Kansas is leading a movement of ideas. We believe that stories carry our culture and ideas change the world. Humanities for All grants support projects that draw on history, literature, and culture to engage the public with stories that spark conversation.

Goals of the Action grants:

• Share stories that explore the human experience
• Engage the general public in discussions centered on a humanities theme, in-person or through other formats
• Generate insights that cultivate a thriving democracy

What types of projects do we support?

Humanities programs can take many forms. Formats include but are not limited to new interpretive exhibits, community conversations, panel discussions, presentations, book discussions, short documentary films, or podcasts.

Projects can be planned for in-person events, virtual platforms (like social media or Zoom), or some other creative format. Engagement of the general public, which primarily refers to an adult, out-of school audience, is key. Any application for an in-person event must also include a brief description of an alternate format if in-person events cannot occur.

To be competitive for funding, the project should aim to do the following:

• Draw on our diverse history, literature, and cultures to explore a defined topic, keeping the humanities central to the project
• Engage the general public, which primarily refers to an adult, out-of-school audience.
• Provide opportunities for engagement with in-person events and discussions, or with participatory online platforms or other formats
• Involve multiple ways to engage beyond one public event. (For example, a request for a keynote speaker is usually not considered a competitive proposal unless there are additional engagement opportunities such as an exhibit, book discussions, film screening, etc.).

HK is interested in innovative, creative program formats, diverse perspectives, and new methods for reaching an audience. HK grants are intended to get a project “off the ground.” HK cannot be expected to fund a similar project, or a signature event, year after year.

Award Amounts

Grants are competitive with a maximum award amount of $3,500.

Additional funds can be requested to assist with increasing access to the project, including support for a sign language interpreter, Spanish language interpreter, audio tours for digital and in-person exhibits, rental of handicap accessible ramps, etc.

In addition to grant funds, applicants are asked to contribute goods and services equal to or greater in value than the amount requested. This is called cost share and can include:

• Staff and volunteer time devoted to the project
• Donated use of office space, venue facility, equipment, and supplies
• Social media, public service announcements, and other free publicity
• Refreshments at events

Cash match is not required. HK only accepts costs accrued after the official start date of the grant period.

NOTE: The U.S. Bank Foundation utilizes an electronic Letter of Interest to identify organizations with unique and innovative programs that fit within our pillars of Work, Home and Play. U.S. Bank Foundation accepts applications by invitation only.

U.S. Bank Foundation

The U.S. Bank Foundation is committed to making Community Possible through Work, Home and Play. We advance this work through collaborative grant making to bring equitable and lasting change through our focus on sustainable, high-impact funding with 501c3 nonprofit partners. Established partners are annually invited to apply for a grant via an invitation from a Community Affairs Manager. New and emerging organizations bring balance to our grant making through our Letter of Interest (LOI) application, and we ensure funding is set aside each year to explore new opportunities.

Our Community Affairs and Foundation Team works closely with U.S. Bank regional leadership, Business Resource Groups and our National Community Advisory Committee to ensure that the prevailing needs of our communities are met in all communities we serve. Nonprofit organizations new to U.S. Bank Foundation are encouraged to submit a LOI at any time during the year.

Mission & Commitment to Our Communities

We believe all people deserve the opportunity to dream, believe and achieve.

The building blocks of vibrant communities – a stable job, a home to call your own and a community connected through culture, recreation and play – continue to be atthe heart of possibility for all of us. Through U.S. Bank’s Community Possible Platform, we are dedicated to supporting our communities through responsive and humbled actions focused on addressing racial and economic inequities and creating positive and transformative change in our communities.

Community Possible is designed to embrace thediversity in our communities. We consider grant requests without regard to race, ethnicity, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, sexualorientation, gender identity and/or expression, disability, marital status, genetic information, veteran status or other factors that are protected by law.While the U.S. Bank Foundation generously funds many nonprofit organizations in our communities, it's impossible to fund every request. To make the most meaningful impact in ourlocal communities, we focus our grant giving to fund economic development tied to Work, Home and Play.

Community Possible Grant Program

We support organizations and programs that advance the following funding priorities, focusing on organizations that have an intentional approach to addressing immediate needs and systemic economic and racial barriers to success. As part of our commitment to a sustainable future, environmental stewardship is a consideration in each of our three focus areas:

