Open now
Spark Tank Grants
InnovationCommunity impactEducation+3 more
Who can apply: Established programs with bold ideas relevant to United Way of Reno County's community investment priorities. Further eligibility details were not provided.
About United Way of Reno County
United Way seeks to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities around the world to advance the common good.
Focus Areas
Youth OpportunityHealthy CommunitiesFinancial SecurityCommunity ResiliencyEarly childhood literacy (Dolly Parton Imagination Library)Grant programs (Collective Impact, Spark Tank, Allocations)
Who They Fund
families with young children/caregiverschildcare providers/early childhood programs
Funding Style
unrestricted/general supportoperating supportneeds assessment funding
About United Way of Reno County
United Way of Reno County shows a sustained pattern of general support to long-time local partners in Hutchinson. Three consecutive awards of $105,000 to Boys & Girls Club, plus repeated six-figure support to Salvation Army and Hutchinson Family Services across 2023, 2024, and 2025, point to a funder that backs core operating capacity rather than one-off projects. The same pattern appears with Bright House, New Beginnings, and Interfaith Housing services, which also received repeated grants across multiple years. The foundation’s giving aligns with its Community Impact focus areas, but the recent grant record suggests those priorities are delivered through institutional support for established service providers. It also funds early childhood work directly: Early Education Center received annual grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025, while The Dollywood Foundation and Kansas State University appear in the list through early childhood literacy and childcare-related work. Leadership is local, with Steve Dreher named as the foundation’s leader, and the grantmaking footprint is tightly concentrated in Reno County and Hutchinson-area organizations.
What United Way of Reno County Funds
A major theme is early childhood and childcare. United Way of Reno County gave $52,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025 to Early Education Center, and also awarded $43,345 to Kansas State University for assessing childcare needs. The active program list reinforces that this is not incidental work: the foundation administers an Early Childhood Block Grant for Reno County and ARPA retention grants for childcare providers. Another clear area is housing and family stability. In 2025, the foundation awarded $60,000 to Ci - Interfaith Housing Services and $60,000 to New Beginnings, both Hutchinson organizations with general support listed as the purpose. Youth-serving programs are also present, including $32,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Reno Co in 2023 and $50,000 to Rise Up Reno in 2025. The mix shows support for service delivery, collaboration, and local capacity.
How United Way of Reno County Gives
United Way of Reno County’s typical grant size centers around mid-five-figure awards: p25 is $13,900, median is $23,220, and p75 is $52,250. The recent record also includes repeated higher-value general operating grants, which indicates a layered portfolio of routine support and larger anchor awards. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including Boys & Girls Club, Salvation Army, Hutchinson Family Services, Bright House, New Beginnings, and Early Education Center. The foundation is a local grantmaker, not a program-related investor, and it does not fund individuals. Its active opportunities include both unsolicited and invitation-based programs, including annual allocations and competitive grants.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$785K
Total Assets
$2.6M
Total Revenue
$1.7M
Total Expenses
$1.4M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $14K and $52K, with a median of $23K.
25th Percentile
$14K
Median
$23K
75th Percentile
$52K
Geographic Reach
Local2 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
STEVE DREHER
Unlock Deep Analysis
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeSee Similar Funders
Free Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeExplore related grant guides
Want a Personalized Pitch for United Way of Reno County?
Sign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Free plan available
No contracts
Cancel anytime