The Urgent Needs Fund was originally established to provide immediate assistance to nonprofit organizations that struggled with immediate lost revenue, non-recoverable expenses, and/or increased programming due to the COVID-19 crisis. Since that time, the Urgent Needs grant has been opened to any request for funding that is considered of urgent importance to the applicant and that warrants application outside of regular application deadlines. Additionally, this process can be utilized during times of community-wide crisis, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic, to address the needs listed above, and to provide funding that will span gaps not covered through state or federal emergency assistance. 

Application Dates

The Western Kansas Community Foundation accepts Urgent Needs Grant applications outside of typical grant cycles. Because of the nature of emergency requests, Urgent Needs grants are continually available with no set application deadline dates. As such, applications will be reviewed and awarded in as timely a manner as possible. The Urgent Needs grant application is available in the online grant system which can be accessed from our Grant Application page.

The Process

After a completed proposal is received, the Foundation's Grant Committee will meet to review the application. Because the Grant Committee has been given the authority to make Urgent Needs grant awards with the authority of the full board, applicants will be notified of the Committee's decision as soon as possible after their meeting. A Final Report is due once Urgent Needs funding is expended, or no later than one year from the award date (i.e. a grant awarded on February 23rd would have a final reporting deadline of February 23rd the following year). Agencies that have an Urgent Needs grant in progress are not obligated to complete final reporting for that award prior to applying for additional funding, of any kind, through the WKCF. 

Total Urgent Needs funding per agency will not exceed $3,500 for the calendar year. Organizations may apply as many times as needed until their funding maximum has been met. Agencies that were awarded Urgent Needs funding in the prior year will begin each new year with a $0 balance toward their annual $3,500 maximum. 

Funding Ineligibility

The WKCF will not give consideration to funding Urgent Needs Grants for:

• Grants to individuals
• Capital campaigns
• Medical research
• Internal studies or research (i.e. Studies conducted by the applicant organization are not eligible. Studies conducted by a third-party for the applicant, such as impact studies, or a study to help form a strategic plan, are eligible.) 
• Educational scholarships or fellowships
• Membership fees
• Ticket sales for fund-raising efforts
• Religious organizations for religious purposes
• Capital debt reduction, including construction or real estate loan payments
• Political lobbying, advocacy, or legislative activities 
• Endowment establishment or enhancement
• Umbrella funding of organizations that would distribute requested funds at their own discretion
• Give-away items for prizes/incentives
• Projects that discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, physical ability, sexual orientation or identity, or political preference

Those wishing to contribute to the Urgent Needs Fund can do so by clicking here.