Aging in Community Cycle Grant (formerly Older Adult Cycle)

Aging in Community Cycle Grant (formerly Older Adult Cycle)

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Menorah Heritage Foundation
Amount: Up to US $15,000
Last Updated: December 29, 2025

Summary

The Aging in Community Cycle Grant, offered by the Menorah Heritage Foundation, aims to support organizations that enhance the quality of life for older adults in the Kansas City metro area. The grant provides unrestricted operating funds, program-specific grants, and special project funding for innovative strategies. Eligible organizations must have 501(c)(3) status and focus on issues such as healthcare, housing, and social engagement, ensuring that older adults can thrive in their communities.

Overview

NOTE: Older Adult Special Initiative Grants are limited to invited, collaborative proposals that convene Kansas City metro area stakeholders addressing important issues facing older adults who wish to age in community. These issues include, but are not limited to, access to community-based services (healthcare, housing, care management, transportation, etc.) and social/civic engagement. A meeting with Menorah Heritage Foundation is required. Background Aging in community is a concept that promotes interconnected relationships and supports for older adults to safely remain living in their chosen home and community to avoid prematurely entering institutional care due to the need for modest additional resources. Our Aging in Community Cycle provides three types of grants to organizations and programs that support older adults aging in community. First, we award unrestricted operating grants to organizations which exclusively or primarily support older adults aging in community by providing social and civic engagement, home adaptations/repairs, access to healthy food, physical activity and/or learning opportunities. This unrestricted funding may be used for organizational expenses which are part of a board-approved annual budget, including administrative salaries, employee benefits, utilities, office supplies and equipment, technology, and professional development. Second, we award grants to programs which exclusively serve older adults aging in community, even though the sponsoring organization is not primarily senior focused. This funding must be used only for the specific program supporting aging in community. Third, from time to time and by invitation only, we award special project grants to provide seed money to early-stage and/or innovative strategies which address specific challenges of aging in community in the KC metro area. Organizations who are interested in applying for a special project grant should contact our Program Officer, Kim Lewis, to schedule a preliminary conversation. The Menorah Heritage Foundation is guided by the following principles in awarding grants: Perpetuate the Jewish CommunityAnticipate and adapt to changing needsInvest in transformational changeAddress critical/severe needsSupport meaningful programs that benefit the Greater Kansas City Community The Menorah Heritage Foundation seeks to support organizations who: Maintain a history of compassion and excellenceAddress the needs and represent the interests and viewpoints of their clientsPossess the leadership, management, efficiencies and resources necessary to achieve the organizational objectivesCollaborate with other providers whenever feasible and appropriateEstablish financial stability and present a sense of awareness regarding the details of operations Older Adult Cycle Our Older Adult Grants include special initiatives and core operating support. Special Initiatives are invited proposals only that seek to convene regional stakeholders addressing the important issues facing older adults who wish to age in community. These issues include housing, care giving, transportation, and social/civic enjoyment. Our Older Adult core operating grants support core operating expenses for organizations that provide programs and services promoting social and civic engagement of older adults. Core operating support is defined as expenses incurred for day-to-day operations such as: Utilities, accounting services, audit, technology, facility maintenance, professional development. Older Adult Special Initiative Grants are limited to invited, collaborative proposals that convene Kansas City metro area stakeholders addressing important issues facing older adults who wish to age in community. These issues include, but are not limited to, access to community based services (healthcare, housing, care management, transportation, etc.) and social/civic engagement.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Eligible organizations must have been determined to have 501(c)(3) status by the Internal Revenue Service, and if this organization is a foundation, that it has been determined to be a non-private foundation.Geographic Parameters: Eligible organizations must maintain ongoing operations, including staffing and programs, within the greater Kansas City metropolitan area, defined as Johnson and Wyandotte Counties in Kansas, and Cass, Clay, Jackson, and Platte Counties in Missouri. All funded services/programs are designed and carried out for the benefit of a target population living in the greater Kansas City metropolitan area. Any exception to this geographic limitation must be requested and approved by MHF prior to submission of any grant.Non-Discrimination Requirement: Eligible organizations do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, or disability both in hiring staff and providing services.

Ineligibility

The Menorah Heritage Foundation does NOT typically make grants for the following:Lobbying, propaganda, or other attempts to influence legislationSectarian purposes (programs that promote or require a religious doctrine)Capital campaignsFundraising events, including sponsorship, tickets, and advertisingIndividual scholarship supportDeficit fundingEndowment support or multi-year commitmentsThe following organizations are not eligible to apply in the Aging in Community Cycle:continuing care retirement communities,skilled nursing facilities,assisted living or independent living facilities,hospitals, and organizations that require or advocate religious activity as part of or in exchange for services.