Jewell County Community Fund

The Jewell County Community Fund is an unrestricted grantmaking initiative of the Jewell County Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Greater Salina Community Foundation. This endowed fund has been established through contributions from individuals with the goal of addressing both current and future needs within Jewell County, Kansas. Grants from this fund are awarded annually through a competitive application process, guided by the Foundation Board and aligned with the Foundation’s mission to enhance the quality of life in the local community. The fund supports a wide variety of issues and populations and welcomes applications from all non-profit organizations, as well as individuals or informal groups working on charitable community projects. For-profit entities are not eligible unless the proposed project serves a clear charitable purpose. All funded activities must take place within Jewell County. The Foundation emphasizes community-oriented initiatives and looks for proposals that demonstrate alignment with the Foundation’s goals of community improvement and long-term impact. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofits, educational institutions, government entities, and religious organizations. If an applicant does not fall into one of these categories, they are encouraged to partner with a fiscal sponsor that does. In cases where this is not feasible, the Foundation offers an opportunity to discuss project eligibility and additional reporting requirements. The fund may support several types of projects, including but not limited to community service programs, new initiatives, operational startup funding, organizational capacity building, and capital improvements. Funding for endowment-building initiatives may also be considered but is less likely unless the request supports a specific mission-related initiative. Ineligible uses of funds include political projects, discriminatory activities, retirement of debt, and requests with incomplete, incorrect, or late applications. The Jewell County Community Fund operates two annual grant cycles—spring and fall. The spring application window runs from March 1 to May 1, while the fall cycle is open from September 1 to November 1. Applicants must complete a grant application form and submit it for review by the Foundation’s board, which uses general grant guidelines to assess proposals. Assistance with the application process is available via a grant support center, including step-by-step instructions and a how-to video. For more information, interested applicants can contact Kyra Lampe, Foundation Coordinator, at (785) 378-7036. Additional correspondence may be directed to the Foundation’s mailing address at PO Box 154, Mankato, KS 66956-0154, or via their main phone line at (785) 378-5055.