Grant Categories

• Play: Arts, culture and places to play.
  • Access to artistic and cultural programming and arts education:
    • Our investments ensure economic vitality and accessibility to the arts in local communities, as well as support for arts education. Examples of grant support include:
      • Programs that provide access to cultural activities, visual and performing arts, zoos and aquariums and botanic gardens for individuals and families living in underserved communities
      • Funding for local arts organizations that enhance the economic vitality of the community
      • Programs that provide funding for arts-focused nonprofit organizations that bring visual and performing arts programming to low- and moderate-income K-12 schools and youth centers
  • Supporting learning through play:
    • Many young people across the country do not have the resources or access to enjoy the benefits of active play. Supporting active play-based programs and projects for K-12 students located in or serving low- and moderate-income communities fosters innovation, creativity, and collaboration and impacts the overall vitality of the communities we serve. Funding support includes:
      •  Support for organizations that build or expand access to active play spaces and places that help K-12 students learn through play and improves the health, safety and unification of neighborhoods in low- and moderate-income communities
      • Programs that focus on using active play to help young people develop cognitive, social and emotional learning skills to become vibrant and productive citizens in low- and moderate-income communities
  • Outdoor places to play:
    • Environmental stewardship enhances and improves the livability of our communities. Supporting efforts to preserve, protect and enhance outdoor spaces is now part of our Play pillar of giving. Funding support includes:
      • Cleanup efforts in community spaces, including (but not limited to) beaches, rivers, and streams
      • Protecting green spaces within the community, including planting trees, mangroves and seagrass
      • Programs that support community, native and/or pollinator gardens, including community composting
• Work: Workforce education and economic prosperity.
  • Investing in the workforce:
    • We fund organizations that provide training for small business development, as well as programs that support individuals across all skill and experience levels, to ensure they have the capability to gain employment that supports individuals and their families. Examples of grant support include:
      • Small business technical assistance programs
      • Job skills, career readiness training programs with comprehensive placement services for low- and moderate-income individuals entering or reentering the labor force
  • Providing pathways for educational success:
    • To address the growing requirements for post-secondary education in securing competitive jobs in the workplace, we support:
      • Organizations and programs that help low- and moderate-income and at-risk middle and high school students prepare for post-secondary education at a community college, university, trade or technical school and career readiness
      • Programs and initiatives at post-secondary institutions that support access to career and educational opportunities for low- and moderate-income and diverse students
  • Teaching financial well-being for work and life:
    • Financial well-being is not only critical for financial stability, it’s crucial in helping individuals be successful in the workplace. Examples of grant support include programs that positively impact:
      • K-12 and college student financial literacy
      • Adult and workforce financial literacy
      • Senior financial fraud prevention
      • Military service member and veteran financial literacy
• Home: Neighborhood stability and revitalization.
  • Access to safe, affordable energy-efficient housing:
    • We provide financial support to assist people in developing stability in their lives through access to safe, sustainable and accessible homes. Examples of grant support include:
      • Organizations that preserve, rehabilitate, renovate or construct affordable housing developments for low- and moderate-income families, individuals, seniors, veterans, and special-needs populations
      • Organizations that provide transitional housing as a direct stepping stone to permanent housing
      • Organizations that focus on veterans housing and homeownership
      • Construction of green homes for low- and moderate-income communities
      • Clean energy retrofit programs for low- and moderate-income housing developments
      • Organizations that provide access to renewable energy
      • Improving waste management systems to include recycling and composting programs
  • Homeownership education:
    • Owning and maintaining a home requires significant financial knowledge, tools and resources. We support programs that assist low- and moderate-income homebuyers and existing homeowners. Examples of grant support include:
      • Homebuyer education
      • Pre- and post-purchase counseling and coaching
      • Homeownership-retention programs designed to provide foreclosure counseling

Types of Funding Requests

• Operating grants: An operating grant is given to cover an organization’s day-to-day, ongoing expenses, such as salaries, utilities, office supplies and more. We consider operating support requests from organizations where the entire mission of the organization fits a Community Possible grant focus area.
• Program or project grants: A program or project grant is given to support a specific, connected set of activities, with a beginning and an end, explicit objectives and a predetermined cost. We consider highly effective and innovative programs that meet our Community Possible grant focus areas.
• Capital grants: A capital grant is given to finance fixed assets. The U.S. Bank Foundation considers a small number of requests for capital support from organizations that meet all other funding criteria, whose entire mission statement fits a Community Possible grant focus area, and with which the Foundation has a funding history. All organizations requesting capital funding must also have a U.S. Bank employee on the board of directors. U.S. Bank does not fund more than 1% of the non-endowment total capital campaign fundraising goal. All capital grant requests are reviewed and approved by the national U.S. Bank Foundation Board or by the U.S. Bank Foundation President.

Factors of Consideration

Because the Foundation receives funding requests in excess to the annual grant program budget, we must decline support to worthy organizations and programs. We may decline support to organizations we have previously supported to expand community engagements. Support should not be expected to continue in perpetuity and declination does not reflect a negative appraisal of the organization or the value of its programs and service.

