Fund for Reno County Grants

The 2025 Fund for Reno County Grants, administered by Hutchinson Community Foundation, supports innovative and community-driven initiatives that address the evolving needs of Reno County, Kansas. Established by the Foundation’s founding board as a “community savings account,” the Fund has distributed over $5.6 million to community-based organizations since 1990. The grantmaking process offers an avenue for Foundation representatives—including staff, board members, and community volunteers—to connect directly with applicants and learn about the region’s emerging challenges and opportunities. The grant program is rooted in the Foundation’s mission to inspire philanthropy, leadership, and collaboration in building vibrant, resilient communities where all residents have the opportunity to thrive. In 2025, the Fund for Reno County will be awarded in two cycles, each emphasizing different community priorities. Impact Cycle 1, with a submission deadline of February 28, 2025, supports four funding categories: Dynamic Culture (enhancing arts, theatre, history, and tourism), Thriving Kids (early care, education, youth development, and family support), Community Catalyst (community engagement, pride, and communication), and Strong Organizations (capacity-building for local nonprofits). Award ceilings range from $2,500 to $20,000 depending on the category. Impact Cycle 2, due August 15, 2025, focuses on Community & Economic Development and again includes Strong Organizations. The maximum award in this cycle is $50,000 for development projects and $7,500 for organizational capacity building. Eligibility is limited to organizations that are exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) and serve Reno County, Kansas. Local government entities may also apply if proposing innovative projects. Additionally, community groups lacking 501(c)(3) status may participate through a fiscal sponsor that meets IRS tax-exemption criteria. The Foundation prohibits discrimination in funded projects and does not support applications from individuals, non-qualifying organizations, or those engaging in proselytization, deficit financing, lobbying, direct fundraising, or endowment building. Requests for ongoing programmatic support or reimbursement of pre-award expenses are also excluded. The most competitive proposals will demonstrate a combination of systems-level thinking, inclusion of the target population in project design and implementation, cross-sector collaboration, innovation, and operational effectiveness. Proposals must also clearly articulate a pressing need and a feasible plan with a cost-effective budget. Applications are submitted via the Foundation’s online Foundant Grant Lifecycle Management (GLM) platform at HutchCF.org. Technical assistance is available through optional workshops held in January, and applicants are encouraged to consult with Foundation staff prior to submission for strategic input. All applications are reviewed by the Foundation’s Grants Committee, which may partially fund requests. Applicants may apply under more than one category if appropriate. Notifications of grant decisions are sent within six weeks following each cycle deadline. Grantees are required to submit a mid-project report and a final report within 30 days of project completion or no later than one year from award date. These reports are necessary for accountability and may influence future eligibility. Prospective applicants with questions can reach out to program officer Sarah Blake at Sarah@HutchCF.org or by phone at 620-663-5293. For more information and to apply, visit www.HutchCF.org. The Foundation strongly encourages early engagement with staff and participation in the technical assistance workshops to optimize the quality and competitiveness of applications.