Search Through Quality of Life Grants in Kansas in the U.S.

About Us

Academy Sports + Outdoors is one of the nation's largest sporting goods and outdoor stores. With 301 stores across 21 states, we offer a broad assortment of quality hunting, fishing, and camping equipment and gear, along with sports and leisure products, footwear, apparel and much more.

Community Relations

By providing members of our communities with the right gear and knowledge while also promoting safety and responsibility, we empower people with the confidence to simply get active, have fun together, and enjoy life.

Our Pillars

• Empower
  • Academy Sports + Outdoors encourages safety so that everyone can feel confident and comfortable doing what they love. We help people gear up properly for sports and outdoor activities, and we promote ways to be smart and stay safe. We’ve got your back… and the rest of you too.
• Encourage
  • Academy Sports + Outdoors makes it possible for people to enjoy more sports and outdoors activities. We believe being active is an essential part of life. Starting with our assortment, we motivate people to try new things and give them opportunities to enjoy a variety of fun activities. We’re always game.
• Connect
  • Academy Sports + Outdoors creates ways for members of the community to connect and have fun with each other. We build connections within the community by supporting events, programs, and organizations that make a positive impact. Let’s get together.

Background

The Marion and Henry Bloch Family Foundation is focused on giving back to the people of greater Kansas City.

Through responsive and strategic philanthropy, the Foundation supports a variety of organizations working to improve the quality of life in local communities.

The Foundation is committed to assisting the city’s most vulnerable neighbors and striving to achieve lasting and meaningful change.

Learn more.

Grant Opportunities

The Marion and Henry Bloch Family Foundation’s grantmaking strategy emphasizes creating excellence and transformational change.

The Foundation’s unique approach combines proactive support that strengthens area nonprofits and responsive community assistance to achieve greater results, with a focus on underserved populations.

Community Impact

The Marion and Henry Bloch Family Foundation seeks to make strategic and responsive grants that help organizations achieve one or more of the following:

• Support nonprofit excellence and transformational change
• Meaningfully impact systemic issues
• Improve outcomes for low-income, underserved communities
• Expand organizational services

Since inception, the Foundation has invested over $175 million in greater Kansas City nonprofit organizations. Marion and Henry’s legacy of serving others continues to enhance our beloved city.What areas of focus (or cause areas) does the Foundation support? The Foundation’s areas of focus are:

• Education for Poor, Disadvantaged, and Underserved Youth
• Healthcare
• Jewish Community Organizations
• Post-Secondary Business and Entrepreneurship Education
• Social Services
• Visual and Performing Arts

What activities does the Foundation support?

The Foundation supports special programs, capacity building, and capital projects through strategic and responsive grants that help organizations achieve one or more of the following:

• support nonprofit excellence and transformational change;
• strengthen organizations;
• improve services for clients; and/or
• help underserved, low-income individuals.

What is the typical amount and duration of grant awards?

The Foundation does not have fixed minimum or maximum award limits, though grant awards typically fall in the range of $100,000 to $250,000. The Foundation makes both one-year and multi-year grant awards. 

Charitable Contributions

Our goal with financial contributions from BOK Financial and the BOKF Foundation is to enhance the quality of life and economic wellbeing in the communities where BOK Financial operates and where our employees work and live including Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. Our charitable contributions are focused on four pillars of giving: United Way, economic development, education and basic needs

Our long-term strategic plan guides all contributions to assure maximum impact in the community and to develop mutually beneficial relationships with our nonprofit partner agencies. BOK financial contributions are budgeted on an annual calendar basis. We accept online charitable contribution/grant applications throughout the year.

Pillars of giving

Basic Needs

We provide volunteer and financial support to organizations serving the most vulnerable members of our community. Our efforts largely focus on organizations providing direct services addressing such issues as poverty, hunger, healthcare, housing and safety.

Education

An equitable, robust educational system drives long-term community growth. We support local nonprofits whose primary mission is promoting basic education, including public school foundations, early childhood education, financial literacy, and institutions of higher education.

Economic Development

Actions that raise the standard of living and economic health of our communities make them better places to live and work. We provide support to local chambers of commerce; nonprofits focused on workforce development, job training, etc.; and public/private partnerships investing in our communities.

