The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas serves the region by encouraging charitable giving benefiting the common good and the quality of life. We inspire leadership with programming that is responsive to the interests and needs of those we serve now and in the future.
A recurring pattern in Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas grantmaking is support for local institutions that anchor civic life, health, and education in Pittsburg and nearby communities. Recent awards include $225,967 to the City of Pittsburg for public affairs and $220,468 to the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas for general operations, alongside other large operating and program grants to schools, nonprofits, and community organizations. The foundation’s work is broad across Southeast Kansas, with priorities that include basic human needs, youth activities, arts and culture, children and youth, women’s health, and healthcare. It also administers named grant programs that channel support into specific needs such as women’s health, agricultural education, at-risk youth, and scholarships. That mix of discretionary community grants and dedicated funds shows a funder that supports both everyday services and longer-term community capacity. The recent grant record also includes support for public affairs, human services, animal welfare, and religious organizations, reflecting a multi-sector portfolio rather than a single-issue strategy. In practice, the foundation funds organizations serving residents across Southeast Kansas, with many awards concentrated in Pittsburg, Fort Scott, and Frontenac.
In health-related giving, the foundation backed the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas with a $220,468 general-operations grant and Mercy Health Foundation in Joplin with $90,833 for health, general. Women’s health is also a defined program area through the Rita J. Bicknell Women’s Health Fund Grants and the Women’s Health Fund, both directed to Southeast Kansas nonprofits. Education appears in several forms: Fort Scott Community College received $83,135 for educational purposes, and Frontenac Education Foundation received $68,592 for general operations. Youth-serving work is another recurring theme, with Point Forward Inc receiving $200,000 for program support and the Elm Acres Foundation Grant Cycle supporting at-risk youth in Crawford, Cherokee, and Labette counties. The foundation also funds basic human needs and human services, including Family Resource Center Inc with a $59,948 human-service grant.
$1.6M
$69.7M
$7.5M
$2.3M
Most grants fall between $8K and $22K, with a median of $14K.
25th Percentile
$8K
Median
$14K
75th Percentile
$22K
Devin Gorman
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Typical grant size is moderate: the 25th percentile is $8,000, the median is $13,645, and the 75th percentile is $22,390. The recent grant list shows both one-time awards and repeated support to the same organizations across years, including City of Pittsburg, City of Frontenac, Countryside Christian School, Usd 234 Fort Scott, and Southeast Kansas Humane Society. That points to ongoing relationships rather than strictly one-off giving. The foundation operates through a mix of general operations, program support, and named funds and giving circles. It also accepts unsolicited applications for several active grant programs, including Community Impact Grants, the Women’s Health Fund, the Bill House Agricultural Grants, and county-specific funds.
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly local and concentrated in Kansas: 90% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Among named recipient places in the recent grants, Pittsburg appears frequently, along with Fort Scott and Frontenac; Uniontown and Crawford County also show up in the grant record. The foundation’s active programs extend beyond Pittsburg into nearby Southeast Kansas counties, and some programs reach Kansas and Oklahoma for agricultural education. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
The grant record includes cities, schools, colleges, health providers, human-service nonprofits, an animal welfare organization, and religious organizations. Recent awards went to the City of Pittsburg, Fort Scott Community College, the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, Family Resource Center Inc, and Southeast Kansas Humane Society.
The foundation lists Arts & Culture, Basic Human Needs / Human Services, Children & Youth, Youth Volunteerism, At-Risk Youth, Women’s Health, Healthcare, and Education. Its active programs also include agricultural education, county-level community needs, and scholarships.
Yes. Several active programs accept unsolicited applications, including Community Impact Grants, the Women’s Health Fund, Bill House Agricultural Grants, Knights of Columbus Fund Grants, Future Fund Grants, Elm Acres Foundation Grant Cycle, Knights of Columbus Endowment Grants, and the scholarship program.
