Kosciusko Endowment Youth Services Grant Program

Kosciusko Endowment Youth Services (KEYS) is a youth philanthropy program operated by the Kosciusko County Community Foundation. KEYS is composed of twenty student members selected from four high schools in Kosciusko County: Lakeland Christian Academy, Tippecanoe Valley, Warsaw, and Wawasee. Students are chosen during their eighth-grade year and remain involved throughout their high school tenure. The program’s mission is to collaboratively impact and enhance education within the community, aiming to provide both immediate support and lasting benefits for future generations. KEYS Grants are intended to fund educational projects that directly serve residents of Kosciusko County. The average grant amount awarded is $500. The program accepts applications twice annually, with submission deadlines set for 4:30 p.m. on October 1 and February 1. Grant applications are reviewed by KEYS student members, and awards are typically announced approximately eight weeks following the application deadline. To apply, prospective grantees must first review the KEYS Grant Guidelines. The grant application process is managed through an online portal, and first-time applicants must have a user profile created for them by the Community Foundation staff. Interested applicants may access the portal through the foundation’s website. For inquiries regarding the application process, applicants are encouraged to contact program staff at alex@kcfoundation.org. Applicants are required to submit a completed Authorization Signature Form, available in both fillable PDF and Word formats. Nonprofit organizations and private schools must also provide additional documentation, including an IRS Determination Letter (if applicable), a list of board members with their respective city or town of residence, a list of project-involved staff members with their respective city or town of residence, and relevant financial documents. For grants awarded prior to July 1, 2024, recipients must submit a Request for Payment form via the online grant portal to initiate disbursement of funds. This form is not required for grants awarded after July 1, 2024. The Community Foundation’s contact information is 102 East Market Street, Warsaw, IN 46580, with phone number 574-267-1901 and email kcf@kcfoundation.org.