Education and Childcare

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Child Care Community Partnership Grants

Funding opportunities and technical assistance for communities working to address access to high-quality, affordable child care. There are two funding opportunities available – Initial Child Care Coalition Building funds of up to $2,000 for communities to support coalition-building activities and Implementing Child Care Capacity-Building Plans with funding up to $45,000 for eligible coalitions.

Deadline: Applications are received and reviewed on a rolling basis. Check the website for more information.
Organization: Child Care Aware of Kansas, in partnership with the Kansas Department for Children and Families

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) – Non-Profit Childhood Education and Care Facilities

Grants to cities or counties. The grants will allow for construction of new buildings or renovations of existing buildings, acquisition, engineering or architectural fees, and administration of the grant funds. Funding amounts are determined by beneficiaries with max award of $600,000 for populations of 5,000 or less, and max award of $800,000 for populations of 5,000 or more. A 25% local match is required.

Deadline: Part of the Commerce CDBG Annual Competitive Round. In 2024, applications due May 17. Check the website for more details.
Organization: Kansas Department of Commerce

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) – Youth Job Training

Program provides funding to help youth enter the workforce with training and skills development, this program encourages self-sufficiency and independence, and addresses the shortage of skilled trade workers in Kansas. Partnerships with educational institutions and/or other entities involved in youth job training are encouraged. Communities can receive up to $100,000.

Deadline: Part of the Commerce CDBG Annual Competitive Round. In 2024, applications due May 17. Check the website for more details.
Organization: Kansas Department of Commerce

Foundation for Rural Service Community Grants

Grant program designed to support local efforts to build and sustain a high quality of life in rural America. Grants are concentrated in four major areas including 1.) Business Development, 2.) Community Development, 3.) Education, and 4.) Telecommunications. Award amounts range from $250 to $5,000. The program is offered in cooperation with NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association and applications must go through the local telephone company. Check with your service provider to see if they are a member of NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association or the Foundation for Rural Service (FRS) and if they participate in the grant program.

Deadline: Annually, generally in September.
Organization: Foundation for Rural Service (FRS) in cooperation with NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association

Frontier Farm Credit Working Here Fund

Grants for projects and organizations making an impact in eastern Kansas.* Awards are designed to impact Agriculture Education, Young and Beginning Producers, Hunger and Nutrition and Essential Services/Disaster Relief needs. Two separate funding options are available—one for up to $2,000 and another for up to $10,000. The larger grant is targeted to communities with a population of 5,000 of less. *Qualifying applications must be for serving programs that benefit communities within the Frontier Farm Credit service area of eastern Kansas. Those counties that meet the Frontier Farm Credit criteria AND are located within the NCRPC service area include the counties of Clay, Dickinson, Marshall, and Washington.

Deadline: Quarterly review for applications up to $2,000; Semiannual review for applications up to $10,000.
Organization: Frontier Farm Credit

Garden Grant Program

Grants ($2,000) to support a new or existing edible educational garden at either a K–12 School, 501(c)(3) Non-profit working in partnership with a K–12 school, or 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Deadline: Annually, generally in October.
Organization: Whole Kids Foundation

Good Sports Equipment Grants

Program provides athletic equipment, footwear, and apparel to disadvantaged young people nationwide. To be eligible, applicant must directly serve youth between the ages of 3-18 years old, serve youth in an economically disadvantaged area, and operate an organized sport, recreational activity, or fitness program that offers consistent and structured opportunity for play to large groups of children.

Deadline: Ongoing.
Organization: Good Sports

J. E. and L. E. Mabee Foundation, Inc.

The Foundation provides assistance to Christian religious organizations, charitable organizations, institutions of higher learning, hospitals and other organizations of a general charitable nature in the general categories of Educational, General, Health and Religious. Most of the Mabee Foundation grants are made toward building and facility construction and renovation projects and to the purchase of major medical equipment.   Ordinarily, grants are made on a challenge or conditional basis to provide incentive for enlisting the support of other donors. Only the states of Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas are eligible.

Deadline: Applications accepted on an ongoing basis; Trustees meet quarterly.
Organization: J. E. and L. E. Mabee Foundation, Inc.

Kansas Early Childhood Block Grant

Grants to school districts, child care centers, Head Start sites, and community programs. Eligible programs must provide research-based child development services for at-risk infants, toddlers and their families, and preschool for three- and four-year olds. Focus is on at-risk children and underserved areas.

Deadline: Check website for current deadline.
Organization: The Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund

Kansas Book Festival Library Grants

The Kansas Book Festival awards annual grants in the areas of technology and books. To apply for one of the grants, you must be either a public library or school library located in Kansas. You may apply for both the Technology and Book Funding grants, but no library will be awarded both grants in the same calendar year. Libraries also are not eligible to be awarded a grant from the Kansas Book Festival in consecutive years. Special consideration will be given to libraries with a great financial need.