The following factors are among those the foundation will consider:

• Innovation and/or differentiation in our focus areas of Work, Home and Play
• Programming and services that advance positive community engagement efforts
• Demonstrated outcomes and impact
• Service delivery to low-and moderate-income, women and people of color
• Diversity in the management and governing board of the organization
• The financial health of the organization

The Thomas County Community Foundation is a public, nonprofit organization with 501 (c) (3) status that pools the resources of many donors and focuses grant making efforts in Thomas County, Kansas. Board of directors and staff of the foundation seek to build permanently endowed funds, using the interest generated for charitable, community betterment. The Thomas County Community Foundation accepts and administers a diversity of gift and fundy types to meet the varied philanthropic objectives of donors. With a dual role of being a catalyst for community betterment, TCCF also serves donors in carrying out their philanthropic intentions, within applicable laws and regulations.

Parade of Hearts is a public art experience that celebrates our diversity, unites communities and supports nonprofits by placing beautifully designed hearts by local artists throughout the Kansas City region. Parade of Hearts stands on five pillars: Arts & Culture, Health & Wellness, Education, Minority Owned Business and Hospitality & Tourism. Arts & Culture are represented by the local & regional artist community. Health & Wellness are represented by the University of Kansas Health System and Children's Miracle Network Hospitals.

In 2023, a Limited Edition Parade of Hearts will display approximately 40 beautifully decorated hearts in high traffic visitor areas throughout the City. In 2022, public charities throughout the KC region will have a chance to submit an application for consideration to become the third beneficiary for Parade of Hearts. A selection committee will review applications and choose the third beneficiary that will be announced in early 2023. Selected beneficiary will receive a portion of funds raised for 2023-2024 Parade of Hearts.

The Artistic Innovations Grant Program encourages the spirit of experimentation and exploration, exclusively engaging in-region artists and organizations in the creation of new, original works for audiences in the M-AAA region.

This grant program offers up to $15,000 in support of expenses incurred in the art-making process and premiere of these endeavors. Through generous support from the National Endowment for the Arts, M-AAA supports individual artists and arts-based nonprofit 501c3 organizations in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas for projects that meet the eligibility requirements listed below.

A great Artistic Innovations project is one that has in-person experiences of art, art making, or artists at the heart of the initiative and introduces a new or original idea or product to the applicant’s audience. Engagement through feature presentation and outreach includes but is not limited to performance, publication, lecture/demonstration, exhibition, master class and/or workshop.

Program Objectives

The objective of the Artistic Innovations Grant Program is to support the creation of new, original works of art by eligible in-region artists and organizations.

The works of art culminate in at least two public-facing events: one, the premiere feature presentation and the second, an educational outreach event that occurs in M-AAA’s six-state region between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024. 

M-AAA will incorporate principles of equity, access, and inclusion in our implementation of the Artistic Innovations Grant Program. Applications will be assessed for artistic merit and artistic excellence.

Awards will be made across the six-state M-AAA region, with at least two grants awarded per state (Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas). This program will disburse matching grants of up to $15,000 to no less than twelve grantees.

Project Eligibility

A great Artistic Innovations project is a work that has in-person experiences of art, art making, or artists at the heart of the endeavor and introduces a new original idea or artwork to the applicant’s audience. (M-AAA recognizes that in-person projects might not be possible given ongoing public health concerns surrounding COVID-19, but for the purposes of the application process we ask that the applicant plan for the best-case scenario in which in-person experiences are a safe option.)

Eligible projects must:

• be new and original work that culminates in at least two accessible, public-facing events: one, the premiere feature presentation and the second, an educational outreach event. These events must occur in M-AAA’s six-state region between July 1 of this year and June 30 of the following year. Public-facing events include but are not limited to performance, publication, lecture/demonstration, exhibition, master class and/or workshop;
• exclusively draw upon the talent of artists who reside in the M-AAA region at the time of application and throughout the grant period; and
• have an anticipated project budget that reflects a 1:1 dollar-for-dollar match for the grant amount requested. Grant requests are limited to $15,000. Organizational applicants must show evidence of a cash match. Individual artist applicants may meet the 1:1 match requirement through both cash and in-kind contributions. In-kind contributions and all other funding procured or pending for any project should be included in the budget. Federal and other M-AAA grant funding cannot be used to meet the 1:1 match requirement for any applicant.

Financial support is limited to most direct expenses incurred in the art-making process and the public-facing events. Allowed expenditures include, but are not limited to commissioning fees, artists’ fees, rehearsal or studio expenses, production or exhibition materials, as well as promotion and audience development for all public-facing engagements related to the project. Indirect costs and expenses associated with the project’s opening or closing (e.g., receptions) are not allowed.

Humanities For All Mini Grant

Humanities For All grants support projects that draw on history, literature, and culture to engage the public with stories that spark conversations. 

