WKCF: Urgent Needs Fund Grants

The WKCF Urgent Needs Fund provides immediate financial support to nonprofit organizations facing urgent challenges, including lost revenue and increased programming due to crises like COVID-19. This fund operates without set application deadlines, allowing for continuous access to funding. Organizations can apply multiple times, with a maximum funding limit of $3,500 per year. The fund excludes certain requests, such as individual grants, capital campaigns, and projects that discriminate based on personal characteristics.

Urgent Needs Grant Guidelines
The Urgent Needs Fund was originally established to provide immediate assistance to nonprofit organizations that struggled with immediate lost revenue, non-recoverable expenses, and/or increased programming due to the COVID-19 crisis. Since that time, the Urgent Needs grant has been opened to any request for funding that is considered of urgent importance to the applicant and that warrants application outside of regular application deadlines. Additionally, this process can be utilized during times of community-wide crisis, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic, to address the needs listed above, and to provide funding that will span gaps not covered through state or federal emergency assistance.
The Western Kansas Community Foundation accepts Urgent Needs Grant applications outside of typical grant cycles. Because of the nature of emergency requests, Urgent Needs grants are continually available with no set application deadline dates. As such, applications will be reviewed and awarded in as timely a manner as possible.
Total Urgent Needs funding per agency will not exceed $3,500 for the calendar year. Organizations may apply as many times as needed until their funding maximum has been met. Agencies that were awarded Urgent Needs funding in the prior year will begin each new year with a $0 balance toward their annual $3,500 maximum.

Ineligibility

The WKCF will not give consideration to funding Urgent Needs Grants for:

• Grants to individuals
• Capital campaigns
• Medical research

Internal studies or research (i.e. Studies conducted by the applicant organization are not eligible. Studies conducted by a third-party for the applicant, such as impact studies, or a study to help form a strategic plan, are eligible.)
Religious organizations for religious purposes
Capital debt reduction, including construction or real estate loan payments
Endowment establishment or enhancement
Umbrella funding of organizations that would distribute requested funds at their own discretion
Give-away items for prizes/incentives
Projects that discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, physical ability, sexual orientation or identity, or political preference