United Way

Our focus on strategically investing in the community aligns perfectly with United Way’s approach to achieving its mission of mobilizing the caring power of communities to advance the common good.

DWANE & VELMA A BEAUTIFUL LEGACY

Giving back was always the goal that Dwane and Velma Wallace had in mind. It took the former Cessna president a total of one hour and forty-five minutes of training before he made his first-ever solo flight in a powered aircraft. It took even less time for Dwane and his wife, Velma, to know that they wanted to establish a foundation to give back to the Wichita Community that they so loved. Organizations within Kansas that believe in the beneficial opportunity that they provide for their community are welcome to apply for a grant.

The Dwane L. and Velma Lunt Wallace Foundation’s mission is to support a wide variety of tax-exempt, charitable organizations primarily in the Wichita, Kansas area, and secondarily in the State of Kansas.

What Are The Primary Funding Areas Of The Wallace Foundation?

• Arts and Culture
• Education
• Community Development and Enhancement
• Social Services and Needs
• Quality of Life

Funding Priorities

We focus our grantmaking in a way that honors our founders’ intent and operates in alignment with our mission, vision, and values – to center our work on ensuring all people experience what is possible.

We understand that improving life for all requires an interconnected approach. Therefore, through our grantmaking we seek to increase economic opportunities of all, with an intentional focus on communities of color, those not earning a livable wage, and families experiencing poverty. Kansas City’s community needs will guide us as we work together to create stronger partnerships with communities, nonprofit partners, and foundation colleagues, in order to increase opportunities for all to succeed.

We believe that as we expand our reach and increase our impact through new, strengthened, and reimagined partnerships within our three impact areas, we will help build a community where an improved quality of life is equitable and enjoyable by all.

What we fund and the impact we seek

To achieve our vision of enabling all people in our community to experience what is possible; to achieve their greatest potential, and to create a bigger impact, our grantmaking will focus on three interconnected impact areas:

KC Spirit: Elevating Kansas City

• To ensure that greater Kansas City’s regional assets, cultural organizations, and sense of community make it a thriving and inclusive place to live.
• Make Kansas City stronger by embracing all in our stories & vision for the city through investments in regional assets, arts & culture, and community wide initiatives.

Prospering Communities: Increasing equity for all

• To support families through organizations and initiatives that take a holistic approach to reducing poverty and increasing equity and well-being.
• Communities prosper when there are equitable opportunities to access education, housing, employment, and health care. We prioritize investments that take systemic and comprehensive approaches to increasing opportunities for all to thrive in their neighborhoods of choice.
• Grantmaking focuses on economic inclusion – livable neighborhoods – healthcare – emergency and safety net services.

Growing Minds: Creating strong educational foundation for life

• We prioritize investments that improve outcomes and access to quality programming for children and their families in education.
• Grantmaking focuses on Pre-K, K-12, post-secondary, and wrap-around support services, in addition to out-of-classroom initiatives that address barriers to education and provide additional academic support.

SEED Grants

Strategic Economic Expansion and Development

The purpose of SEED grants is to support the economic revitalization of Kansas communities under 5,000 population through investments in quality-of-life initiatives.

SEED grants are funded under the Technology-Enabled Fiduciary Financial Institutions Development and Expansion Act (KS Stat § 9-2324 [2021]), which was enacted in 2021 to promote and facilitate the development and growth of trust banks in Kansas; regulate fiduciary financial activities and custodial services and Kansas; and to locate trust bank office space in economic growth zones in rural Kansas.

The SEED grant program is administered by the Kansas Department of Commerce.