Goals:

• Share stories that explore the human experience
• Engage people in public discussions
• Generate insights that cultivate a thriving democracy

Types of Projects We Support

Humanities programs can take many forms. Formats include, but are not limited to, interpretive exhibitions, community conversations, town halls, panel discussions, presentations, book discussions, short films, full-length films, or podcasts. Creativity and innovation are encouraged. 

To be competitive for funding, the humanities must be central to the proposal. Projects should draw on our diverse history, literature, and cultures to explore a defined topic. Projects must engage the general public, which primarily refers to an adult, out-of-school audience. 

Humanities include the following disciplines:

• History
• Literature
• Languages and cultures
• Law
• Folklore
• Gender studies
• Religious studies
• Philosophy
• Art history*
• Archeology
• Cultural anthropology
• Ethics
• Social sciences, such as political science and sociology, are also considered humanities.

* A note regarding the arts: Humanities Kansas does not support arts projects, defined as creation and display of visual art, creative writing workshops, or performance (drama, dance, music, etc.). However, as noted above, projects that focus on the analysis and contextualization of art, such as a panel discussion moderated by an art historian, are eligible. The difference between humanities and art can be a fine line. If your project includes arts components, contact HK staff for guidance. 

Format

Consider the format. HK is interested in innovative, creative program formats, diverse perspectives, and new methods for reaching an audience. HK grants are intended to get a project “off the ground.” HK cannot be expected to fund a similar project, or a signature event, year after year. 

Scholars

Contact a Humanities Scholar. Every project must involve at least one humanities scholar to support a humanistic perspective and provide in-depth knowledge. Scholars are often faculty members, library or museum professionals, or independent cultural experts. HK staff can help identify humanities scholars. Scholars must have at least one of the following criteria:

• At least a Master’s degree in a humanities discipline helpful to the success of the project
• College-level teaching experience in a humanities discipline or proven record of scholarship in the humanities
• Museum curator, librarian, or other individuals with exceptional knowledge of the relevant topic
• Culture bearers – tribal or community elders, or practitioners of traditional cultural forms

NOTE: The Foundation will not accept applications for new Social Justice or Education grants in 2023.

About Us

The Foundation exists to promote Social Justice, Environmental Justice, and Education. It was started in 2003 by Dianne Shumaker and the late Paul Shumaker, one of the founding engineers at Garmin International.

We take an active interest in the work of all our grantees. We also try to serve as a resource for our grantee organizations and their staffs by introducing them to other grantees with related projects and/or others in the community with the same or similar goals. All of our grantees are invited to utilize us in this way.

We like to support solutions that are upstream and can have longterm impact, systemically or through a cultural shift. Our goal is to make the biggest impact we can with the limited funds we have available to grant each year.

Social Justice

We emphasize domestic violence and child abuse prevention and treatment, as well as leadership development programs for Black, Latino, and women leaders. We prefer to invest in efforts that lead to an equitable distribution of wealth, privilege, and opportunities.

Education 

We favor projects that strengthen STEM, arts, and early childhood programs, and those that strengthen the education process, such as teacher leadership. We focus on children who might not otherwise receive exposure to such programs and on those grassroots organizations whose leadership reflects those communities they serve.

Grant Awards

We prefer innovative projects that have potential for long term systemic or cultural impact. We also fund organizational strengthening, including capacity-building or operating funds, when we are satisfied that the organization has prepared itself to attain the next level of effectiveness. 

Generally, our grants range in size from $10,000 to $40,000. An appropriate request depends on the size of your organization, the project or program for which you want support, and how well we know you. 

We fund Social Justice and Education projects in the Greater Kansas City Region, where site visits can be made in a day.

Our Mission

To connect caring people with causes that build stronger communities within the Emporia area which includes Chase, Coffey, Greenwood, Lyon, Morris, Osage and Wabaunsee counties.

What We Do

The Emporia Community Foundation (ECF) connects the diverse citizens and communities of Lyon and its six contiguous counties through the charitable actions of a variety of funds established for the purpose of bettering the lives of individuals within its communities.  As a 501c3 Foundation, the ECF continues the traditional Kansas heritage of providing nonprofit service and supporting the charitable giving requests of donors who wish to enrich the quality of life of local citizens.

ECF represents the Kansas counties of Lyon, Chase, Greenwood, Morris, Osage, Coffey and Wabaunsee.

There are several Types of Funds whereby donors may focus their interest.  These funds are established by individuals, families, businesses, and other nonprofit organizations that have made unordinary commitments to the needs within the community. Their sole purpose is to make the "community" a better place for perpetuity.

Morgan Wilke Fund

This Fund is available for funding for the proper care and comfort of old people, women and children of Emporia and Lyon County, Kansas.