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Grantseekers

Grantseekers

Thank you for your interest in working with the Kauffman Foundation to prepare people for success in their jobs and careers so that everyone has the opportunity to achieve financial stability, upward mobility, and economic prosperity.

2024 Transitional Grantmaking

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Please read through the following FAQs for more information about our approach to grantmaking this year.

Eligible applicants will be notified by email by February 14 with instructions regarding the application process. Kauffman Foundation program officers will guide applicants individually through this process.

No, applicants are not automatically approved for funding. Eligible organizations are given the opportunity to apply, but acceptance is subject to approval.

Yes. Future funding opportunities are not related to whether an organization applies, does not apply, receives, or does not receive transitional funding.

Because the transitional grants are designed for immediate needs in the short-term, we must adhere to strict deadlines to distribute the funding in a timely manner. Eligible applicants who miss the deadline to apply for transitional grants will not be able to submit a late application. Please note all deadlines carefully.

No. Some eligible organizations are located outside the Kansas City region.

In most cases, yes, your program officer will remain the same for any awarded transitional grants. Eligible organizations will receive email communication from their designated program officer by February 14.

At this time, no. Currently, we are only accepting applications from eligible organizations for one round of transitional grants.

No. Eligibility status for transitional grants does not indicate eligibility status for future funding. Please continue to check the Kauffman website for future funding opportunities.

Our goal is to notify all accepted applicants by mid-March.

Reporting requirements for transitional funding include one final report and an optional final site visit. Additional details will be provided by your program officer.

Transitional grants are designed as short-term grants. Your grant award letter will specify the exact date the grant closes. For additional details, eligible organizations may contact their designated program officer.

We evaluated organizations based on several criteria, including current funding status. Organizations with active grants are not eligible for transitional grants.

You are being contacted about transitional grants because your organization is a current grantee or a grantee whose funding ended within the last year. To increase transparency about the short-term funding opportunity, the Foundation sent emails to eligible and to non-eligible organizations to inform them about transitional grants.

The Foundation expects to complete its strategic planning process and share more information in Q2 of 2024. For updates, please visit our Stay Connected page to sign up for our newsletters and follow our social channels.

The Foundation plans to announce any new funding opportunities as we roll out our new strategic plan later in 2024.

Sponsorships are not part of the transitional grants portfolio. Transitional grants should not include requests for sponsorship dollars because sponsorship requests are fulfilled differently due to IRS definitions and regulations. Learn more about our sponsorships >

Due to the short-term, one-time nature of our transitional grants, we are unable to consider appeals at this time. Please stay up-to-date on future grant opportunities by visiting our website or signing up for our newsletter.


Sponsorships

A limited amount of funds are dedicated every year to sponsor events in the Kansas City area that connect people and raise funding for vital programs. Funding decisions are based on alignment to Kauffman Foundation priorities, a focus on racial equity, and available budget at the time of the request.

  • Sponsorships typically range from $1,000 to $10,000 depending on the size of the event and the benefits associated with the sponsorship.
  • Sponsorships are intended to support organizations and programs that align with the strategic focus of the Foundation, but are not currently receiving Foundation funding.
  • Current grantees are not eligible for sponsorship due to the limited budget; however, grantees with a special anniversary event (example – centennial celebration of the organization) will be considered.
  • One request per Kansas City-based organization will be considered per year.
  • Requests for sponsorship must be at least eight weeks in advance of the event to ensure adequate review time by our team.

Because the IRS defines sponsorships differently from grants, each request must also be accompanied by a sponsorship benefits listing so the Foundation will be in compliance.


Other Resources

Our list of other resources for individuals and organizations may provide additional guidance and options for funding of your project.