SEED Grant Awardees

Awardees are located in communities with a population of 5,000 or less, as required by (KS Stat 9-2324 [2021]). They are required to provide a minimum 10-percent match as well as complete the projects within 12 months. Projects must be focused on economic development and revitalization efforts through one of the following quality-of-life categories:

• Childcare and senior programming – projects that support or enhance these services, such as building improvements, educational materials, supplies, and equipment
• Community vibrancy – projects that refresh, re-energize, and unlock the attractiveness of rural communities, such as art installations, murals, and signage
• Food retail – projects that support access to food retail establishments, including development, renovation, and/or expansion
• Libraries – projects that support providing free and open access to a broad range of materials and services, including reading material, technology, furniture, and building improvements 

Funding

Max award amount – $25,000

Min award amount – $10,000

10% match requirement

Max of 3 projects per application

The Dane G. Hansen Foundation initiated a grant opportunity in March 2015 with Greater Northwest Kansas Community Foundation as an avenue to financially help support charitable activities in Northwest Kansas. With this funding, county-wide funds have been established throughout Northwest Kansas, allocating grant funds to each to be used for projects benefiting the counties and/or communities within.

Grantmaking Criteria

Grants can 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 care 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

Generally, there is no maximum or minimum on grant requests. Some community foundations have established a maximum request and should be noted on the grant description when you apply for the application online. It is the intent of the Hansen Foundation that the Grant Funds be used to award multiple grants in each county. Each county foundation, at its discretion may choose to establish maximum or minimum limitations for the respective county.

Greater Manhattan Community Foundation (1999 - Our Beginning )

It all started over lunch between an accountant, an attorney, and an investment manager. Actually, the three of them had met for lunch several times over several years to discuss the same topic and shared frustrations. They felt it was time to do something to help people who wanted to make charitable contributions to the community but avoid the trouble and expense of establishing private funds or foundations. Then, at a final lunch in 1999, the trio decided it was time to get a group of interested citizens together to discuss the possible merits of starting a community foundation…

On Wednesday, February 3, 1999, Jim Gordon, Mark Knackendoffel, and Jim Morrison hosted a roundtable discussion regarding the establishment of a community foundation in Manhattan, KS. By the end of the same year, an executive board had been formed, bylaws approved, 501(c)(3) non-profit accreditation established, and assets of over $200,000 realized.

Our Vision: Enhancing quality of life through philanthropic giving.

Our Mission: To build relationships between donors and community needs.

Deihl Humanities Grants

Grants from the Lincoln & Dorothy Deihl Arts and Humanities fund are intended to support projects that fit into the category of community and public arts or humanities programs intended to cultivate a thriving community. Generally, grants are awarded to proposals for projects located in Manhattan and Riley County, Kansas.

• This application is for Humanities Grants - projects that are intended to bring humanities to life for general audiences through public programming. Humanities is a broad subject that includes learning about, thinking about, describing, and discussing what it means to be human, connecting humans as well as generating insights that cultivate a thriving community.
• Proposals should require awards exceeding $10,000. A detailed budget is required to calculate all anticipated project/program expenses.

Dane G Hansen Community Grant for Decatur County

The Dane G. Hansen Foundation initiated a grant opportunity in March 2015 with Greater Northwest Kansas Community Foundation as an avenue to financially help support charitable activities in Northwest Kansas. With this funding, county-wide funds have been established throughout Northwest Kansas, allocating grant funds to each to be used for projects benefiting the counties and/or communities within.

Fund Distribution

Annually, funding is made available for each of these county-wide funds as “pass-through” grants: $25,000 being made available in April, and an additional $25,000 in September. This grant program will sunset at the end of 2025.

County-wide participation in a Strategic Doing initiative supported by the Hansen Foundation is required. Individual Community Foundations may opt to participate in the Ripple Effects Mapping process sponsored by the Hansen Foundation as well.

Grantmaking criteria

Grants can address:

• Education: Enhances the learning environment and expands opportunities for students in Northwest Kansas. Provides increased self-reliance on personal life skills and workforce capability.
• Health Care: Ensure access to quality health care services and promote healthy life practices.
• Economic Development: Development of a robust and sustainable economy includes a diversity of businesses and quality job opportunities.
• Community Social Services & Security: Enhance access to social services needed for individuals of special needs and support 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 enhance 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.

