Topeka and Shawnee County First Opportunity Fund (T/SC FOF)
Funding Amount
Up to $100,000
Deadline
Rolling (quarterly review)
Grant Type
Foundation
Deadline history & next window
- Cycle
- Rolling — applications accepted year-round
- Tracked since
- April 2026
Source: the cycle recorded on this listing. Confirm dates with the funder.
Can we apply?
Check your organization against each line. Taken from the listing; confirm with the funder's guidelines.
Geography
- Located in an economically distressed area
Other requirements
- To qualify for a loan, your Shawnee County business must meet at least one of the following criteria:
- The business is owned by a low-income person
- The business employs (or will employ) low-income individuals
- Low Income Definition: Annual income, adjusted for family size, of less than 80% of the area's median family income
Overview
Type: Not-for-profit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) loan program
Geographic Scope: Shawnee County, Kansas
Purpose: To grow the community by helping local businesses create jobs and increase production through business loans and support services.
Services Provided
- Loans up to $100,000
- Business consultation and counseling
- Mentoring, education, and training
- Networking opportunities
- Credit score assessment and recommendations
- Connection to additional resources
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for a loan, your Shawnee County business must meet at least one of the following criteria:
- The business is owned by a low-income person
- The business is located in an economically distressed area
- The business employs (or will employ) low-income individuals
Low Income Definition: Annual income, adjusted for family size, of less than 80% of the area's median family income
Key Features
- Services are confidential
- Professional guidance only; you maintain control of all business decisions
- Designed specifically for business owners who do not qualify for loans at conventional financial institutions
- Certified by the U.S. Department of the Treasury as a CDFI
Contact Information
GO Topeka
- Phone: 785-231-6000
- Email: Contact Manuel Castro for more information
- Address: 719 S Kansas Ave Suite 100, Topeka, KS 66603
How to Apply
Application Process - 3 Steps
- Get Initial Paperwork
- Call GO Topeka at 785-231-6000 or obtain initial paperwork from their website
- Complete Application Forms
- Complete the pre-application form (PDF)
- Complete the current application form (PDF)
- Provide all supporting materials
- Review provided checklist of required documents
- Submit and Wait for Review
- Submit Step 3 application materials to Topeka and Shawnee County First Opportunity Fund
- Review process takes approximately 30 days
Required Supporting Materials
- Business plan
- Financial statements
- Details about operations
- (Complete checklist provided during application process)
Contact for Application Support
- Phone: 785-231-6000
- Email: Manuel Castro or smallbusinessincentives@topekapartnership.com
What Growth Organization of Topekashawnee CO actually gave
Source: IRS Form 990, 2024
- Grants in 2024
- 15
- Total given
- $322K
- Median grant
- $11K
- Range
- $7,500–$100K
- By dollars: Kansas 81%, Nebraska 5%, Illinois 5%. Top recipient cities: Topeka, KS; Lincoln, NE; Chicago, IL.
- 0% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
- 73% of recipients were new grantees, not repeat recipients.
Example grants
Washburn University Foundation · Topeka, KS
Scholarships for washburn tech and washburn tech east
$100K
Advisors Excel LLC · Topeka, KS
Choose topeka employer match
$41K
Seismi Inc · Lincoln, NE
Product development support
$18K
Arch Pet Food · Chicago, IL
Product development support
$15K
Corefirst Bank · Topeka, KS
Choose topeka employer match
$13K
Focus Areas & Funding Uses
Fields of Work
- Small businesses
- Community development
- Economic services
Categories
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