Topeka Community Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $7.5 million (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Reviews in May and November
• Grant Range: $10,000 - $20,000 (varies by program)
• Geographic Focus: Topeka and Shawnee County, Kansas (some programs cover additional Kansas counties)
• Total Assets: $120+ million

Contact Details

Address: 5431 SW 29th St., Suite 300, Topeka, KS 66614

Phone: (785) 272-4804

Email: info@topekacommunityfoundation.org

Website: https://topekacommunityfoundation.org

Program Inquiries: Alicia VanWalleghem, Director of Strategic Initiatives - vanw@topekacommunityfoundation.org

Overview

Founded in 1983, the Topeka Community Foundation has grown to manage more than $120 million in assets across nearly 400 charitable funds established by individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit organizations. In 2024, the Foundation received contributions of more than $9 million and granted more than $7.5 million back into the community. The Foundation's mission is to improve quality of life in the Topeka and Shawnee County region through active partnership with donors and strategic grantmaking. Under the leadership of President Marsha Pope since 2016, the Foundation has shifted from a transactional to a transformational approach, emphasizing impact investing and systems-level change. The Foundation holds a Four-Star rating from Charity Navigator with a perfect 100% score. Its two-fold strategic focus for the coming years centers on community health and mental health, with particular attention to neighborhoods identified as "At Risk" or "Intensive Care" on the City of Topeka Health Map.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Greater Topeka Fund

• Grant amount: Up to $10,000
• Supports nonprofits serving Topeka and Shawnee County
• Funds projects addressing community needs and promoting social and economic prosperity
• Application reviews: May and November

Better Together Grants

• Grant amounts vary based on project scope
• Supports Shawnee County nonprofits working on innovative solutions
• Focus areas: Housing, education, mental health, and other social determinants of health
• Pre-application consultation with Director of Strategic Initiatives encouraged

Women's Fund

• Grant amount: Up to $10,000
• Supports one-year projects improving lives of women and children in Shawnee County
• Priority areas: Financial literacy, STEAM education, health, housing

Healthy Lifestyles Grant

• Grant amount: Up to $20,000 per year for two years
• Geographic coverage: Douglas, Lyon, Jackson, Jefferson, Nemaha, Osage, Pottawatomie, Riley, and Wabaunsee counties in Kansas
• Supports programs improving health habits and behaviors

Prescription Assistance Grant

• Aims to reduce financial barriers to obtaining prescription drugs
• Provides direct financial assistance for prescriptions
• Focus on Shawnee County
• Includes outreach and coordination with local pharmacies and healthcare providers

Priority Areas

• Community health and mental health
• Social determinants of health (housing, education, financial stability)
• Inclusive prosperity and economic opportunity
• Neighborhood-level transformation in vulnerable communities
• Programs serving women and children
• Health behavior change and chronic disease prevention

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented. Contact the Foundation directly for guidance on eligibility.

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

Executive Committee:

• Shane Van Dalsem, PhD - Chair
• Keith Warta - Vice Chair
• Shelly Buhler - Secretary
• Pam Alexander - Assistant Secretary
• Brian Lang - Treasurer
• Jennifer Sourk - Immediate Past Chair

Board Members: Virginia Barnes, Tony Barry, Tara Dimick, Noel Etzel, Leslie Fleuranges, Molly Howey (CEcD), Tracy Khounsavanh Killough, JP Meitner, Todd Payne, Sarah Sharp, Mark Slyter

Staff Leadership

Marsha Pope, President - Leading the Foundation since 2016 after joining as a grant writer in 2004. Pope has overseen the strategic transformation from transactional grantmaking to transformational community impact. Pope stated: "We really stepped back and said if our health is not improving and we've invested all these dollars in grants then we need to do something differently." On the Foundation's purpose in impact investing: "Our purpose for stepping into this work was to provide the credibility for the idea of inclusive prosperity and the leadership and resources to begin making change."

Alicia VanWalleghem, Director of Strategic Initiatives - Lifelong Topekan with background in small business development and community engagement. Primary contact for grant consultations.

