The Foundation makes grants that strive for excellence, improve service for clients, strengthen organizations, and assist underserved, low-income individuals within the Kansas City community.

Areas of Focus

In recognition of Marion and Henry Bloch’s lifelong commitment to their community, the Foundation focuses its support on organizations that serve Greater Kansas City (Jackson, Clay, and Platte counties in Missouri, and Wyandotte and Johnson counties in Kansas).Education for Poor, Disadvantaged, and Underserved Youth The Foundation promotes access to quality pre-K, K to 12, and post-secondary education, focusing on closing achievement gaps and building human capital in the urban core.Healthcare The Foundation supports centers of excellence, education, and access to quality healthcare.Jewish Community Organizations The Foundation supports organizations that advance social and economic justice issues in the Jewish community.Post-Secondary Business and Entrepreneurship EducationThe Foundation supports select post-secondary business and entrepreneurship education programs that are centers of excellence.Social Services The Foundation expands access and opportunities for vulnerable, disadvantaged and low-income individuals and families by meeting basic human needs and supporting the creation of pathways out of poverty.Visual and Performing ArtsThe Foundation supports excellence in and access to the arts, emphasizing programs that enhance quality, strengthen management, and increase audience participation. Education for Poor, Disadvantaged and Underserved Youth The Foundation promotes access to quality birth-to-12th grade and post-secondary education, focusing on closing achievement gaps and building human capital in the urban core. Legacy OrganizationsIn recognition of Marion and Henry’s lifetime commitments to the Henry W. Bloch School of Management at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, and St. Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City, the Foundation places a priority on programs and operations of these organizations.The Foundation does not have a minimum or maximum award limit, though most grants fall in the range of $50,000 to $250,000.

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.

The goal of this NOFO is to ensure the distribution of resources to meet the demonstrated community needs of children from birth to compulsory school age, ensuring continuity of services and taking into account the availability of high-quality and comprehensive early childhood education opportunities (which may include public pre-kindergarten programs for 4- year-olds). Applicants proposing to serve pregnant women are expected to serve the newborn through the EHS program. Applicants should thoughtfully consider their reason for deciding to apply to conduct a program to serve the proposed population, including the particular age group of children and, if applicable, pregnant women. This decision should be based on the needs of the community.

This NOFO provides applicants the opportunity to propose to reallocate funding between Head Start and EHS based on both the needs in the community and the applicant's capacity and experience serving pregnant women, infants, toddlers, and/or preschool-age children. Applicants may explore combining Head Start and EHS funds with resources from other early childhood programs or funding streams, including state, local, and private sector funding for child care, pre-kindergarten, and special education services. Please note that applicants responding to this NOFO will be expected to begin providing Head Start and/or EHS services quickly after award, with a minimal start-up period, to support limited to no disruption in services to the currently enrolled children and families in this service area.Program Background and PurposeThe Head Start program is administered by ACF, an operating division (OPDIV) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). ACF intends to fund applications that demonstrate an organization's commitment and capacity to operate a Head Start and/or EHS program that raises the quality of early care and education in the community and helps children start school ready to succeed. School readiness requires that children are cognitively, physically, socially, and emotionally prepared to continue to make progress as they enter kindergarten. ACF is seeking applicants that are able to use the best evidence-based early education practices in their programs to support high-caliber classroom instruction, home visiting services, and effective family engagement and health promotion.The Head Start and EHS programs provide grants to public and private non-profit and for-profit agencies to provide comprehensive child development services to predominately economically disadvantaged children and families. Head Start's primary purpose is to prepare children to be ready for school. In fiscal year (FY) 1995, the EHS program was established to serve pregnant women and children from birth to 3 years of age in recognition of the mounting evidence that the earliest years matter a great deal to children's growth and development. Since its beginning in 1965, Head Start has served more than 37 million children and their families. In FY 2022 Head Start was funded to serve 833,075 children and families and of these, 197,455 were funded in the EHS program. These programs were operated by 1,560 Head Start recipients, including 1,137 recipients providing EHS.

Opportunity on the Plains

Opportunity on the Plains is the largest, annual investment program from United Way of the Plains to help meet the most pressing needs in our community. We look for partners who want to work collectively to advance the common good in south central Kansas.

Opportunity on the Plains provides grants to health and human service programs in our focus areas of health, education, financial stability and basic needs through a framework based on the social determinants of a strong and healthy community. This is a competitive application process. Applications are evaluated by a dedicated group of community volunteers. The recommendations of these volunteers are reviewed and approved by the United Way Board of Directors.

NOTE:  The application deadline has been  extended to December 1, 2023.

About School-Based Healthcare Solutions Network (SBHSN).