Deadline: Annually, generally October-December
Organization: Kansas Book Festival

KidsGardening – Youth Garden Grant

Youth Garden Grant supports school and youth educational garden projects that enhance the quality of life for students and their communities. The program is open to any nonprofit organization, public or private school, or youth program planning a new garden program or expanding an established one that serves at least 15 youth between the ages of 3 and 18.

Deadline: Annually, generally in December
Organization: Whole Kids Foundation

North Central SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education)

Grant programs for projects that support research or educational projects related to Sustainable Agriculture. Several different grants and grant amounts are available based on the specific project proposal. Grant applicants can range from farmers and ranchers to educational institutions to non-profit agencies.

Deadline: Proposal deadlines vary with each grant program.
Organization: North Central SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education)

NW Kansas Learns – Dane G. Hansen Foundation

Support for a variety of enrichment options, engaging learning opportunities, and “reverse field trips” to Northwest Kansas public school students and teachers. Some of the partnering organizations offer virtual delivery options. Note: Opportunities are only available to NW Kansas public schools in the 26-county Hansen service area.

Deadline: Visit the website for details on how to schedule a program.
Organization: Dane G. Hansen Foundation

Patterson Family Foundation

The Patterson Family Foundation is a family-led foundation with a focus on strengthening rural communities. It is geographically focused on assisting Kansas and Western Missouri counties with fewer than 50,000 residents. The emphasis is on providing financial and strategic guidance in healthcare, education, and rural resilience.

Deadline: See website for more information.
Organization: Patterson Family Foundation

The Sunderland Foundation

Grants in four major areas including: higher education; youth services; arts and culture; and health care and hospitals. Support focuses on supporting bricks and mortar projects, awarding grants to nonprofits in the Kansas City region and other areas where the Ash Grove Cement Company does business. Eligible areas include Western Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Arkansas, and Western Iowa, and, to a lesser extent, in Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Utah and Montana. Areas of interest include higher education, churches, youth serving agencies, health facilities, community buildings, museums, civic projects, and low maintenance, energy efficient housing projects sponsored by qualified tax-exempt organizations.

Deadline: Throughout year.
Organization: The Sunderland Foundation

Transportation Alternatives – Safe Routes to School (SRTS)

This program provides funding for surface transportation projects that fall into one of these four main categories: Pedestrian & Bicycle Facilities; Safe Routes to School (SRTS); Scenic & Environmental; Historic and Archeological Transportation.

A local cash match is required to pay for 20% or more on eligible project costs. Applications must be sponsored by and submitted through a local unit of government (city/county), however, any public entity, private, nonprofit, or civic organization may promote and assist with the project application and project.

Deadline: Application workshops are held and applications are solicited every other year.
Organization: Kansas Department of Transportation

True Value Foundation Painting a Brighter Future Grants

Grants for up to 40 gallons of paint to local schools. The school must be a public, private or parochial school in a community served by a True Value Company retail identity.

Deadline: Annually, generally in November.
Organization: True Value Foundation

21st Century Community Learning Centers Program

The 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) are funded by federal dollars under Title IV-B. The 21st CCLC programs are intended to create community learning centers that provide academic and enrichment opportunities for children outside of the regular school day. In order to qualify for 21st CCLC funds, grantees must meet the following absolute priority: The grant will primarily serve students who attend schools eligible for Title I Schoolwide programs. Title I Schoolwide designation typically means that at least 40% of the students qualify to receive free or reduced-cost meals.

Deadline: Spring
Organization: Kansas State Department of Education

USDA Food and Nutrition Service – Farm to School Grant Program

The Farm to School Grant Program provides support to incorporate local products into school meal programs, integrate agricultural education into the classroom, and cultivate and expand school gardens. School districts, State and local agencies, Indian tribal organizations, agricultural producers, and non-profit organizations are eligible.

Deadline: Annually, generally in December
Organization: USDA Food and Nutrition Service

Wal-Mart Spark Good Local Grants

Program awards small grants to local organizations to support the needs of communities. Eligible entities include 501c3 organizations, government entities, schools, and faith-based organizations. Grants are available through each of the Walmart and Sam’s Club facilities. Local Community grants range from $250 to $5,000.

Deadline: Applications accepted quarterly.
Organization: Wal-Mart Foundation

Waste Tire Grants

Grants to Kansas local units of government and public & private schools to support the purchase of products made from recycled tires including playground cover. If awarded, the grant will pay up to 50% of the eligible cost in the awarded project; the match requirement is a minimum of 50%. Tire derived products eligible for the program include the following: pour-in-place rubber surface, loose fill rubber mulch, rubber tiles for unitary mat, molded or extruded rubber edging, or tables/benches.

Deadline: Annually, typically in November.
Organization: Kansas Department of Health and Environment