Heartland Area Action Grant
The Heartland Area Action Fund is an unrestricted community grant fund. The Fund was created by the generosity of individuals who have contributed money to the Foundation for charitable use to address the present and future needs of Ellis, Rooks, and Trego County. From this endowed fund, the Foundation board annually determines and designates the amount of available funding in the form of community grants.

The Foundation’s Heartland Area Action Fund accepts applications once a year. Specific dates are announced annually through a press release in the local newspapers and our website. Applications are not accepted outside of the grant cycle. The grant cycle for 2012 is February 15, 2012 through March 15, 2012. The maximum grant award is $400.00.

The applications are open to a variety of different issues and target populations. However, successful applications are those that will help fulfill the Foundation's mission to improve the quality of life for the Heartland area. All individuals, groups, and non-profit organizations are encouraged to apply. Grants will be limited to projects within the Heartland area defined as Ellis, Rooks, and Trego County.

All applicants will need to fill out a grant application form, and all applications will be considered by the board according to the Foundation's grant guidelines (see below).

HCF Grant Application & Budget page (PDF)
HCF Grant Application & Budget page (Word.doc)

If you have any questions, please feel free to call the Heartland Community Foundation at 785-621-4090.

Grant Notification: Notification of grant awards will be completed by April 20, 2012. All grant applicants will be notified.

Thanks for your interest in making the Heartland a better place to live!

TOP

Grant Guidelines
Heartland Community Foundation
Applications for the Heartland Area Action Fund are sought once a year from the general public.  Grants from this unrestricted fund are decided by the Foundation’s Board of Directors and are traditionally, open to a variety of community issues and target populations within the Heartland area.  Grants may be made to 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organizations, educational, government or religious institutions.  Applicants do not have to be a 501(c)(3) organization, but the project must be charitable. 

Grant recipients that do not have a 501(c)(3) nonprofit status,  and are not an educational, government or religious institute must follow expenditure responsibility as outlined in the Foundation’s Grant Making and Due Diligence Policy & Procedure guidelines.

Applications that benefit the greater good of the population or the community are preferred and are restricted to the Heartland area defined as: Ellis, Rooks and Trego Counties

When reviewing applications for grants from the Heartland Area Action Fund, the following will be considered:

Did your organization receive funding from the previous grant cycle?

The Heartland Community Foundation will not award grants to an organization two consecutive years in a row.  If your organization received funding from last year’s grant cycle, it is not eligible to apply this year.

What type of support is being requested?

• Project or program support --supports specific projects or programs that are often linked to an organization's service.
• Operating or general support -- supports the work of an organization from administrative expenses to program costs.
• Endowments-- a permanent gift to be invested to provide income for continued support for an organization.
• Seed money-- to establish or initiate a new project, program, or organization. Seed money can cover salaries and other operating expenses of a new project (also known as start-up funds).
• Capacity building -- activities that strengthen an organization and help it fullfill its mission either through staff and equipment, new building or renovation, publications, training, and convening.
• Capital -- supports construction or renovation of a facility.

Is the program or project sustainable?

The Foundation will also consider if the program, project, or organization for which funding is requested is sustainable. Will the initiative continue after Foundation support ends? Do they have other ways of funding?

Is this a new grant request?

Although the grant committee will consider a request for funding that is the same or similar previously approve grant, preference will be given to new and innovative grant requests.

The Foundation will NOT consider grants to the following:

• Political projects of any kind
• Organizations or projects that practice discrimination by race, color, creed, sex, age, or national origin
• Operating deficits or retirement of debt

Please pay special attention to the directions on the grant applications listed under "Request for Fund," for your application to be considered. Any incomplete, incorrect, or late applications will not be considered.