Update: As of January 2024, the WKCF's Operating and Core grant applications have been combined to form the WKCF Community Grant Application. The Community Grant application is suited for any organizational need, whether operating, programmatic, or a combination of both. The Foundation encourages grant requests that:

• Fall in line with the WKCF mission statement - "Enriching Western Kansas life through philanthropy, leadership, and collaboration."
• Will have a broad impact on the quality of life for a large number of people within the WKCF service area.
• Propose ways to address community issues and problems.
• Leverage other sources of support.
• Stimulate others to participate in addressing community issues.
• Are innovative, a new initiative, or an enhancement of an existing program.
• Are responsive to changing or emerging community needs.
• Are sustainable over time.
• Are collaborative with other organizations for a broader impact.

Mission

Our mission is to enhance quality of life, today and in the future, by:

• Enabling donors to fulfill their charitable desires
• Building a permanent endowment
• Facilitating prudent management and care of funds
• Meeting needs through grants, awards, and scholarships

What Type of Support is Funded?

• Projects or programs that serve the community and/or advance the mission of the organization
• Seed money to establish or initiate a new project, program, or organization, including operating expenses
• Capacity building or activities that strengthen an organization to increase its ability to fulfill its mission, including technology & equipment, professional development & training, additional staff to implement a new program, etc.
• Capital improvements including new construction or renovation of a facility
• Endowment funds to provide permanent and long-term support for an organization or program

Cloud County Public Health Fund/Kansas Health Foundation for Cloud County

The Cloud County Public Health Fund was established in response to the Kansas Health Foundation’s second chapter of the Giving Resources to our World (GROW II) match grant challenge.

Grants from this fund support the public health of Cloud County. Public health is defined as the protection and promotion of the health and well-being of individuals and their communities through encouragement of healthy lifestyles, behaviors and environments.

Funding for this grant is also supported by the Kansas Health Foundation Fund for Cloud County.

Our roots run deep.

The Ash Grove Charitable Foundation makes grants annually to support the work of public charities with tax exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code in the geographical markets that we serve.

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.

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

The Ash Grove Charitable Foundation mission is to support communities today without compromising future needs, where nature is respected, minds challenged, opportunities created, and neighbors gather in the community. We stand together to build better communities. Communities that thrive today and for future generations.

Funding Priorities

The Foundation awards grants to charitable, educational, and scientific organizations, which are public charities.

The Foundation gives primary consideration to capital building and renovation projects for the following funding priorities:

• Nature – Protect or Preserve.
• Education – STEM
• Economic – Trade Skills
• Civic – Gather in Community
• Human Services – Shelter

Funding

The Foundation’s goal is to provide significant support to public charities for capital building and renovation projects. Grants for these projects generally are limited to $25,000. Consideration is also given to program grant requests. Grants for these projects are generally limited to $5,000.

What is Impact 100?

The Impact 100 represents organizations working to meet the most critical health and human service needs facing our region today. Each nonprofit must meet a high bar of organizational accountability in terms of finances, governance and community impact. Selected organizations are diverse in human service domains, geographic reach, and populations served.

United Way of Greater Kansas City is seeking proposals from area nonprofit organizations that are part the community’s health and human service ecosystem for inclusion in the 2025 United Way Impact 100, a network of high-impact health and human service providers supported by United Way of Greater Kansas City.

Impact 100 Funding Opportunity

Organizations selected for the Impact 100 receive a one-year, unrestricted grant in support of the organization’s mission. In addition, grantee organizations become part of United Way’s network, gaining exposure to United Way’s community of donors and corporate partners. In weighing whether to apply for this opportunity, organizations should consider their alignment with areas of investment across the three pillars of Health, Education and Financial Stability, as described in United Way’s Community Needs Index as well as selection criteria and related goals established by United Way to ensure the greatest impact across the region.

United Way Areas of Community Investment and Program Demographic Reporting

United Way awards a single, unrestricted grant to organizations that are selected for the Impact 100. To ensure that United Way leaders understand and communicate effectively about the impact of that investment, United Way also collects a limited amount of programmatic data from applicant organizations. Specifically, you are asked to complete a program demographic form for your organization’s top three programs (or 1 or 2, if you have fewer than three) and provide participant demographic data for each. In this form, you are asked to provide a brief description of the program and select up to two program categories with which the program aligns. The categories appear in a drop-down menu in the program demographic form:

