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 are accepted on a rolling basis.

Earl J. and Leona K. Tranin Special Fund

The advisors of the Earl J. and Leona K. Tranin Special Fund meet two to three times per year to review grant applications. Priority areas include cultural arts, community relations, and education predominantly, but not exclusively, within the Jewish community. Grants are restricted to the Greater Kansas City area. 

Kansas Geological Foundation Grants

The primary purpose of the Kansas Geological Foundation is to provide benefit to the science of geology and related endeavors.  Grants are intended to aid individuals or agencies involved in research or programs that fall into the basic categories that best fulfill the primary purposes for which the Foundation was organized, namely, "the promotion of the science of geology and related fields".

Since the amount of money requested for grants may exceed the availability of funds, applications are reviewed and must be evaluated on a competitive basis.  The restrictions outlined below serve as guidelines for grant eligibility and serve as general policy regarding the types of activities supported by the Foundation.  If a given activity or program cannot function within these policies, the applicant may submit an explanation of the special case involved.

Since its inception, the Foundation, which is still led by Lester T. Sunderland's descendants, has focused on supporting construction projects, awarding grants to nonprofits in the Kansas City region and other markets traditionally served by the Ash Grove Cement Company. 

 The Foundation prefers to make grants for construction and special interest projects rather than for annual operating expenses. 

Grants for planning, design, construction, renovation, repairs and restoration of facilities are considered. Areas of interest include higher education, youth serving agencies, health facilities, community buildings, museums, civic projects and energy efficient affordable housing projects sponsored by qualified tax-exempt organizations. 

Funding Areas

In recent grant cycles, the Board of Trustees has awarded the majority of grants in four broadly defined areas:

Health Care and Hospitals

A growing area of need in many of the communities the Foundation serves. In 2017, more than $2.9 million was awarded to hospitals and health-care groups to build and improve their facilities. 

Human Services

The Foundation awarded over $7 million to human service nonprofits in 2017, and the majority of grants in this area were awarded to groups that provide essential services to youth and families. Grantees included a range of youth-focused groups, including the Kansas 4-H Foundation, Kids TLC, Ronald McDonald House & Boys & Girls Clubs. 

Higher Education

In 2017, the Foundation awarded more than $10 million to over 45 educational organizations. Grantees included community colleges, private colleges, and public universities. 

Arts and Culture

The Helen S Boylan Foundation

The mission of the Helen S. Boylan Foundation is to enhance the quality of life in our communities of Carthage, Missouri, the Greater Kansas City Area, and Lindale, Texas. We actively distribute quarterly grants to local non-profit organizations serving arts & education, women & children, health & wellness and the beautification of our communities.

Grant Guidelines

The Helen S. Boylan Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1982 to continue the family tradition of commitment to enhancing the quality of life of the community through grants to qualified charitable organizations. In carrying out its mission, the Foundation considers a wide range of proposals within the following areas: arts, education, health, human services, environment, and public interest.

The Dane G. Hansen Foundation, Logan, KS, is partnering with the Community Foundation to facilitate grants to improve the quality of life for communities in North Central Kansas.

Grants will be awarded to projects or programs that address:

• Education: Enhances the learning environment and expands opportunities for students. Provides increased self-reliance on personal life skills and workforce capability.
• Health Care: Ensures access to quality health services and promotes healthy life practices.
• Community Social Services & Security: Enhance access to social services needed for individuals of special needs and supports systems to provide community disaster relief and general community emergencies.
• Conservation & Environment: Support efforts to improve and maintain high air and water quality, appreciation for our natural environment and enhances economic and social benefits of outdoor resources.
• Arts & Culture: Provide cultural and artistic opportunities to enhance the quality of life for local residents and to encourage tourism and the exchange of ideas.
• Community Beautification: Support efforts to improve and maintain public spaces to enhance community pride and encourage socialization among residents.

NOTE: Requests will be considered quarterly.

Ash Grove Charitable Foundation Grant

As one of the largest cement companies in the United States and one of the oldest still in operation, Ash Grove plays an important part in the foundation and infrastructure of our country. And with plants from coast to coast, being a good neighbor in the communities in which we live and serve is a priority and part of our DNA.

