Best Wyandotte County Grants for Nonprofits in Kansas

LaFrancine Stallings Math & Science College Scholars

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

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

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

Amount:

• $100,000 fpr 12 months.

Funds Support:

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

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

Bernie Smillie Memorial Scholarship - Medical

Evaluation Criteria

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

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

Bernie Smillie Memorial Scholarship - Michigan Resident

Evaluation Criteria

• Financial need (20)
• Work experience (20)
• Overall involvement at work, school and community activities (20)
• Career goals as demonstrated in essay (20)
• Letters of recommendation

Yellow Dog Studio Memorial Scholarship

The Yellow Dog Studios Memorial Scholarship was established in memory of Mari Zimmerman-Thompson and Christopher Thompson. Mari and Chris became husband and wife in May of 2002. They lived their remaining years together as kindred spirits until July 2, 2015 when a tragic automobile accident took them from their family and friends.

Evaluation Criteria

• Special skills/interests (30)
• Career goals (20)
• Essay (15)
• Letters of recommendation (15)
• Extracurricular activities (5)
• Awards and honors (5)
• Overall involvement in work, school and community activities (5)
• Academic performance (5)

Women of Colors Scholarship

Women of Colors (WOC) was founded in 1993 by a group of women that believed it would take a cooperative effort of women of all nationalities, ages and socioeconomic status to address issues plaguing the Saginaw Community. The founders believed that women should take a more active role in addressing issues of crime, blight and poverty. WOC began by providing support, community outreach services and facilitating discussions within the community. WOC’s mission promotes multi-cultural diversity and enhances community relations in Saginaw County by performing community service, mentoring youth, and collaborating with other organizations.

The Women of Colors Scholarship will be awarded each year to a Great Empowering Motivational Sessions (GEMS) member that is an area high school senior actively involved in efforts to empower young women and in activities that address issues affecting young women in the Saginaw Community. If no GEMS members are high school seniors, applications will be accepted from non-GEMS applicants.

Women Giving to Women Scholarship

Women Giving To Women (WGTW) provides intellectual and emotional support for women of diverse backgrounds. WGTW scholarship was established to empower women to complete a bachelor’s degree and become leaders in the community. WGTW also provides financial support for the following community endeavors: The Child Abuse and Neglect Council (CAN) Great Lakes Bay Region, The McNally House of Covenant Hospital, Underground Railroad of Saginaw and The Women’s Studies Section of the Frankenmuth Wickson District Library.

Evaluation Criteria

• Scholastic record (25)
• Community involvement (15)
• Leadership (10)
• Essay (25)
• References (15)
• Non-traditional field of study (10)

Village of the Living Dead Kenneth Fulton Memorial Scholarship

Kenneth Fulton was a member of the St. Charles Haunted House since its very beginning in 1985 until his passing at the haunted house in 1998. He volunteered and also brought along with him his kids and brothers to volunteer as well. Ken was a quiet gentle man that loved what the haunted house stood for and who it was all about – the kids. His favorite character to play was Michael Myers. He was tall and quiet and was able to scare the patrons with his eerie silence. He loved the members of the haunted house as his own family. He is greatly missed and would be so proud to be a part of this scholarship.  

Evaluation Criteria

• Community service (50)
• Financial need (25)
• Letters of recommendation from two volunteer organizations (13)
• Extracurricular/school activities (12)

Tiderington Family Scholarship

The Tiderington Family Scholarship was established in 1996 by Dr. Robert H. and Charlotte Hughes Tiderington and their three sons, Robert III, James and Thomas, to provide funding for students pursuing a vocational career. Neither Dr. Tiderington nor his wife Charlotte graduated from college. Dr. Tiderington remarked: “It was important to us that our boys went to college. We always stressed education. When you give a gift of education, you give a gift for life.”

Team One Credit Union Scholarship

Team One Credit Union established its scholarship program as a way to help make a college education more affordable for its members children. Since its inception in 1978, the program has grown to award 14 $1,000 scholarships.

Team One prides itself as a leader in the credit union industry and feels a strong commitment to helping people grow, both as individuals and as credit union members. In addition to its scholarship program, Team One Credit Union offers student loans and tuition savings programs.

Steve Wagner Scholarship

Steve Wagner retired as executive director of the American Council of Engineering Companies of Michigan (ACEC/M) in 2003 after 34 years of service. As a member of the Capitol Club and Michigan Society of Association Executives, Steve was well respected by his peers and colleagues and is known for his honesty and integrity.

