Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation
Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation, based in Norton, Kansas, is identified in its filing as a Form 990-PF private foundation. Its stated work includes providing access to capital and loans for businesses that support economic opportunities and growth in the region, as well as addressing childcare needs.
Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation at a glance
In short: Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation gave $413K across 141 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in Kansas. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $412,560
- +7.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 141
- +683.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,926
- -86.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $500
- Total assets
- $10,788,463
- +22.1% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Kansas (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for charitable contributions; it says contributions are made only to preselected charitable organizations. Its separate business funding form requests information about the business and project, the amount requested, owner and management experience, and financial information, including three years of financial data or projections for a startup. The form states that funding cannot be provided when it can be obtained from traditional sources.
- Contact
Mailing address: 212 S Kansas Ave, Norton, KS 67654
Phone: (785) 874-5150
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Cloud Corp ($35K). Together the top 10 received $252K.
Grant Size Distribution
176 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 174 grants of 176 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The website says the organization serves a 26-county area of Northwest Kansas. Its 2025 filing reports that 100% of grant dollars went to Kansas recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 141 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2023 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $385K (2024) to $1.5M (2023). In 2025 it made 141 grants totaling $413K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud Corp Concordia, KS | Workforce Development | $34,500 |
| Phillips County Economic Developmen Phillipsburg, KS | Workforce Development | $30,000 |
| Lincoln County Economic Development Lincoln, KS | Workforce Development | $30,000 |
| Jewell County Community Development Burr Oak, KS | Workforce Development | $30,000 |
| Ottawa County Minneapolis, KS | Workforce Development | $30,000 |
| Russell County Economic Development Russell, KS | Workforce Development | $30,000 |
| Gove County Economic Development Quinter, KS | Workforce Deveopment | $30,000 |
| Kidz Korner Collyer, KS | Childcare | $14,331 |
| Bright Minds Academy at Hays Med Hays, KS | Childcare | $12,689 |
| BMA at the Grove Hays, KS | Childcare | $10,671 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $10,788,463 | $4,549,647 | $2,602,190 | $412,560 | 141 | $6,183,147 | — |
| 2024 | $8,837,835 | $751,358 | $4,147,069 | $384,942 | 18 | $4,448,918 | — |
| 2023 | $12,237,822 | $6,158,375 | $3,106,306 | $1,467,475 | 17 | $4,420,857 | — |
| 2022 | $9,185,510 | $2,636,959 | $2,213,220 | — | — | $4,377,030 | — |
| 2021 | $8,759,967 | $2,141,780 | $1,197,862 | — | — | $2,318,238 | — |
| 2020 | $7,818,594 | $3,795,490 | $964,919 | — | — | — | $13,524 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission is to provide economic and entrepreneurial assistance to businesses in rural Northwest Kansas. It says it aims to support businesses and entrepreneurs, foster economic innovation, and encourage population growth in the region.
In its 2025 filing, the organization describes direct charitable activities that include providing access to capital to business ventures that create or will create positive economic opportunities, and making loans to businesses to facilitate economic growth. It also identifies childcare and early childhood education as a focus, citing their importance to community quality of life and economic health.
The website lists programs related to workforce and business connections, housing resources, cybersecurity career pathways, early childhood education, and business services. Its K-State 105 technical assistance grant document describes support for rural communities developing or updating Housing Assessment Tools and creating Reinvestment Housing Incentive Districts.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 141 grants totaling $412,560. Grant amounts ranged from $300 to $34,500, with a median of $500. The largest reported awards included $34,500 to CLOUD CORP in Concordia for workforce development; $30,000 each to economic development organizations in Phillips, Lincoln, Jewell, Russell, and Gove counties, and to Ottawa County, for workforce development; and $14,331 to KIDZ KORNER in Collyer for childcare. Other reported childcare grants included $12,689 to BRIGHT MINDS ACADEMY AT HAYS MED, $10,671 to BMA AT THE GROVE, $10,375 to BRIGHT MINDS ACADEMY, and $9,070 to LAUGH N LEARN DAYCARE PRESCHOOL CEN.
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Separately, its website provides a Business Concept Development Request Form for business funding. The form says applications and loan terms are subject to review and final approval by the board and/or loan committee. It states that funding is intended for businesses or individual proprietors unable to obtain conventional commercial funding, for economic development in rural and economically depressed areas of Northwest Kansas, and that proposed funding must demonstrate an economic-development impact.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Scott Sproul as CEO; Clare Gustin as Chairman; Michelle Foote as Vice President; Morris Engle as Secretary; and Mark Lowry, Mike Posson, Sandy Jacobs, Luke Mahin, and Eric Brown as directors.
Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation is led by Scott Sproul, CEO on every filing since 2020; 8 of 9 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Scott Sproul
CEO
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$155K (2020) → $186K (2025)
Clare Gustin
Chairman
Director → Vice President, 2023
Vice President → Chairman, 2025
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
$5K (2022) → $19K (2025)
Mark Lowry
Director
President → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$7K (2021) → $19K (2025)
Mike Posson
Director
Vice President → Chairman, 2021
Chairman → Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$7K (2021) → $19K (2025)
Sandy Jacobs
Director
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
$2K (2023) → $19K (2025)
Eric Brown
Director
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
$2K (2025)
Luke Mahin
Director
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
$2K (2025)
Michelle Foote
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$7K (2021) → $0 (2025)
Morris Engle
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
$7K (2021) → $19K (2025)
Former officers (3)
- Former: Doug Albin (2020–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Jenny Russell (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Mike Michaelis (2020) — Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $186K, to Scott Sproul (CEO). 8 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation
How much does Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation give each year?
Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation gave $413K across 141 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $385K across 18 grants.
What is Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation's typical grant size?
Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation's median grant in 2025 was $500, and its average grant was $2,926, across 141 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation give grants?
Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation gives mostly in Kansas: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Salina, KS (31 grants), Hays, KS (29 grants), Minneapolis, KS (9 grants) and Russell, KS (6 grants).
Does Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 141 grants with a stated purpose on Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Childcare" (106 grants), "Staff Retention" (14 grants) and "Housing" (13 grants).
Who are Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation's largest grantees?
Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation's largest 2025 grantees include Cloud Corp ($34,500), Phillips County Economic Developmen ($30,000) and Lincoln County Economic Development ($30,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 23% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation?
Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation reported $10.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $4.5M.
What does Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation fund?
The organization’s stated mission is to provide economic and entrepreneurial assistance to businesses in rural Northwest Kansas. It says it aims to support businesses and entrepreneurs, foster economic innovation, and encourage population growth in the region. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for charitable contributions; it says contributions are made only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation's EIN?
Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-1203323. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 21, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation funds
Community Improvement & Capacity Building Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation down — hundreds of funders to go?