• Access to Healthcare and Supportive Services
• Aging and Senior Support Services
• Behavioral Health and Substance Abuse Intervention & Treatment
• Child Welfare
• Community and Family Violence Prevention and Intervention
• Early Childhood Education and Development
• Financial Stability and Employment
• Food and Nutrition Security
• Housing Security
• Services for Individuals with Disabilities
• Supports for People with Involvement in the Justice System
• Youth Development, K-12 Academic Supports and Postsecondary Pathways

Overall Portfolio Criteria

In addition to the above criteria for assessing individual applicants, United Way’s selection of Impact 100 grantees will also be guided by the following goals in ensuring a broad-based and inclusive portfolio of grantees that, together, improve the quality of life for all people across the region.

• United Way strives to invest in a wide variety of strategies and approaches to improving community conditions, including programming that responds to immediate critical needs and preventative strategies to prevent critical needs from emerging, as well as both direct-service programming and systems-level approaches.
• United Way is committed to investing in a wide range of health and human service domains, addressing community needs across the three pillars of Health, Education and Financial Stability. 
• United Way supports a wide range of organizations, in terms of scope and scale—including multicounty organizations and those with a narrow geographic focus; those with large budgets, as well as small- and medium-sized budgets; and those that provide a single service as well as those with a multi-faceted set of services.
• United Way is committed to maximizing the impact of its investments.
  • This means reaching as many lives as possible through those investments.
  • We also consider the depth of impact and recognize that some organizations serve a small number of people but make a deep and lasting impact.
  • We strive to strike a balance between these considerations when selecting Impact 100 grantees.

Not every organization that aligns with United Way’s interest areas and effectively meets selection criteria will be able to receive funding. Organizations that are not selected for the Impact 100 will be eligible for donor-directed giving and, as such, will have the opportunity for inclusion in United Way’s broader network of community partners.

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.

Established in 2012 by the Wichita Wagonmasters, the Good Life Grants are committed to benefiting the quality of life for people in the Wichita area. The fund serves a wide range of projects enabling more people to enjoy the good life and to promote the idea Wichita is a great place to live, work and play.

Wichita Wagonmasters was formed by a group of civic-minded business executives with a single purpose: To promote and sell the good life in Wichita. The civic and social activities of the founders, and now of the total membership, are as wide and varied as the personalities of the members themselves.

What we fund

• Programs serving Wichita, Kansas
• Programs that avoid duplication of existing services
• Programs that collaborate with or facilitate collaboration among nonprofit organizations
• Programs that suggest creative and practical approaches to community problems
• Organizations with fiscal soundness
• Organizations that leverage other funding sources when available
• Programs that exhibit measurable results
• Organizations that demonstrate present and future sustainability
• Programs that address prevention as well as remediation
• Capital equipment, improvements and construction

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.

Who We Are

Tri-County Electric Cooperative (TCEC) is a member-owned electric cooperative headquartered in Hooker, Oklahoma.

We are a not-for-profit distribution cooperative owned and controlled by our members.

We are proud to be owned and governed by those we serve, and we are committed to enhancing the quality of life for all of our member-owners.

Mission

The mission of the TCEC Foundation involves accumulating and disbursing funds for charitable purposes within TCEC's service area. The foundation achieves its mission by providing funds to community-based organizations for charitable, educational, or emergency service purposes.

Operation Round Up

Operation Round Up is an ongoing charitable fundraising program to benefit worthwhile community projects. TCEC members who round up their electric bill to an even dollar amount donate those funds. While an individual member’s donation amounts to pocket change each month, the program allows TCEC to collect an average of $6 for each participating meter annually. Together, those donations add up.

Operation Round Up supports community-based organizations for charitable, educational, or emergency services purposes. 

Disbursements annually per organization are limited to $5,000.

Grant Opportunities

Investing in Community-Led Solutions

Since 1986, the Wichita Foundation has awarded more than $100 million in grants. We support and collaborate with nonprofits working to meet community needs and enhance the quality of life in Wichita.

Dr. George & Jeanne Tiller Fund

Supporting the advancement of women's health

In December 2024, the fund changed its name to honor both Dr. George Tiller and Jeanne Tiller, recognizing their shared commitment to advancing women's health. Since 2010, the Dr. George & Jeanne Tiller Fund at WF has granted more than $1 million to nonprofits in Kansas who help women help themselves. These grants provide comprehensive health services, support and compassion to vulnerable women to realize their dreams.

