Heartland Area Action Fund

The Heartland Area Action Fund is a regional grantmaking initiative administered by the Heartland Community Foundation. Its purpose is to provide unrestricted community grant funds to support diverse charitable needs in the Heartland area. This program is designed to improve the quality of life within the communities it serves, with particular attention to projects that strengthen organizations and provide direct community benefit. The grant program consolidates all available funds under a universal application process to simplify access for eligible applicants. The Heartland Area Action Fund is limited in scope to specific counties in Kansas: Ellis, Rooks, and Trego. This geographic restriction ensures that funds are reinvested directly into the communities most closely tied to the foundation’s mission. Despite the unrestricted nature of the funding purpose, geographic eligibility is strictly enforced. Applicants outside of these counties are not eligible to receive funding from this particular fund. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, governmental entities, and religious organizations. The foundation also allows individuals or entities that do not fall into these categories to apply through a qualified fiscal sponsor. If a fiscal sponsor relationship is not possible, applicants are encouraged to contact the foundation to determine whether their project still qualifies. The foundation maintains flexibility for community-driven projects while ensuring proper fiscal oversight and accountability. The foundation supports a broad range of funding purposes. Grants may be used to support community-serving programs, seed new initiatives including associated operational expenses, and build organizational capacity through training, staffing, or technology. Capital improvements such as construction or renovation of facilities may also be funded. While endowment support is permitted, it is unlikely to be funded unless tied to a specific, strategic initiative. Applications that are incomplete, late, or inaccurate will not be considered. Other exclusions include political activities, discriminatory projects, and debt retirement or operating deficits. The foundation uses a seasonal cycle for accepting applications. The Spring cycle is open from March 15 through May 15 each year. All submissions must be received within this window to be considered. There is no pre-application stage or concept paper requirement; applicants can apply directly during the open window. Universal grant applications are reviewed by the grants committee, and decisions are made based on the impact, feasibility, and alignment with the foundation’s mission. Applicants with questions or nonstandard eligibility situations are encouraged to contact Sarah Meitner, Executive Director of the Heartland Community Foundation, at 785-621-4090. While award notifications and performance periods were not detailed in the current guidelines, the foundation encourages early contact to ensure all documentation and eligibility requirements are addressed in time for consideration during the open grant cycle.