The typical award is in the mid-five-figure range: the 25th percentile is $8,000, the median is $13,645, and the 75th percentile is $22,390. Recent grants also include larger operating and public-affairs awards to local institutions and governments.
The grant record is highly local. 90% of grants go to recipients in Kansas, and the recent grants list shows repeated awards in Pittsburg, Fort Scott, Frontenac, and other Southeast Kansas communities.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Crawford County, KS nonprofits are encouraged to apply. Applications are for future projects only and are awarded as one-time grants.
Deadline: Applications available until 11:59 p.m. on August 31st.
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Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas | Pittsburg, KS | $220,468 | 2025 | General Operations |
| Support Local Journalism Project | Pittsburg, KS | $117,210 | 2025 | General Operations |
| First Church of the Nazarene- Pittsburg | Pittsburg, KS | $100,000 | 2025 | General Operations |
| City of Pittsburg | Pittsburg, KS | $81,474 | 2025 | General Operations |
| Frontenac Education Foundation | Frontenac, KS | $68,592 | 2025 | General Operations |
| City of Frontenac | Frontenac, KS | $45,919 | 2025 | General Operations |
| SEK Humane Society of Crawford County Kansas | Pittsburg, KS | $39,327 | 2025 | General Operations |
| First United Methodist Church Wesley House | Pittsburg, KS | $38,180 | 2025 | General Operations |
| Crawford County Government | Girard, KS | $37,255 | 2025 | General Operations |
| Fort Scott Community College Foundation | Fort Scott, KS | $34,483 | 2025 | General Operations |
| The Salvation Army | Pittsburg, KS | $34,201 | 2025 | General Operations |
| Bourbon County EMS | Fort Scott, KS | $29,000 | 2025 | General Operations |
| Future STEAM Inc | Pike Road, AL | $24,528 | 2025 | General Operations |
| First Christian Church - Columbus | Columbus, KS | $23,771 | 2025 | General Operations |
| Bourbon County Kansas | Fort Scott, KS | $23,173 | 2025 | General Operations |
| Catholic Charities Inc | Wichita, KS | $23,100 | 2025 | General Operations |
| Catholic Diocese of Wichita - The Lord's Diner-Pittsburg | Pittsburg, KS | $22,317 | 2025 | General Operations |
| City of Erie | Erie, KS | $22,222 | 2025 | General Operations |
| Pittsburg State University Foundation Inc | Pittsburg, KS | $21,678 | 2025 | General Operations |
| Angels Among Us | Pittsburg, KS | $21,445 | 2025 | General Operations |
| USD 234 Fort Scott | Fort Scott, KS | $21,317 | 2025 | General Operations |
| Special Olympics Kansas | Mission, KS | $20,175 | 2025 | General Operations |
| First Presbyterian Church | Fort Scott, KS | $20,000 | 2025 | General Operations |
| University of Kansas | Lawrence, KS | $20,000 | 2025 | General Operations |
| Safehouse Crisis Center Inc | Pittsburg, KS | $19,526 | 2025 | General Operations |
| Girard Youth Activities Inc | Girard, KS | $19,500 | 2025 | General Operations |
| DBLO Association | Weir, KS | $19,000 | 2025 | General Operations |
| Frontenac United Methodist Church | Frontenac, KS | $18,528 | 2025 | General Operations |
| St Mary's Colgan Catholic Schools | Pittsburg, KS | $17,900 | 2025 | General Operations |
| Hospital District 1 Crawford County Foundation | Girard, KS | $17,082 | 2025 | General Operations |
| Uniontown USD 235 | Uniontown, KS | $16,867 | 2025 | General Operations |
| The Beacon Inc | Fort Scott, KS | $14,596 | 2025 | General Operations |
| Columbus USD #493 | Columbus, KS | $14,293 | 2025 | General Operations |
| Care to Share Cancer Support Group of Bourbon County Kansas Inc | Fort Scott, KS | $14,028 | 2025 | General Operations |