Grant Range: Up to $25,000

Please see FAQs for additional guidelines and information.

The Golden Belt Spring Community Building Grant supports a wide-variety of needs and Barton, Pawnee, Rush, and Stafford Counties and serve the community at large including but not limited to: quality of life improvement; arts and culture; enhancing community destinations points; charitable economic opportunity; planning and development. 

We support projects that are:

• Collaborative: leverages resources and builds partnerships
• Measurable: research driven with reliable data
• Sustainable: creates a lasting impact

Challenge Overview

Peace and stability are baseline conditions for economic prosperity and a thriving society, and both are at risk with escalating conflicts and economic shocks. Instability and conflict can severely erode economic prospects, reverse years of development gains, and exacerbate vulnerabilities. Poverty and lack of quality jobs contribute to conflict. With 114 million people forcibly displaced due to war, violence, and climate-related disasters, two billion workers worldwide in informal, precarious jobs, and disruptions from AI and other tech, the stakes are high.

Technology and innovation can be powerful tools to promote peace and prosperity. Social media has increased misinformation and polarization, but when well-designed, it also improved cohesion and civic participation and reduced the odds of violent conflict. Similarly, while technology can lead to more precarity, it can also facilitate more inclusive financial systems, new job opportunities, and more resilience. Ethically designing and implementing technology is a key component of building and maintaining more peaceful communities and inclusive economies. 

MIT Solve seeks exceptional solutions leveraging technology to increase peace and prosperity. Our focus centers on solutions that: 

• Promote and sustain peace by increasing community dialogue, civic participation, reconciliation, and justice efforts; strengthening cyber security, and monitoring or preventing violence, misinformation, and polarization.
• Foster financial and digital inclusion by supporting access to credit, digital identity tools, and insurance while securing privacy and personal data.
• Generate new economic opportunities and buffer against economic shocks for workers, including good job creation, workforce development, and inclusive and attainable asset ownership.

Special Call: Black & Brown Innovators in the US Program

Systemic inequities and institutional failures contribute to Black and Brown families in the US owning just 24 cents for every $1 of white family wealth. As part of Solve’s ongoing work on US racial equity, we encourage those from the US working to address these disparities to apply for the Challenge and receive additional support through our Black & Brown Innovators in the US Program.

Prizes

MIT Solve - Solver Award

All Solver teams selected for Solve’s Global Challenges and the Indigenous Communities Fellowship will receive a $10,000 grant funded by Solve.

The Seeding The Future Food Systems Prize

The Seeding the Future Food Systems Prize is open to high impact innovations focusing on transforming food systems to be more sustainable, and to enable equitable access to safe and nutritious food that is affordable and trusted. Solutions benefitting underserved communities, countries or regions are encouraged to apply. Up to $150,000 will be awarded to two or more high-impact solutions selected for any of Solve’s 2025 Global Challenges. This prize is supported by the Seeding The Future Foundation, a private nonprofit organization that seeds and supports innovative solutions to help improve the global food system.

The E Ink Innovation Prize

The E Ink Innovation Prize is open to solutions that currently utilize or propose to utilize ePaper materials, technology, or displays to address problems of global importance in any of Solve’s areas of impact, including topics such as architecture, education, or intercultural understanding. The prize is funded by E Ink, a corporation that advances healthy solutions and a sustainable future using ultra-low power, daylight readable displays. Up to $100,000 will be awarded to up to four Solver teams selected for any of the 2025 Global Challenges or Solve’s existing portfolio of alumni teams. E Ink may also opt to provide materials and technical support to its prize recipients.

The AI for Humanity Prize

The AI for Humanity Prize is open to solutions leveraging data science, artificial intelligence, and/or machine learning to benefit humanity. The prize is made possible by The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, a philanthropy committed to advancing AI and data solutions to create a thriving, equitable, and sustainable future for all. Up to $150,000 will be awarded across several Solver teams from any of the 2025 Global Challenges.

