In November 1993, the Knight Foundation established the Knight Fund at the Wichita Community Foundation. Sedgwick County non-profits interested in applying to the Knight Fund should review the following guidelines completely prior to submitting a grant request.

Eligibility
All applicants to the Knight Fund must be in good standing with the Kansas Secretary of State's office and must be currently exempt under IRS Section 501(c)(3) and classified as organizations to which contributions are deductible under Section 170(c)(2), normally a public charity under Section 509(a).

Areas of Interest

• Education
• Well-being of children and families
• Housing and community development
• Economic development
• Civic engagement and positive human relations
• Vitality of cultural life

The Knight Fund will, over time, address all six of these areas through its grant awards. The Fund does not intend to limit its support to the same organizations, but expects to reach a broad representation of community nonprofits whose work addresses the six priority areas.

Applicants who have received funding cannot reapply for twelve months following the date of their award.

Limitations
The Knight Fund prefers not to fund:

• Ongoing requests for general operating support, annual fund-raising campaigns, fund-raising dinners, or operating deficits
• Activities that are normally the responsibility of government
• Medical research, organizations or projects whose mission is to prevent, eradicate and/or alleviate the effects of specific diseases and requests from hospitals
• Activities to propagate a religious faith or restricted to one religion or denomination, support of political candidates and memorials
• Production costs of films, videos or television programs, purchase of commercial television or radio time, and writing or publication of books
• Programs or projects that take place outside of the United States or are conducted by organizations headquartered outside the United States
• A second request for a capital campaign for which the Knight Fund previously approved a grant from its own funds or advised a grant from the Knight Fund
• Conferences, group travel and honoraria for distinguished guests.

Grant Size and Content

• Grant requests should not exceed $20,000.
• Applications are limited to 2 pages, 11 point type.
• Please include the following in your grant narrative:

Grant Attachments and Deadlines
Prospective grant applicants should mail one original plus 2 copies of the grant request to:

     John S. & James L. Knight Foundation Fund
     Wichita Community Foundation
     200 W. Douglas, Suite 250
     Wichita, KS 67202

Applications are accepted throughout the year. Applicants are advised to allow at least ninety days for processing and review.

Please include in your grant packet one copy of each of the following documents:
1. IRS tax-exemption letter
2. Most recent financial report or audit
3. Listing of Board of Directors by name and professional (or other) organizational affiliation
4. Certificate of good standing from KS Secretary of State

Applications received without these documents will be returned as incomplete to the applicant.

Grants requests will be reviewed by the Knight Foundation's local donor advisor and by the Wichita Community Foundation.

Questions concerning the application process should be directed to the Program Officer of the Wichita Community Foundation at 316-264-4880 or e-mail at wcf@wichitacf.org

Wichita Community Foundation
200 W. Douglas, Suite 250
Wichita, Kansas 67202

Phone: (316) 264-4880
Fax: (316) 264-7592

e-mail: wcf@wichitacf.org