News

New Funds

February 26, 2019

Modest Adequate Housing Fund Permanent fund to benefit organizations providing support to individuals and families that seek to improve or obtain housing in the WKCF service area as directed by the board of directors. Mosaic in Garden City Endowed Fund Permanent fund to provide support to Mosaic in Garden City, KS. Shepherd of the Plains Foundation Endowed Fund Permanent fund to provide support to the Shepherd of the Plains Foundation in Cimarron, KS. Spirit of the Plains, CASA Endowed Fund Permanent fund to provide support to the Spirit of the Plains, CASA in Garden City, KS. If...

Upcoming Non-Profit Training

February 26, 2019

NON-PROFIT FINANCIAL FUNDAMENTALS: The Western Kansas Community Foundation, Finney County United Way, and Finnup Foundation are hosting a financial fundamentals workshop, specifically designed for nonprofit boards and staff, and facilitated by Varney & Associates, CPAs, LLC. In this workshop, attendees will be presented with information on "How to Strengthen Financial Management" in the following areas: Planning- This portion of the training will focus on topics such as (1) strengthening the budget development process and (2) planning for and addressing financial uncertainty by...

Check out the 2018 Annual Report

November 13, 2018

Check out the 2018 Annual Report. View annual report

Board Chair's Perspective - October 2018

October 19, 2018

By Kathy Diehl, Chair of the Board Match Day brings together the collective power of non-profits, business and community leaders, and many individuals who believe in making a difference in their communities. I want to thank our donors – local families and businesses, WKCF’s founding members, board members and alumni - for acknowledging the important work of our nonprofits and for giving generously toward the $50,000 match pool that we will provide on November 27th. Your support is a vital part of our success, not only with Match Day but also to the foundations ability to improve the quality...

Women of Purpose 2019 Membership Drive

October 19, 2018

The Women of Purpose recently opened the membership cycle for the 2019 grant award, which will close December 31st, 2018. The membership drive traditionally starts early October with a kick-off breakfast, a social event for members and those interested in becoming members, or learning more. Following the Breakfast, the women host a casual Wine and Cheese Soirée on November 8th from 6:30 - 8:00pm at the GCCC Endowment Room. Anyone interested in learning more about the Women of Purpose is invited to attend. Additionally, the Women of Purpose will be participating in Match Day on November...

From the Desk of the Executive Director - October 2018

October 19, 2018

We’re gearing up for our second, consecutive Match Day on November 27th in support of the endowed nonprofits under WKCF’s administration. This year our affiliate partners at the Wichita County Community Foundation are co-hosting a parallel community fundraiser in Leoti. We are excited to welcome several new participants this year, including some new funds that were established just in time to benefit from the Match Day-dollars and promotion. A preliminary list of organizations can be found elsewhere in this Newsletter. Stay tuned for more information through the news media outlets and our...

July 2018 Grants

October 19, 2018

13 local nonprofit organizations were awarded with grants totaling $27,716 from the Community Betterment Fund, the Kansas Health Foundation Children’s Fund, and various Field of Interest and Unrestricted funds for its July grant cycle. The Grants Committee reviewed 17 applications; 13 of which were awarded. The winning grants are as follows: 1. Dudley Township Library “Kevin Horner ‘One Friend Can Make a Difference” $1,000 to cover a portion of speaker costs for a follow-up anti-bullying presentation. 2. Families Together “CareING Notebook” $1,685 for supplies needed to provide health...

Non-Profit Workshop

July 31, 2018

Non-Profit Workshop On June 21, WKCF in partnership with the Finnup Foundation and the Finney County United Way offered a nonprofit capacity building workshop for local nonprofits. Forty-four people from thirty-five area organizations participated in the workshop facilitated by Wichita State University’s Community Engagement Institute. The topic of the workshop which was determined by a brief assessment of local nonprofit organizations – was fund development. Participants learned a variety of strategies for grant writing, fundraising and strategic planning that could be easily...

Annual Scholarship Reception

July 31, 2018

On June 22, the Western Kansas Community Foundation hosted its annual scholarship reception to honor both scholarship recipients, and the donors from whose funds the scholarships are awarded. In total, the Foundation awarded 42 students with scholarships from 16 different scholarship funds. In addition, the Foundation makes distributions to Garden City Community College Endowment Association from four other funds for the purpose of providing scholarships. In total, scholarship awards and distributions to provide scholarships for the 2018/2019 school year will amount to over $109,000. WKCF...

Surprise Legacy Gift Showing True Pioneer Spirit

July 20, 2018

Earlier this year, the WKCF received a $1.8M legacy gift, the largest in its 22-year history. A portion of the gift is allocated to provide permanent support for high school students in Grant County. The Anna and May Rosel Scholarship Fund, now established within the Western Kansas Community Foundation, will help educate young people for generations to come. Who were the donors who left this generous gift? Anna and her daughter May Rosel lived in Ulysses, KS most of their lives where they owned a family clothing store. The store opened in Ulysses in 1928 in a brick building owned by C.D....