The GM Prize

The GM Prize is open to solutions that help create smart, safe, and sustainable communities around the world. The Prize is funded by General Motors, which is working toward becoming the most inclusive company in the world and is dedicated to making STEM education more accessible and equitable. Up to $150,000 will be awarded across up to six Solver teams from the 2025 Global Learning Challenge, the 2025 Global Climate Challenge, and the 2025 Indigenous Communities Fellowship.

The Citizens Workforce Innovation Prize

The Citizens Workforce Innovation Prize seeks to accelerate the development of solutions that will prepare people for today’s opportunities and the workplace of the future, advance new ways of working, and drive economic impact within communities. Funded by Citizens, the prize furthers the company’s commitment to helping communities meet today’s demands while positioning themselves well for the future. Up to $100,000 will be awarded to up to four Solver teams across all 2025 Global Challenges or Solve's portfolio of alumni teams. Preference will be given to solutions that can be implemented to address workforce development challenges in Boston, MA and New York, NY that also have scaling potential to other geographies.

The Crescent Enterprises ‘AI for Social Innovation’ Prize

The Crescent Enterprises ‘AI for Social Innovation’ Prize supports groundbreaking solutions that leverage data science, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to tackle critical global social challenges. Sponsored by Crescent Enterprises - a diversified conglomerate spanning industries such as ports and logistics, power and engineering, food and beverage, life sciences and business aviation - the prize reflects the company’s dedication to innovation, sustainability, and meaningful global impact.

Up to $100,000 will be awarded to as many as four Solver teams addressing the 2025 Global Challenges or selected from Solve’s portfolio of alumni teams. This prize aims to recognise and accelerate the growth of transformative solutions, driving positive change for a better future.

Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation Ocean Innovation Prize

The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation Ocean Innovation Prize is open to solutions supporting innovation for coasts, oceans, and the broader blue economy. The prize is funded by Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, which is committed to protecting and progressing planetary health. Up to $100,000 will be awarded to one Solver team.

The Community Innovation Prize

The Community Innovation Prize is open to innovative solutions for communities by communities. Up to $200,000, as well as custom workshops addressing innovator needs will be awarded to up to four Solver teams who are current or past Solvers across Solve's US Equity portfolio. Preference will be given to innovator teams based in or implementing/planning to implement in Chicago, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Houston, New York City, and/or Philadelphia in the areas of Health, Economic Prosperity, Climate, or Indigenous Communities.

Sisters' Circle Fund - Greater Kansas City

Established in 2016, the Sisters’ Circle's mission is to increase charitable giving within African American communities to benefit African American communities in the Greater Kansas City area. Annually, the Sister’s Circle Fund provides grants to nonprofit organizations who work with intention to improve the quality of life, or provide services of significant value to the Kansas City region’s African American communities.

General Funds

Every year in the summer, the Community Foundation’s Grant Review Committee funds programs focusing on Basic Human Needs, Youth Activities, and Arts & Culture. Since 2004, the funds directly managed by the Community Foundation have provided hundreds of thousands of dollars to many Southeast Kansas nonprofit projects. General funds grant applications are typically available during June.

The mission of CFSEK is to serve the SEK region by encouraging charitable giving benefiting the common good and the quality of life. We inspire leadership with programming that is responsive to the interests and needs of those we serve now and in the future.

In 2023, up to $160,000 will be available to fund projects as follows:

• Youth Activities: $90,000
• Basic Human Needs: $67,800
• Arts & Culture: $2,200 

In 2022, the Community Foundation awarded $150,000 to 41 nonprofit recipients out of 64 applications through its General Funds Grant cycle. Awards averaged $3,256 and ranged from $500 to $11,000. Projects in 15 counties serving SEK received funding as well as CFSEK affiliate community foundations.

About FSACF

The Fort Scott Area Community Foundation is an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas (CFSEK). FSACF’s mission is to partner with and be a resource to organizations whose goal is to improve the quality of life in the Fort Scott area. FSACF strives to create connections between donors and a variety of many worthwhile causes.