Ash Grove territory is a lot of ground to cover. We believe in active participation to improve the existing and future quality of life in the communities we serve. This participation includes financial support to charitable activities. We aren’t just focused on building highways and buildings – we are also helping to build better communities.

We're honored to be part of the communities in which our employees live and work. 

Funding

The Foundation’s goal is to provide significant support to organizations each year. In general, the following grant types are funded within these ranges:

• Capital grants and special projects – up to $25,000
• Program grants – up to $10,000
• Only monetary grants are funded through the Foundation

Mission

Royals Charities strives to support children, education, youth baseball and softball field renovations, and military families in and around the Kansas City area. The foundation accomplishes this mission through financial grants of life-changing projects and programs. To date, Royals Charities has put over $18 million back into our community.

Children

Royals Charities continues to serve the needs of children across a variety of organizations and services in the Greater Kansas City area. Through the various organizations that Royals Charities works with, a particular emphasis is placed on inclusion of children with special needs and emergency services.

Education

In a standing commitment to the betterment of local education, Royals Charities is proud to fund a mix of scholarships and educational programming. Every year, five Royals Charities scholars receive funding to support their post-secondary education to any college in Kansas or Missouri.

Youth Baseball/Softball

Passionate about sharing the love of the game with the next generation, Royals Charities supports the efforts of local baseball and softball organizations. In addition to funding programming, Royals Charities created the Royalty Fields Grant Program in partnership with Price Chopper to empower nonprofits and government entities across Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, Oklahoma, and Arkansas to renovate baseball and softball fields to spread America's Pastime.

Military

Royals Charities proudly supports America's service members and their families throughout the year. 2020 featured the third consecutive year dedicating the fundraising efforts of Royals Charities marquee fundraiser Diamond of Dreams presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City to bringing a Fisher House to Kansas City. This "home away from home" provides free lodging to families of veterans receiving treatment at the Kansas City VA Center.

Fund Description

The purpose of the Kansas City, Missouri Branch of the American Association of University Women shall be to unite graduates of regionally accredited educational institutions in order to promote equity, education, intellectual growth, individual worth and development of opportunities for women and girls. The mission of the Nettie Irene Van Der Veer Wagy Fund will be to further the mission of AAUW and to honor Irene Wagy. A six-member committee of AAUW oversees the Wagy Fund and makes all funding recommendations.

Overview:

The Kansas City, Missouri Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) is part of a national organization whose members hold an associate’s or equivalent (e.g., RN), bachelor’s, or higher degree from a regionally accredited college or university. There are no barriers to full participation in this organization on the basis of gender, race, creed, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or class. This branch was established in 1893 and has been involved in promoting education and scholarships for women throughout its history. The branch encourages continuing education for members through programs on local, national and international issues. AAUW is a major force in Kansas City, focusing attention on the women and girls of our community.

"From the beginning the American people as a whole have believed that investment in people is the soundest, most long-reaching investment that we can make." - Eleanor Roosevelt

Irene Wagy made a lifelong commitment and numerous significant personal and professional contributions to the Kansas City, Missouri Branch of the American Association of University Women. She took these responsibilities seriously and valued the opportunities AAUW afforded for service and friendship. A dietitian by profession, she was an avid reader with a keen interest in gardening.

She was a private person with independent views and had a special interest in national and international topics. Her business acumen and skills in real estate transactions not only allowed Irene to lead a financially independent life but also resulted in her generous bequest to the Kansas City, Missouri branch of AAUW. Pre-deceased by her spouse, Irene lived an active life. She died at her home at the age of 93.

Mission Statement

"If women are healthy and educated, their families will flourish. If women are free from violence, their families will flourish. If women have a chance to work and earn as full and equal partners in society, their families will flourish. And when families flourish, communities and nations will flourish." - Hillary Rodham Clinton

Areas of Interest

The AAUW/Wagy Fund Committee is seeking proposals that will allow it to join in partnerships with organizations that promote societal change through programs benefiting women and girls. The Committee believes that the entire community benefits from effective programs which provide women and girls:

• Economic opportunity and security
• Enhanced self-image in measurable ways
• Lifelong education
• Healthcare throughout their lifecycles
• Personal Safety
• Legal and human rights
• Reproductive rights
• Respect and opportunities for girls so that they are equally valued in their families and in society
• Equal access with men to the political, economic and cultural life of their communities