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Greater Kansas City Community Foundation

Annual Giving
$676.7M
Grant Range
$1K - $0.0M
Decision Time
2mo

Greater Kansas City Community Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $676.7 million (2024)
  • Total Assets: $6.9 billion
  • Geographic Focus: Greater Kansas City area (Jackson, Clay, and Platte counties in MO; Johnson and Wyandotte counties in KS)
  • Funds Managed: 7,407 charitable funds
  • Grant Range: Varies by program ($500 - $31,800 for competitive grants)
  • Application Method: Mixed (primarily donor-directed; some competitive programs)

Contact Details

Main Office:

For Grant Applications:

For Media Inquiries:

Overview

Established in 1978 with "$200 and some change" through a grassroots approach, the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation has grown to become one of the top 10 community foundations nationally. The foundation was built on the belief that "charitable giving should be the responsibility of many, not just a select few." Since its inception, the foundation has distributed more than $8 billion in grants to nonprofits in Kansas City and beyond. In 2024, the foundation distributed $676.7 million to charitable causes and managed $6.9 billion in assets across 7,407 charitable funds.

The foundation's mission is to improve the quality of life in Greater Kansas City by increasing charitable giving, educating and connecting donors to community needs they care about, and leading on critical community issues. The foundation operates primarily through donor-advised funds, with approximately three-quarters of its assets held in this structure. In 2024, donors contributed $1.27 billion to their charitable investment accounts. The foundation also administers competitive grant programs on behalf of affiliated funds and external funders. Education and human services receive the largest share of donor-advised fund grants.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates primarily through donor-advised funds, where individual donors make granting decisions to organizations of their choice. However, the foundation also administers several competitive grant programs on behalf of affiliated funds:

Black Community Fund

  • Grant Range: $500 - $15,000
  • Focus: Black-led, Black-serving organizations enhancing socio-economic aspects of the African American community in Greater Kansas City
  • Application: Annual cycle via SmartSimple portal
  • History: Established 1983; has invested more than $4 million since founding

Northland Community Foundation

  • Grant Range: $10,000 - $31,800
  • Focus: Sustaining existing programs for children's well-being in Clay and Platte Counties, MO
  • Application: Annual cycle (applications typically open in September)
  • Format: 1-2 page request plus attachments

Homelessness Trust Fund

  • Grant Amount: $10,000 per applicant
  • Focus: Assistance to homeless individuals or those at imminent risk in Kansas City/Jackson County, MO
  • Established: 1988
  • Eligibility: Must utilize shared data reporting systems (MAACLink, CaseWorthy, etc.)
  • Application: Annual cycle

Jacob L. and Ella C. Loose Foundation (Administered by GKCCF)

  • Focus: Poor and needy children and families in Jackson County/Kansas City, MO
  • Grant Example: $15,000 grants documented
  • Application: Invitation and competitive process
  • Contact: LaVon Colhour at 816.627.3400

Hispanic Development Fund

  • Focus: Hispanic/Latino community development
  • Application: Invitation-only process based on advisory board priorities

Children's Services Fund of Clay County

  • Focus: Mental and social-emotional health services for children under 20 in Clay County, MO
  • Application: Annual cycle (typically opens March, deadline April)
  • Contact: Kathy Seelbach, kseelbach@claycokids.org

Unified Government Hollywood Casino Fund

  • Focus: Healthy eating and active lifestyles in Wyandotte County, KS
  • Application: Periodic competitive cycles

American Association of University Women/Wagy Fund

  • Focus: Programs benefiting women and girls in Kansas City
  • Application: Periodic competitive cycles

Priority Areas

The foundation's competitive grant programs focus on:

  • Education (largest share of donor-advised grants)
  • Human services (largest share of donor-advised grants)
  • Child and family well-being
  • Homelessness prevention and services
  • Racial equity and Black community support
  • Hispanic/Latino community development
  • Women and girls' empowerment
  • Healthy lifestyles

What They Don't Fund

Varies by program, but common exclusions include:

  • Endowments
  • Debt reduction
  • Capital expenditures (varies by program)
  • Individual scholarships
  • Fundraising activities
  • Political causes
  • Religious organizations (unless nonsectarian programs)
  • Multi-year funding commitments
  • "Bricks and mortar" projects (for some programs)
  • Organizations that received grants in the immediate previous cycle

Governance and Leadership

President & CEO: Debbie Wilkerson Chief Financial Officer: Katie Gray

Board of Directors (Cross-section of business leaders and community philanthropists):

Officers:

  • Vice Chair: Ann F. Konecny, CEO and Board Chair of Foley Industries, Inc.
  • Immediate Past Chair: William M. Lyons, Retired CEO of American Century Investments
  • Secretary: M. Gayle Packer, President and CEO of Terracon Consultants, Inc.

Board Members:

  • Dr. C. Mauli Agrawal, Chancellor, University of Missouri – Kansas City
  • Lisa M. Krigsten, Kansas City Managing Partner, Dentons US LLP
  • Willie Lanier, Jr., Managing Partner, Lanier United
  • Sandra J. Price
  • Madeline M. Romious
  • Steven J. Sestak
  • Sandra R. Stites, M.D.

