Apply for Grants Administered by the Community Foundation

The Kansas City, Missouri, Branch of the American Association of University Women promotes education and scholarships for women. The mission of the Wagy Fund is to further the mission of AAUW and to honor Irene Wagy.

Grant Focus: Organizations that promote societal change through programs benefiting women and girls in Kansas City, Missouri.
Eligibility Requirements: Proposals from organizations in Clay, Platte and Jackson counties in Missouri and Wyandotte and Johnson counties in Kansas are accepted if the project primarily benefits Kansas City, Missouri women and girls. Preference is given to organizations headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri.
Areas of Exclusion: Funding may not be used to support the following:

• Individuals
• Fraternal, labor or social groups
• Endowments
• Annual appeals
• Capital expenditures

Grant Range: Grants range from $1,000 to $4,000.
Application Available: Monday, September 7
Application Deadline: Friday, October 9
Contact Information: Mariah Roady, roady@growyourgiving.org or 816.268.3232

The Black Community Fund provides support and leadership to enhance socio-economic aspects of African American communities in the Greater Kansas City area.

Grant Focus: Black-led, Black-serving organizations in Kansas City.
Contact Information: blackcommunityfund@growyourgiving.org

The Children’s Services Fund of Clay County provides financial support to organizations promoting the mental and social-emotional health of children in Clay County, Missouri.

Grant Focus: Organizations that offer services supporting the mental health needs of children 19 years of age or younger residing in Clay County, Missouri.
Areas of Exclusion: Past areas of exclusion included:

• Inpatient medical, psychiatric and chemical dependency services
• Transportation services
• Grants to individuals
• Capital expenditures
• Annual appeals
• Endowments

Contact Information: Kathy Seelbach, kseelbach@claycokids.org

Developmental Disability Services of Jackson County – eitas is a political subdivision of the Jackson County, Missouri government, primarily funded through a property tax.

Grant Focus: Organizations that provide support and services to individuals with developmental disabilities within Jackson County, Missouri.
Eligibility Requirements: Please review past Funding Priorities for more information.
Contact Information: Tracy Mauk, tracym@eitas.org

The Community Foundation’s Board Discretionary Fund brings together assets donors have entrusted to us for the purpose of addressing critical community needs. The annual grantmaking is approximately $2 million.  

Grant Focus: In 2026, the Community Foundation’s Board Discretionary Fund prioritized nonprofit organizations that help individuals and families remain stably housed and prevent displacement in communities disproportionately impacted by housing instability and disinvestment across the Kansas City metropolitan area.  
Eligibility Requirements: In 2026, eligible organizations included those that addressed housing stability by preventing housing loss and stabilizing households in crisis, supporting pathways to quality attainable housing, and providing housing support and workforce preparation.
Contact Information: grants@growyourgiving.org or 816.627.3452 

Click here to review our frequently asked questions.

The Homelessness Trust Fund serves as an endowment for assistance to homeless individuals and those in danger of becoming homeless.

Grant Focus: Organizations that provide assistance to homeless persons or those at imminent risk of becoming homeless and offer services to this population on a regular basis.
Eligibility Requirements: In 2026, grants were made to organizations whose mission statement focuses on assisting individuals experiencing homelessness or those at imminent risk of becoming homeless. Organizations must distribute assistance to eligible individuals residing in Kansas City, Missouri, and/or Jackson County, Missouri. Organizations must use and report through a shared data reporting system.
Grant Range: In 2026, each applicant could request up to $10,000. No more than 20% of the requested amount could be used for the grant program’s operational or staffing costs.
Contact Information: grants@growyourgiving.org or 816.627.3452

The Jacob L. and Ella C. Loose Foundation supports organizations working to strengthen the lives of children and families across Kansas City and Jackson County, Missouri.

Grant Focus: In 2026, the Loose Foundation’s Board considered local nonprofits for the Empower Together event. This special gathering created space for connection—bringing the Loose Foundation together with organizations to learn more about their work and to celebrate a shared commitment to helping children and families thrive in Kansas City.
Eligibility Requirements: Eligible applicants included organizations that focused on serving children and families within Kansas City, Missouri and/or Jackson County, Missouri.
Grant Range: Grant amounts varied based on scope, scale, alignment, and operating budget, typically starting at $20,000. Both general operating support and program support were eligible.
Contact Information: grants@growyourgiving.org or 816.627.3452

The Unified Government Hollywood Casino Fund strives to improve the health of Wyandotte County, Kansas, through community programs. The selection committee is seeking applications that align with the Board of Commissioners’ and Healthy Communities Wyandotte’s priorities, which include efforts to support good health and quality of life in Wyandotte County.

Grant Focus: In 2026, the grant focus was on initiatives that foster healthy lifestyles in the Wyandotte County community.
Eligibility Requirements: In 2026, grants were only made to organizations whose clients and beneficiaries are residents of Wyandotte County, Kansas. Grantees were required to report zip code data for program or service participants.
Areas of Exclusion: Past areas of exclusion included:

• Capital campaign
• Endowment campaign
• Annual fund drive
• Debt retirement or operating deficits
• Direct support to individuals, including scholarships
• Lobbying activities, legislation-related activities or political campaigns
• Activities that specifically benefit the members of an athletic, veteran, fraternal, sectarian or religious group
• Equipment expenses, unless the equipment will directly improve the organization’s ability to provide and deliver services
• Requests for general operating support will only be considered if the funding will be used to significantly expand the services of the organization

Grant Range: There were no restrictions on the minimum or maximum grant size. In 2026, grants ranged from $250 – $22,000 and the average grant award was $4,876.29.
Contact Information: grants@growyourgiving.org or 816.627.3452

Variety KC is a children’s charity committed to helping kids of all abilities be active, be social, and belong by providing adaptive equipment, therapies, and opportunities for activity and full inclusion.

Grant Focus: In 2026, Variety KC partnered with municipalities to develop large, destination-level inclusive playgrounds serving children and families of all abilities across Greater Kansas City. Through the Ten Parks Project, Variety KC, with anchor support from the Mallouk Family Foundation, aims to build the region’s first network of fully inclusive play spaces, shaped by Universal Design principles and informed by individuals with disabilities and their families.
Eligibility Requirements: In 2026, this opportunity was open to municipalities, public park systems, and projects on public land. The Ten Parks Project selected ten projects to create a regionally distributed network of inclusive playgrounds across urban, suburban, and rural communities.
Contact Information: For eligibility questions, email info@varietykc.org. For technical assistance, reach out to grants@growyourgiving.org or 816.627.3452.

About: The Hispanic Development Fund’s (HDF) mission is to improve the quality of life of Latino families in Greater Kansas City by engaging the Latino community in philanthropy to build stronger communities through grantmaking and scholarship support. HDF has moved to an invitation-only application process, with invitations extended based on advisory board priorities and community needs. 
Contact Information: info@hdfkc.org

About: The Irven E. and NeVada P. Linscomb Foundation grants to nonprofit organizations benefiting underserved, low-income children in Clay and Platte Counties. The board makes grantmaking decisions based on the Linscomb Foundation’s priorities and community needs.  
Contact Information: Mariah Roady, roady@growyourgiving.org or 816.268.3232