Utilizing a unique framework of funding systems offered by the Department of Health and Human Services, managed care organizations, health insurers, and private donors, SBHSN promotes a system of care model (Coaching Model℠) offering a mix of evidenced-based intervention, prevention, and care coordination services to children in grades K-12. The Coaching Model aims to expand quality mental healthcare access on public school campuses and improve children's social, emotional, behavioral, family, and wellness outcomes.

School-Based Mental Health Implementation Grant

In response to the growing number of students who need mental health counseling, the School-Based Healthcare Solutions Network (SBHSN) is accepting applications from Local Education Agencies (LEA), Public and Private Universities, State and local Colleges, Charter School Management Companies, Public Schools, Charter Schools, and Non-Profit Organizations (501c3) to implement and expand mental health program services on local school campuses. Grantees will receive direct funding and reimbursement to support the following activities: 

• Expanding access to School-Based Social and Emotional Learning (SEL).
• Coordinating mental healthcare services with school administration and staff. 
• Delivering mental healthcare services and coordinating academic-support activities to students with a history of attendance, behavior, and poor academic performance.

FUNDING

5-Years, renewable based on meeting performance goals 5-year award ceiling is $5,500,000.

Mission

The Lewis H. Humphreys Charitable Trust was established in 2004 to support and promote quality educational, cultural, human services and health care programming for underserved and disadvantaged populations. The Humphreys Trust supports organizations that serve the residents of East Central Kansas.

Guidelines

Grants from the Trust are 1 year in duration.

Grant requests for general operating support, program support and capital support will be considered. Grant requests for capital support such as for buildings, land and major equipment should meet a compelling community need and offer a broad social benefit.

Knights of Columbus Endowment Fund Grant Basics

The Knights of Columbus was founded by Father Michael J. McGivney in 1882 on principles of charity, unity, and fraternity with the intent to bring financial aid and assistance to the sick, disabled, and needy and their families. For decades, the Pittsburg Council of the Knights of Columbus carried out that mission by operating the Knights of Columbus Tower, providing low-income housing and other forms of assistance for local residents. After that building was sold in 2021, council members established an endowment with the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas.

The Knights of Columbus Endowment Fund continues the council’s mission through an annual grant cycle. Grants are available for programs and projects that accomplish any of the following for the elderly, handicapped, and low-income families and individuals of Pittsburg, Kansas, and the surrounding area:

• Provide housing-, rent-, and utility-needs assistance;
• Provide health and human services to meet their educational, social, physical, spiritual, and psychological needs;
• Promote their health, security, happiness, and usefulness; or
• Improve community services for them.

Last year, this grant opportunity provided funding for 10 local projects, and we can’t wait to see what new projects it can help in 2023!

Humanities Kansas has explored bold stories and big ideas in every corner of Kansas—ideas about what it means to be human, to be part of a democracy, and to strengthen our communities.

As we celebrate our first 50 years, HK remains committed to Kansas stories by offering the Spark! Short Documentary Films Initiative, special grants for short films that will carry Kansas culture forward into the next 50 years. We are looking for documentary films that reflect the diversity of experience found in today’s Kansas. We encourage fresh takes, dynamic interpretations, and a focus on overlooked experiences.

Have a story but need help making a film? Talk to us! HK staff can connect you with a Kansas filmmaker.

Selected organizations will receive:

• Up to $10,000 to support the film project and public program
• Statewide publicity and promotion of the project
• Networking and training with a cohort of selected organizations

HK will select up to 4 project hosts based on the strength of the application, accompanying plans, geographic distribution, community partnerships, and enthusiasm for the project.

Humanities Kansas has explored bold stories and big ideas in every corner of Kansas—ideas about what it means to be human, to be part of a democracy, and to strengthen our communities. As we celebrate our first 50 years, HK invites Kansas communities to save their own 1970s stories as part of the Sunflower 70s grant initiative.

The 1970s were a time of change in Kansas. People across the state wrote to the newly formed Kansas Committee for the Humanities to say they wanted to talk about their concerns. Older residents worried about losing the rural way of life, an aging population, and a changing society. Younger residents were interested in equal rights, conservation, and an end to the Vietnam War.

What events shaped the 1970s in your community? Topics can include, but are not limited to:

• Changes in agricultural practices, policies, and ownership
• Environmental protections, nuclear power, and water conservation
• Changes in immigration patterns, foodways, and languages
• Social changes to family structures, education, and mobility

Sunflower 70s grants provide up to $3,500 to preserve and share the stories of this pivotal decade.

HK will select up to 12 project hosts based on the strength of the application, accompanying plans, geographic distribution, community partnerships, and enthusiasm for the project.