The foundation has been ranked among the top 10 community foundations nationally since 1999 and received a Four-Star rating (99%) from Charity Navigator.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

For Donor-Advised Fund Grants: The majority of grants are donor-directed. Nonprofits cannot apply directly for these funds; rather, donors who have established funds make granting decisions to organizations of their choice.

For Competitive Grant Programs:

  1. Visit the grants portal at https://grants.growyourgiving.org/ or https://www.growyourgiving.org/grant/
  2. Create a SmartSimple account (system automatically saves progress)
  3. Review current open grant opportunities and eligibility requirements
  4. Follow the step-by-step instruction guide provided by the foundation
  5. Submit application with required attachments before deadline
  6. Contact grants@growyourgiving.org or 816.627.3452 for assistance

Application Portal: Applications are submitted through the SmartSimple online system, which saves work automatically and allows applicants to return to applications in progress.

Decision Timeline

Varies by Program:

  • Black Community Fund: Deadline typically April; decisions announced within 2-3 months
  • Northland Community Foundation: Deadline October 25; awards announced by December 31
  • Homelessness Trust Fund: Annual cycle; grant period October 1 - July 1
  • Children's Services Fund of Clay County: Opens March 4; deadline April 1
  • Giving Circles: Applications in September-October; finalists selected and voted on; presentations in November-December

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not publicly disclosed. However, the foundation distributed $676.7 million in 2024, with the vast majority driven by donor-advised funds rather than competitive processes.

Reapplication Policy

Varies by program. Common restrictions include:

  • Black Community Fund: Organizations that received grants in Spring 2024 or $4,000+ from August 2024 Vision Workshop are ineligible for the next cycle
  • General Rule: "No organization may have more than one active grant or grant request" with most funds at any given time

Application Success Factors

For Competitive Grant Programs:

  1. Demonstrate Strong Local Presence and Impact: Programs like Northland Community Foundation require "significant presence" in target counties and clear documentation of local impact on specific populations.

  2. Preference for Identity-Led Organizations: The Black Community Fund explicitly states: "Preference will be given to black led, black serving organizations." This suggests the foundation values lived experience and community representation in leadership.

  3. Focus on Sustainability, Not New Ventures: The Northland Community Foundation specifically funds "sustaining current programs," not new initiatives. This indicates the foundation values organizational stability and proven track records over experimental programs.

  4. Serve Priority Populations: Multiple programs prioritize underserved populations:

    • Homelessness Trust Fund gives priority to "small to mid-sized homeless service organizations" (budgets under $2 million) and programs serving "highly underserved and disproportionately impacted populations"
    • Loose Foundation focuses on "poor and needy children and families"
    • Programs specifically target children under certain income thresholds (e.g., 150% of federal poverty guidelines)

  5. Use Data-Driven Approaches: The Homelessness Trust Fund requires utilization of "shared data reporting systems such as MAACLink, CaseWorthy, or other comparable system," indicating value placed on evidence-based practice and outcome tracking.

  6. Seek Catalytic Funding, Not Sole Support: The Black Community Fund states "BCF will not be the sole or primary funder of a proposed project or organization," suggesting applications should demonstrate diversified funding and leverage BCF grants for maximum impact.

  7. Request Appropriate Amounts: Grant ranges are clearly specified for each program. Requesting amounts within established ranges demonstrates understanding of the fund's capacity and priorities.

  8. Submit Complete Applications: Required documents typically include project budgets, board rosters, Form 990 or financial statements, and organizational budgets. Incomplete applications are unlikely to advance.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Understand the Dual Structure: The vast majority of GKCCF's $676.7 million in annual grantmaking is donor-directed through donor-advised funds. Only a small portion goes through competitive processes. This means relationship-building with individual donors may be more important than mastering competitive applications.

  • Target Specific Competitive Programs: Don't try to "apply to GKCCF" broadly. Identify which specific competitive grant program aligns with your mission and geographic focus, as eligibility and priorities vary significantly between funds.

  • Prioritize Sustainability Over Innovation: Multiple programs (notably Northland Community Foundation) explicitly fund existing, ongoing programs rather than new initiatives. Emphasize your track record and need for operational support rather than pitching experimental ideas.

  • Match Geographic Requirements Precisely: Each fund serves specific counties (Clay/Platte for Northland CF; Jackson County/KCMO for Homelessness Trust Fund). Applications from outside these areas will be automatically disqualified.

  • Leverage Identity and Community Representation: Programs like the Black Community Fund give explicit preference to organizations led by and serving the communities they exist to support. Highlight diverse leadership if applicable.

  • Demonstrate Modest Scale: The Homelessness Trust Fund prioritizes organizations with operating budgets under $2 million. Larger organizations may be less competitive unless applying with targeted programs for specific underserved populations.

  • Plan for Annual Cycles with Limited Opportunities: Many programs open only once per year with relatively short application windows. Monitor the grants portal regularly and prepare materials in advance to meet tight deadlines.

References

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