Frequently asked questions

Our founder, Ewing Marion Kauffman, intended for us to work deeply in Kansas City, to learn from others, and to share and implement those learnings nationwide.

Our 2035 strategic priorities will continue to uphold Mr. Kauffman’s vision by focusing on closing economic mobility gaps in the Kansas City region. We’re aiming to impact specific areas by prioritizing support to organizations that have a direct or a potential to impact the region.

In order to accomplish our goals, we will continue working with regional and national organizations that align with our priorities.

When we say ‘Kansas City region’, we are generally referring to the six-county region of the metro area, which includes Cass, Clay, Jackson, Johnson, Platte, and Wyandotte counties.

While we are foregrounding our work in the Kansas City region to achieve our 2035 vision, we are not immediately excluding organizations located elsewhere. However, organizations need to demonstrate impact to Kansas City through past work anchored in the region, along with alignment to our strategic priorities and focus areas designed to drive impact in Kansas City.

For example, an organization located in Illinois might serve as an intermediary for a group of KC-based coalition members as long as the Illinois organization can demonstrate a history and connection to impact in our region, with proposed work clearly centered on Kansas City.

We offer an eligibility quiz as a starting point for each grant type. See if you are eligible >

To ensure an equitable review of submissions, applications will not be accepted after the deadlines have passed. That said, we are offering multiple application windows throughout the year. Learn more >

Please note that in most cases, the Foundation will only support one grant award at a time for an organization.

Most organizations should focus their efforts on a single grant application. In rare cases, some larger institutions may be considered for multiple grants concurrently. Most organizations, however, should expect to receive or manage only one grant at a time from the Foundation.

Additionally, If you are not the lead applicant/intermediary for the Collective Impact Planning grant application, you may apply for another relevant grant (e.g., Capacity, Project, Research) that fits the unique strengths of your organization. The grant you apply for can have some connection to the broader Collective Impact project you are connected to but should not be a duplication of that effort or a main activity of the requested funding within the Collective Impact planning grant budget.

Any organization, including active grantees, is welcome to apply for our grant opportunities. You may apply for a different, additional grants if your grant terms don’t overlap. Meaning, your current grant needs to be closed before your new grant begins. Start by taking our eligibility quiz for each open grant type.

Yes, but the processes can take longer. We make grants to organizations that are not 501(c)(3) public charities, including to social welfare organizations [501(c)(4)], trade associations and chambers of commerce [501(c)(6)], and for-profit enterprises, among others. However, federal law limits our ability to make such grants and imposes specific requirements when we do so.

We encourage you to learn more about the federal restrictions by researching “expenditure responsibility.” In short, the Foundation’s grant dollars can only be used to further charitable purposes and activities and there can be no impermissible private benefit, even with a grant to an organization that is not a public charity. While the same restrictions apply, you might also consider exploring a “program-related investment” from the Foundation, which is different from a grant.  

Although not affiliated with the Foundation, if you are looking for alternative funding, please refer to the following resources:

• The Foundation Center provides access to private foundation information, directories, books and periodicals, grantmaker files, and bibliographic databases.
• GuideStar is an online database of nonprofit organizations including mission, programs, leaders, goals, accomplishments, and needs.
• Idealist is an interactive site where people and organizations can exchange resources and ideas and locate opportunities and supporters.
• Nonprofits seeking technical support or hardware may find assistance through CompuMentor’s TechSoup.org, which provides free information, resources, and support.
• United Way of America serves individuals as well as organizations through training, resources, and technical assistance. This web site can direct you to a United Way organization in your local community.
• If you are looking for a small business loan in the United States, you may find help at the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Our friends and neighbors in the Kansas City area may provide additional guidance or support for projects:

• The Greater Kansas City Community Foundation and its network of regional affiliates and affiliate partners provides information for charitable funds in the Kansas City area along with a wide range of scholarship applications for individuals, and grant opportunities for nonprofit organizations.
• Nonprofit Connect, Midwest Center for Nonprofit Leadership and Support KC provide professional development programs, services, online resources and tools to build capacity for nonprofits seeking funding or strategic support in the Kansas City area.
• United Way of Greater Kansas City provides support and resources for individuals and nonprofit organizations living and working in Kansas City.

We are working to provide clear and consistent information about the grantmaking opportunities that exist for the next year. Our goal is that this helps to demystify the grantmaking process.

The Foundation has a long-standing commitment to learning and research. We will fund research projects that build a deeper understanding of our strategic priorities and focus areas, address gaps in our research base, and translate research findings into practice.

Research informs our practices, allowing us to adapt and implement effective strategies that advance equitable economic mobility. Our Research, Learning, and Evaluation team supports this vision by conducting transformational research, advancing equitable data systems, and building evidence that informs decision-making. We seek to continuously improve and amplify our learnings in the Kansas City region and around the nation.

Yes, the Foundation has an indirect cost policy that applies to Research grants, Project grants, and Collective Impact grants. Learn more >

Yes, the Foundation would consider funding program-related investments through Collective Impact and Project grants, assuming that doing so would significantly further the Foundation’s charitable purpose. Please click to learn more about program-related investments.

Permissible PRIs could include, among other things, supporting entities that offer low-interest or interest-free loans to low-income students, making low-interest loans to small businesses owned by those not able to access loans at reasonable rates because of their race or gender, or improving the economy of an economically disadvantaged area by investing in businesses that provide employment or training for unemployed residents.

While we do not fund lobbying, the Foundation does fund strategic advocacy, education, and other policy engagement activities that do not constitute lobbying. Without providing legal advice or getting into the exceptions that apply, a key difference between “lobbying” and the other activities listed above is in the specific definitions of “lobbying”.

Grassroots Lobbying occurs when an organization (1) expresses an opinion to the general public, (2) about specific legislation, and (3) includes a call to action (e.g., contact a legislator or their staff). Providing contact information for a legislator or their staff is considered a “call to action” when done in conjunction with the other two elements.

Direct Lobbying occurs in one of two situations:

• Contact with a Legislator: Lobbying occurs when an organization (1) contacts a legislator (or his/her staff), (2) about specific legislation (e.g., a proposed bill), and (3) expresses an opinion about that legislation.
• Contact with the Voting Public: When the public is voting on an issue (e.g., a ballot initiative), lobbying occurs when an organization (1) contacts the general public, (2) about the specific matter being voted on, and (3) expresses an opinion about it.

Generally, all three parts for each type of lobbying must be present. If one or more part is missing, it is not likely to be considered lobbying.