Smoky Valley Community Enhancement Fund Grant
Heritage Fund
Organization Fund Grant

Smoky Valley Community Foundation Grant
The Smoky Valley Community Enhancement Fund is an unrestricted community grant fund. The Fund was created by the generosity of individuals who have contributed money to the Foundation for charitable use to address the present and future needs of the Smoky Valley area. From this endowed fund, the Foundation board annually determines and designates the amount of available funding in the form of community grants.

The Foundation’s Smoky Valley Community Enhancement Fund accepts applications once a year, in August-September. Specific dates are announced annually through a press release in the local newspapers and on our website. Applications received outside of the grant cycle are not accepted.

The applications are open to a variety of different issues and target populations. However, successful applications are those that will help fulfill the Foundation's mission to improve the qualify of life for the Smoky Valley area. All individuals, groups, and non-profit organizations are encouraged to apply. For-profit organizations are not considered as grant recipients unless the request is for a charitable project. Grants are limited to projects that fall within the Smoky Valley area defined as: northern McPherson County and southern Saline County and charitable organizations outside the Smoky Valley that are founding donors in the Foundation.

All applicants will need to fill out a grant application form, and all applications will be considered by the board according to the Foundation's grant guidelines (see below).

SVCF Grant Application & Budget page (PDF)
SVCF Grant Application & Budget page (Word.doc)

If you have any questions, please feel free to call the Smoky Valley Community Foundation at 785-906-0238. Thanks for your interest in making the Smoky Valley and the surrounding area a better place to live.

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Grant Guidelines
Smoky Valley Community Foundation
Applications for the Smoky Valley Community Enhancement Fund are sought once a year from the general public. Traditionally, grants from this unrestricted fund are open to a variety of different issues and target populations and the board has the power to decide how the grants will be distributed. Grants may be made to charitable organizations (501(c)3 designation), or to individuals, groups, or others that are requesting funding for a charitable project. All applications should benefit the greater good of the population or the community, and are restricted to the Smoky Valley area.

When reviewing applications for grants from the Smoky Valley Community Enhancement Fund, the following will be considered:

What type of support is being requested?

• Project or program support-- suports specific projects or programs that are often linked to an organization's service.
• Operating or general support -- supports the work of an organization from administrative expenses to program costs.
• Endowments --a permanent gift to be invested to provide income for continued support for an organization.
• Seed money -- to establish or initiate a new project, program or organization. Seed money can cover salaries and other operating expenses of a new project (also known as start-up funds).
• Capacity building -- activities that strengthen an organization and help fulfill its mission, either through staff and equipment, new building or renovation, publications, training, and convening.
• Capital -- supports construction or renovation of a facility.

The board can choose to grant any of the above types of requests. However, preference will be given to grants that fall into the following types of support: project, seed money, or capacity building. It is very unlikely that the Foundation will support an Endowment project unless it was for a specific initiative that supported the greater good of the Smoky Valley area.

What opportunities are there to fund?

• Health and Human service needs
• Arts, including visual and performance
• Education
• Spirituality
• Environment

Is the program or project sustainable?

The Foundation will also consider if the program, project, or organization for which funding is requested is sustainable. Will the initiative continue after Foundation support ends? Do they have other ways of funding?

Is this a new grant request?

Although the review committee will consider a request for funding that is the same or similar previously approved grant, preference will be given to new and innovative grant requests.

The Foundation will NOT consider grants to the following:

• Political projects of any kind
• Organizations or projects that practice discrimination by race, color, creed, sex, age, or national origin.
• Operating deficits or retirement of debt

Please pay special attention to the directionson the grant applications listed under "Request for Funds," for your application to be considered. Any incomplete, incorrect, or late applications will not be considered.

Grants may be made to charitable organizations (501(c)3 designation), or to individuals, groups or others that are requesting funding for a charitable project that celebrates the heritage of the Smoky Valley.

Grants should benefit the greater good of the population or the community and are restricted to benefit the Smoky Valley.

Although the review committee will consider a request for funding that is the same or similar to a previously approved grant, preference will be given to new and innovative grant requests.

Below is a link to a grant application form. Please pay special attention to the directions on the grant application listed under "Request for Funds," for your application to be considered. Any incomplete, incorrect, or late applications will not be considered.