From Donor Funds
The largest share of Wichita Community Foundation grants are distributed monthly in response to suggestions from our donors. A donor who has a Fund with the Foundation can recommend that available dollars be given to a nonprofit agency here in Wichita or anywhere in the United States.

While the WCF staff can suggest grant ideas to Foundation donors, nonprofit agencies are strongly urged not to contact our donors. Many donors have specific, personal guidelines concerning when and to whom they give.

From our Grant Pool
Many people from our community generously give money to the Wichita Community Foundation without restrictions, trusting WCF to use their money wisely. These gifts are endowed, meaning they are kept whole forever, and placed in our unrestricted grant pool.

Each year, the earnings on these dollars are calculated in accordance with our Spending Policy, and given to our Grants Committee for disbursements to worthy causes. We identify those causes through grant requests.

The Grants Committee meets every two months to review letters of inquiry. Each committee member is actively involved in the community, and uses their knowledge and judgment in recommending grants.

Two days before each meeting, each committee member casts independent, e-mail votes in support of their preferred grants. Once they assemble as a committee, the results of the vote are announced. Any request that fails to receive 50% of the available votes is placed “below the line.”

Any committee member in attendance can argue for a cause, and may convince other members to reconsider their decisions.

The Grants Committee has the authority to make grants up to $25,000 without Foundation Board approval. Grants in excess of $25,000 require full Board approval.

Grant checks are usually written on the 15th day of the month following the Grants Committee meeting, and are mailed that same day. Successful grants are regularly posted on this website.

Click here to view the latest awarded grants.