Steve and his wife, Lana, were married in 1965 and have two daughters, Shelley and Whitney. Throughout his career, Steve has been a proponent of community service and has given many hours himself to church and community programs. Steve also has been a strong proponent of education. ACEC/M has established this scholarship in honor of Steve Wagner to award engineering and surveying students who, like Steve, are active in the community and find it important and necessary to give something back.

Saginaw Country Club Golf Scholarship

The Saginaw Country Club has been one of the premier private clubs in Michigan for over 116 years. In honor of its centennial year in 1998, the Club’s Board of Governors established the Saginaw Country Club Golf Scholarship.

The scholarship is offered to promote and reward golf playing among Saginaw County’s youth.

Our Littlest Angels – Callie M. Wilson Memorial Scholarship

The “Our Littlest Angels – Callie M. Wilson Memorial Scholarship” was established in 2011 to assist students interested in the field of Nursing.

Callie Wilson was born on December 20, 1981 and was a patient in the Regional Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (RNICU) at Covenant HealthCare in Saginaw. After 46 days of wonderful care, Callie passed away. Her parents, Byron and Mickey Wilson, along with several of their friends started the Our Littlest Angels Fund in 1982. The fund has raised $1.3 million through its golf tournament and bowl-a-thons for the purchase of specialized equipment for the RNICU.

Covenant HealthCare’s RNICU is truly a live saving service for distressed infants throughout the East-Central Region of Michigan. Several thousands of critically ill newborns have been cared for in this unit since its inception.

The golf tournament and bowling event have now been retired and the remaining funds are being used to establish this scholarship to honor all those associated with the RNICU in Callie’s memory. This scholarship will be awarded to students wishing to enter education in nursing. They must demonstrate strong leadership skills and a passion for infants and nursing.

Louis R. & Helen E. Schwartz FFA Agricultural Scholarship

The Louis R. and Helen E. Schwartz FFA Agricultural Scholarship was established to help prepare Saginaw County students for a future in agriculture or an agriculture-related field. Both Lou and Helen Schwartz were raised on farms in Iowa, so they knew from first-hand experience that farming can be a difficult business. They moved to Frankenmuth when Lou opened area S&H Stores in 1962. The stores were sold to Quality Farm and Fleet in 1982.

Scholarships are awarded to students from Saginaw County, Michigan; Lyon County, Minnesota and Muscatine County, Iowa.

Daniel Jon Thurlow Memorial Scholarship

Two scholarships will be presented per year, each being renewable for one additional year on a competitive basis. It is also our hope that recipients of this particular scholarship will be especially diligent in using this money to help create a better life for themselves and their family. Thus, Danny’s untimely passing will ultimately contribute to making this world a better place, one family at a time.   

A. Wlock and E. Woodruff Scholarship

The A. Wlock and E. Woodruff Scholarship was created by Emilee Woodruff and Autumn Wlock’s family and the W2 Foundation in loving memory of Emilee and Autumn. Emilee and Autumn passed away in February 2020 when a fire destroyed their home. Emilee was diagnosed with epilepsy as a preteen. Autumn was Emilee’s first child and love of her life. Emilee was a great mother and Autumn was a happy baby. This scholarship is aimed to help students attend college that have been affected by a fire or who have been diagnosed with epilepsy.  

About The Community Foundation

The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties is a community-based social impact investor whose mission is to engage, invest, and lead—working toward a vision of community vibrancy with opportunity for all. Our team of experienced staff and dedicated trustees is committed to boldly leading and supporting transformational community investments. We channel charitable contributions from donors through nonprofit partners that are meeting current community needs and steward community resources responsibly to ensure greater capacity for the future.

Adirondack League Club Scholarship

Established by Adirondack League Club to award scholarships to students in the Central Adirondack region of the Adirondack Park.

Candidates are identified by a committee.

Office of Registered Apprenticeship

Our Mission: To meet the needs of the Kansas economy and its citizens, the office of Apprenticeship will actively grow a robust system that supports our apprenticeship stakeholders, sponsors, intermediaries and apprentices. We do this by strategically empowering partnerships that serve a diverse and inclusive workforce through occupational proficiency, for generations to come.

Apprenticeship Grant for Nonprofits and Healthcare Institutions

Kansas Nonprofit Apprenticeship Grant Program

This grant program is open to eligible nonprofit employers (having 501(c)3 status) and nonprofit health care employers that employ an apprentice pursuant to a registered apprenticeship agreement. The amount of the grant is up to $2,750 for each employed apprentice, not to exceed 20 such grants in any taxable year per eligible employer and up to 4 years per apprentice.