Kris Scothorn, Director of Finance - Serving since 2007, manages financial operations.

Kristin Hammer, Director of Strategic Communications - Joined in late 2025 with over a decade of nonprofit experience.

Shelley Matalone, Office Manager - With the Foundation since 1998.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are reviewed in May and November for the Greater Topeka Fund and other competitive grant programs. Specific deadlines vary by program.

For Better Together Grants: Organizations are strongly encouraged to consult with Alicia VanWalleghem, Director of Strategic Initiatives, before submitting an application to discuss proposal ideas and alignment with Foundation priorities.

Application portal and detailed guidelines are available at https://topekacommunityfoundation.org/2026-grant-opportunities

Contact the Foundation at (785) 272-4804 with questions about the application process.

Decision Timeline

Grant applications are reviewed twice annually in May and November. Specific notification timelines are not publicly documented but applicants can expect to hear results following these review cycles.

Success Rates

The Foundation awarded 129 grants in 2023 from total annual giving of $5.7 million. Specific application-to-award ratios are not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not publicly documented. Contact the Foundation directly for guidance on reapplying.

Application Success Factors

Based on guidance from the Topeka Community Foundation:

Clarity and Conciseness: Proposals must be clear and concise, ensuring they are easy to understand and clearly communicate the project's purpose and impact.

Demonstrate Clear Need: Priority is given to proposals that clearly outline a compelling community need with supporting data or evidence.

Detailed Budget: Include a detailed, itemized budget showing exactly how grant funds will be used.

Alignment with Priorities: Successful proposals align with the Foundation's strategic focus on community health, mental health, and social determinants of health. The Foundation prioritizes neighborhoods identified as "At Risk" or "Intensive Care" on the City of Topeka Health Map.

Transformational vs. Transactional: The Foundation seeks projects that create systems-level change rather than one-time interventions. As President Marsha Pope stated, "we couldn't grant our way to success" - demonstrating how your project creates sustainable transformation will resonate.

Pre-Application Consultation: For Better Together grants, consulting with Director of Strategic Initiatives Alicia VanWalleghem before applying is recommended and may strengthen your proposal.

Innovation: The Foundation values innovative solutions, particularly for the Better Together grants program.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Alignment is critical: Focus proposals on community health, mental health, or social determinants of health (housing, education, financial stability)
• Know your review cycle: Plan submissions around May and November review periods
• Use the data: Reference the City of Topeka Health Map if working in priority neighborhoods
• Consultation matters: For Better Together grants, pre-application consultation with foundation staff is strongly encouraged
• Budget details count: Provide itemized, detailed budgets - this is explicitly prioritized in review
• Think transformation: Frame projects in terms of systems change and sustainable impact, not one-time activities
• Geographic focus: Most programs serve Shawnee County/Topeka, though Healthy Lifestyles Grant covers broader Kansas geography
• Build relationships: The Foundation values partnership and collaboration - consider how to position your organization as a long-term community partner

References

• Topeka Community Foundation official website: https://topekacommunityfoundation.org (accessed January 2026)
• 2026 Grant Opportunities page: https://topekacommunityfoundation.org/2026-grant-opportunities (accessed January 2026)
• Who We Are page: https://topekacommunityfoundation.org/who-we-are (accessed January 2026)
• Our Team page: https://topekacommunityfoundation.org/our-team (accessed January 2026)
• Board of Directors page: https://topekacommunityfoundation.org/board-of-directors (accessed January 2026)
• Year in Review 2024: https://topekacommunityfoundation.org/year-in-review-2024 (accessed January 2026)
• What is Impact Investing: https://topekacommunityfoundation.org/what-is-impact-investing (accessed January 2026)
• GuideStar Profile: https://www.guidestar.org/profile/48-0972106 (accessed January 2026)
• Charity Navigator Rating: https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/480972106 (accessed January 2026)
• WIBW News, "Salute Our Heroes: Grant writer turned president has transformed the way funds help the community" (May 2025)
• Candid Foundation Directory: https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile?key=TOPE001 (accessed January 2026)