| Fostering Connections | Frontenac, KS | $13,649 | 2025 | General Operations |
| Pittsburg Area Chamber Foundation | Pittsburg, KS | $13,645 | 2025 | General Operations |
| Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters | Wichita, KS | $12,862 | 2025 | General Operations |
| CLASS LTD | Columbus, KS | $12,709 | 2025 | General Operations |
| Community Food Pantry Fund | Girard, KS | $12,682 | 2025 | General Operations |
| USD 250 Pittsburg | Pittsburg, KS | $12,390 | 2025 | General Operations |
| Family Resource Center Inc | Pittsburg, KS | $12,223 | 2025 | General Operations |
| Columbus Recreation Commission | Columbus, KS | $10,500 | 2025 | General Operations |
| Christ Community Church | Pittsburg, KS | $10,303 | 2025 | General Operations |
| City of Columbus | Columbus, KS | $10,000 | 2025 | General Operations |
| Families and Children Together Inc | Pittsburg, KS | $9,399 | 2025 | General Operations |
| SEK Community Action Program Inc | Girard, KS | $8,532 | 2025 | General Operations |
| Uniontown United Methodist Church Inc | Uniontown, KS | $8,096 | 2025 | General Operations |
| Mount Orum Baptist Church | Redfield, KS | $8,096 | 2025 | General Operations |
| Old Fort Genealogical Society of Southeastern Kansas | Fort Scott, KS | $8,096 | 2025 | General Operations |
| Fort Scott Public Library | Fort Scott, KS | $8,096 | 2025 | General Operations |
Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas
$220,468General Operations
First Church of the Nazarene- Pittsburg
$100,000General Operations
City of Pittsburg
$81,474General Operations
Frontenac Education Foundation
$68,592General Operations
City of Frontenac
$45,919General Operations
SEK Humane Society of Crawford County Kansas
$39,327General Operations
First United Methodist Church Wesley House
$38,180General Operations
Crawford County Government
$37,255General Operations
The Salvation Army
$34,201General Operations
Bourbon County EMS
$29,000General Operations
Future STEAM Inc
$24,528General Operations
First Christian Church - Columbus
$23,771General Operations
Bourbon County Kansas
$23,173General Operations
Catholic Diocese of Wichita - The Lord's Diner-Pittsburg
$22,317General Operations
City of Erie
$22,222General Operations
Angels Among Us
$21,445General Operations
USD 234 Fort Scott
$21,317General Operations
First Presbyterian Church
$20,000General Operations
Safehouse Crisis Center Inc
$19,526General Operations
Girard Youth Activities Inc
$19,500General Operations
DBLO Association
$19,000General Operations
Frontenac United Methodist Church
$18,528General Operations
St Mary's Colgan Catholic Schools
$17,900General Operations
Hospital District 1 Crawford County Foundation
$17,082General Operations
Uniontown USD 235
$16,867General Operations
The Beacon Inc
$14,596General Operations
Columbus USD #493
$14,293General Operations
Care to Share Cancer Support Group of Bourbon County Kansas Inc
$14,028General Operations
Fostering Connections
$13,649General Operations
Pittsburg Area Chamber Foundation
$13,645General Operations
CLASS LTD
$12,709General Operations
Community Food Pantry Fund
$12,682General Operations
USD 250 Pittsburg
$12,390General Operations
Family Resource Center Inc
$12,223General Operations
Columbus Recreation Commission
$10,500General Operations
Christ Community Church
$10,303General Operations
City of Columbus
$10,000General Operations
Families and Children Together Inc
$9,399General Operations
SEK Community Action Program Inc
$8,532General Operations
Uniontown United Methodist Church Inc
$8,096General Operations
Mount Orum Baptist Church
$8,096General Operations
Old Fort Genealogical Society of Southeastern Kansas
$8,096General Operations
Fort Scott Public Library
$8,096General Operations