79 Fund

The 79 Fund is a charitable initiative administered by the Emporia Community Foundation, designed with a mission to support long-term improvements in the quality of life for children in the Emporia, Kansas community. The fund evaluates and analyzes local charitable needs with a primary focus on impactful projects that address enduring improvements for young residents. It seeks to enhance community well-being through targeted investments that demonstrate a commitment to volunteerism and sustainable outcomes. Applications to the 79 Fund are evaluated by a dedicated committee that aligns its decisions with the fund’s mission. The committee proactively identifies potential projects and assesses them based on impact, collaboration potential, and uniqueness. Emphasis is placed on initiatives that are volunteer-based and those that fill unique needs not commonly addressed by other sources of funding. Collaboration with other funds and avoidance of duplicative support are important considerations in the selection process. The 79 Fund has established four annual application deadlines: February 15, May 15, August 15, and November 15. Applications must be submitted via email to loni.heinen@emporiacf.org or delivered in person to the Emporia Community Foundation’s office at 527 Commercial Street, Suite B, Emporia, KS 66801. Once the committee reviews and makes its recommendations, final approval is sought from Clint Bowyer, after which applicants will be notified of funding decisions. Certain types of requests are generally not supported. These include large-scale fundraising efforts, support for taxing authorities (except under specific, innovative circumstances), annual or repetitive grants, individual requests, and operational or personnel funding. The fund does not support multi-year grants or provide tangible items for donation. Projects demonstrating high volunteer involvement are prioritized, and proposals including matched funds or volunteer hours are viewed favorably, although not required. A detailed project budget must accompany each application. Applicants are encouraged to be concise, although supporting documents may be included. Questions about the application process can be directed to Loni Heinen via email or by calling 620-342-9304.