FSACF was launched in August 2007 to meet the needs of Fort Scott and the surrounding area. FSACF encourages philanthropy and provides donors with a variety of giving options. The Foundation assists donors in meeting their charitable goals by creating a giving and granting environment that addresses the immediate and long-term needs of the Fort Scott area.

We provide funding for nonprofits

FSACF offers funding for Bourbon County nonprofit organizations, including churches, schools, public charities, and government agencies. The Foundation is home to designated funds, field-of-interest funds, and donor-advised funds that provide grants to such organizations according to the instructions of the person who established the fund with us.

Plus, we host an annual competitive grant cycle during which eligible organizations can request funding. And through an agency fund, we can manage and grow nonprofits’ own resources to support their continued success.

Grant applications

We accept grant applications during August, evaluate them during September, and award them during the last week of October. We consider proposals based on how they improve the quality of life for residents in the Fort Scott area. 

About

The Community Foundation offers a wide range of funding tools to help support churches, schools, nonprofit organizations, and government programs in Southeast Kansas and throughout the United States.

Our designated, field-of-interest, and donor-advised funds provide grants to nonprofits according to the fund creator’s instructions. Several of our funds hold annual grant cycles during which eligible organizations can apply for funding.

Our mission

The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas serves the region by encouraging charitable giving benefiting the common good and the quality of life. We inspire leadership with programming that is responsive to the interests and needs of those we serve now and in the future.

Future Fund Giving Circle

The Future Fund is a philanthropic giving circle comprising friends and family of the Pittsburg area who pool their resources to make a difference in Crawford County. Contributors’ gifts make grants in the Crawford County, Kansas, area possible for nonprofit organizations, schools, and religious and governmental institutions.

Since 2006, the Future Fund Giving Circle has awarded over $179,000 in grants, including $18,478 in 2023 alone. Future Fund grant applications are available during August.

Herington Community Legacy Grant

The Herington Community Legacy Fund was established in 2019 to assist nonprofits in the Herington area. Nonprofits that meet the required eligibility may simultaneously apply for the Herington Legacy Grant and the Community Foundation's Grant Cycle. 

Areas of Funding

• Arts and Culture
• Civic improvements/affairs
• Community development
• Education
• The environment, health, and human services

Funding Priorities

The Community Foundation is dedicated to improving the quality of life in Dickinson County, Kansas. Funding priorities include projects that:

• Develop or test new solutions to community problems
• Address prevention as well as remediation
• Provide assistance to underserved community resources
• Provide leverage for generating other fund and community resources, both financial and volunteer
• Provide a sustained and transforming effect for a substantial number of residents
• Build organizational capacity and improve the effectiveness or efficiency of nonprofit groups
• Provide a favorable ratio between the amount of money requested and the number of people served
• Facilitate cooperation and collaboration among organizations without duplicating services
• Encourage volunteerism, civic engagement, and development

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. 

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.

ECF Grants

The Emporia Community Foundation makes grants for innovative and creative projects and programs that are responsive to changing community needs in the areas of health, social service, education, recreation, and cultural affairs.

About

Welcome to the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas! We help our donors establish long-term charitable funds, using the best tax advantages, to benefit their causes and our community.

Founded in 2001 by a group of citizens interested in encouraging philanthropy and strengthening communities, the Community Foundation has awarded over $16.9 million in grants through its donor-advised, unrestricted, designated, field-of-interest, scholarship, and agency funds. It is one of more than 800 community foundations in the country and is a member of the Kansas Association of Community Foundations.

Our mission

The Community Foundation serves the region by encouraging charitable giving benefiting the common good and the quality of life.

Rita J. Bicknell Women’s Health Fund

The Rita J. Bicknell Women’s Health Fund Women’s Giving Circle and Circle of Friends provide grants to improve the health and well-being of women by supporting education, increasing awareness, and sharing quality-of-life opportunities that benefit all women. 

The Women’s Giving Circle was established in 2007, and the Circle of Friends Giving Circle was established in 2013. Each year members of the two giving circles review grant applications and approve funds for programs fulfilling the Fund’s mission. The COF offers grants of up to $2,000, and the WGC provides grants in excess of $2,000.

Since their inception, the Women’s Health Fund’s two giving circles have generously granted over $350,000 to improve women’s health in our community.