Hillsboro Community Foundation Grant

The Hillsboro Community Foundation, affiliated with the Central Kansas Community Foundation, administers the 2026 Hillsboro Community Foundation Grant to support community development initiatives in Hillsboro, Kansas. The Foundation is rooted in a mission to promote and facilitate charitable giving for projects that enhance the quality of life in Hillsboro. For the 2026 grant cycle, applications open on January 5, 2026, and close on February 4, 2026, at 5:00 PM CST. Two distinct funding streams are available: the Hillsboro Impact Fund and the Helen and Laurine Schafer Charitable Fund, each with a defined purpose and a combined estimated allocation of approximately $15,000. The Hillsboro Impact Fund has approximately $10,000 available and supports charitable projects or programs that benefit the Hillsboro community broadly. In contrast, the Helen and Laurine Schafer Charitable Fund provides around $5,000 in funding, targeting health care initiatives within Hillsboro and surrounding areas. Applicants may request between $500 and $5,000 in funding. Preference will be given to projects that clearly demonstrate community need, feasibility, collaborative impact, expansion or enhancement of effective services, strong outcome measurement strategies, and innovation. To be eligible, applicants must be recognized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or fall under statutory exemptions such as educational institutions, religious organizations, or government entities. Organizations that do not meet these criteria are encouraged to work with a qualifying fiscal sponsor. Management of the applying entity must be conducted by ethical, experienced personnel. All proposed projects must directly benefit the Hillsboro community, and geographic eligibility is limited to areas served by the Hillsboro Community Foundation. The application must be submitted via the online portal no later than 5:00 PM CST on February 4, 2026. Projects cannot commence until after March 2026, when grants are expected to be awarded. Upon project completion, or by December 2026 at the latest, a grant impact report is required. Organizations that received funding in either of the two previous years must have already submitted a final report to be considered for the 2026 cycle. The review process is overseen by the Grant Review Committee, and applicants may be contacted for additional clarifications. The submission process is straightforward, requiring completion of an online application and adherence to timeline constraints. While specific application components are not outlined in the public material, applicants are advised to highlight how their projects align with the fund’s focus areas and evaluation criteria. The Foundation does not outline specific pre-application requirements like a letter of intent or concept note. Awards will be made based on available funds and applicant alignment with stated priorities. For questions or further information, applicants may contact Melissa Schreiber, Program Officer - Grants, at the Central Kansas Community Foundation. She can be reached at [email protected] or by phone at 316-283-5474. The Foundation encourages eligible organizations to apply and aims to support initiatives that provide tangible, measurable benefits to the Hillsboro community.

Prioritize clear needs, collaborative approaches, and feasible projects with measurable outcomes.