Sedgwick County Groundwater Contamination Grant Program

The Kansas Health Foundation is launching the Sedgwick County Groundwater Contamination Grant Program in collaboration with state, county, and city officials. The program is designed to mitigate exposure to contaminated groundwater, specifically from the 29th and Grove contamination plume, by investing $3.5 million into the northeast Wichita community. This competitive grant opportunity is focused on supporting organizations that can provide medical testing related to exposure to trichlorethylene (TCE) and tetrachloroethylene (PCE) or deliver health communication initiatives that educate and inform affected residents about available testing and the broader impacts of groundwater contamination. The funding scope includes grant awards ranging from $250,000 to $1 million. Eligible expenses include the purchase of materials and supplies such as comprehensive metabolic panels, complete blood count tests, urinalysis, and alpha fetoprotein tests. Equipment necessary for long-term testing, staff training to operate such equipment, staff time dedicated to overseeing screening and testing, and development and dissemination of strategic communication plans are also supported. Conversely, indirect costs such as utilities, rent, and treatment services are ineligible for funding. Eligibility for the grant is limited to 501(c)(3) organizations. However, the following entities are excluded: 501(c)(3) subclassification 509(a)(3) supporting organizations, 501(c)(3) private foundations, 501(c)(4) social welfare organizations, and 501(c)(6) business leagues. Organizations applying must demonstrate a history of working with communities facing health disparities, experience in fiscal management, and a strong background in administering, communicating, and reporting on community health initiatives. Applicants are encouraged to collaborate with other organizations and to prioritize service delivery within the 29th and Grove community without restricting services strictly to the contamination plume boundaries. Applications must be submitted by midnight on July 15, 2025. Final funding decisions will be announced by August 30, 2025, with funds dispersed no later than October 30, 2025. Grantees are required to utilize awarded funds by December 31, 2026. The grant program places a strong emphasis on coordinated and transparent communication with residents, co-creation of a unified data collection framework with the Kansas Health Foundation, and a long-term sustainability plan for ongoing testing services. Applicants must prepare their submissions offline prior to using the online application form, as the form cannot be saved once started and will time out after three hours. Required documents include the IRS determination letter and the most recent IRS Form 990. Additionally, applicants must provide contact information for a legally authorized signatory such as the organization’s CEO, President, Executive Director, or School District Superintendent. For any questions regarding the application process, applicants should contact applications@khf.org. For technical assistance, they should reach out to help@khf.org.