Kansas Apprenticeship Tax and Grant Act

Effective July 1, 2023, Governor Kelly signed into law the Kansas Apprenticeship Act (Act), which establishes a tax credit and grant incentive programs for apprenticeships and creates a matching grant program. This act establishes an incentive fund for businesses and non-profits hiring registered apprentices. It is separated into 3 specific areas including $7.5 million in tax credits to for-profit businesses, $2.5 million for non-profits and healthcare, and $3 million for K-12 Education. The incentive fund is a use it or lose it fund as it does not allow for carry over funding nor building value. It also does not have a sunset clause

Saginaw Area Health Care Administrators Scholarship

The Saginaw Area Health Care Administrators Scholarship was established in 1987 to help advance health care for the elderly and ill elderly. The scholarship provides cash awards to assist employees of association members in meeting educational expenses. Each year, employees in the areas of administration, nursing, dietary, maintenance, and other health-related occupations are invited to apply for scholarships.

Terrance Lavell Winters Memorial Scholarship

The Terrance Lavell Winters Memorial Scholarship was established to honor the life and legacy of a loving son, father, brother and uncle – Terrance Lavell Winters. He was born October 7, 1983 to his parents Barbara Ezell and Ray Henderson. Terrance had one son, Trevontae Lavell Winters, whom he considered his true love.

Sometimes shy, Terrance was loved by his smile. He enjoyed buying cars, repairing them and then selling the vehicles. He was known by his family as “Mr. R.P.M.”

Since Terrance’s passing on April 26, 2005, his mother Barbara has promised to keep his memory alive. To honor her son, Barbara created the Grandma Barb’s World-Class Students program. She bought and filled book bags for nearly 300 students for nine years. Barbara also organized a successful rally, prayer vigil and march to remember and honor her son in April 2015. By establishing this scholarship, Barbara hopes to keep the memories of Terrance alive.

ROOMS (Residential Opportunities on Main Street)

The goal of this grant program is to encourage renovation and improvements in the upper floors of commercial buildings in local Main Street districts consistent with proven Main Street practices, including those that retain unique historic elements and use materials that lower operating costs by conserving energy. The expected outcome of this program is to create new housing opportunities in downtown commercial districts; rehabilitate or preserve properties; and create a stronger tax base.

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

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

About ROOMS

Downtown housing enhances the overall livability and functionality of downtown, leads to increased investment, improved infrastructure, and a positive cycle of economic growth, and fosters a greater sense of place and community identity. A significant amount of unused upper-floor space is available throughout the state and this space could be available for loft-type housing. Many rural communities, however, lack the incentives to address this issue and many local property owners just don’t know where to begin with this type of development.

The goal of this grant program is to encourage renovation and improvements in the upper floors of commercial buildings in local Main Street districts consistent with proven Main Street practices, including those that retain unique historic elements and use materials that lower operating costs by conserving energy. The expected outcome of this program is to create new housing opportunities in downtown commercial districts; rehabilitate or preserve properties; and create a stronger tax base.

Micro Arts Program Grant

Supporting small organizations through arts programming

The Micro Arts Program (MAP) supports the work of Kansas organizations with annual total cash income of $20,000 or less. These organizations are the backbone of Kansas’ grassroots arts community, and this program can serve as an introduction to Kansas Arts Commission (KAC) funding by providing grants of $1,000 – $2,000 with 6-month periods of performance and quick turnaround time.

Eligible projects include cultural projects, programs, exhibitions, series, arts education projects, and other arts programming. This program provides funding for arts-centered non-profits to harness the power of the arts to increase student success, foster creative thinking, develop critical job skills, enhance community development, and increase participation in the arts across Kansas.

Kansas Touring Roster Visiting Artists Program

Bringing the arts to every corner of Kansas

Kansas Touring Roster Visiting Artists grants provide funding for eligible organizations to engage and deepen the impact of arts programming on local and underserved audiences through exposure to and interaction with professional visiting artists from the Kansas Touring Roster. Presenters may book artists in any discipline, not just in performing arts. Projects should strive to integrate an arts discipline into non-arts content areas, help interpret an exhibition, performance or presentation, and support community development goals and objectives.

Please visit the Kansas Touring Roster page for information about available artists.

Apprenticeship to Educator (A2E) Grant

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

What is the A2E Grant? 

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

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