79 Fund

The 79 Fund, managed by the Emporia Community Foundation, is designed to evaluate and respond to charitable needs within the Emporia community, with a strong emphasis on projects that deliver long-term improvements to the lives of children in Emporia. The fund is guided by a dedicated committee that not only reviews grant applications but also proactively identifies high-impact opportunities. A distinguishing feature of this fund is its commitment to promoting volunteerism and its focus on sustainability through community-driven efforts. The fund’s mission centers around funding specific individual projects that are likely to result in meaningful, long-lasting improvements. While the fund gives special consideration to projects benefiting children, it maintains a broad scope for serving Emporians in general. The committee prioritizes proposals that are innovative, non-repetitive, and volunteer-based. It also examines potential for duplication of funding and considers collaboration with other funding sources when making grant decisions. Several important exclusions define the 79 Fund's parameters. It does not support annual fundraising drives, recurring grants, personnel positions, operational expenses, or multi-year funding commitments. It typically does not provide grants to entities with taxing authority unless the project is a one-time, special, and innovative initiative beyond the entity’s basic services. Individual applicants and donations of items, including autographed goods, are not eligible for support. Projects that request matches—either in funding or volunteer time—are viewed positively, but no match is required. The grant application process is streamlined. Interested nonprofit organizations must submit a completed application form that includes the date, purpose of the request, the number of individuals affected, a brief narrative summary (limited to 200 words), and a detailed budget. Applications may include additional supporting documents, although brevity is encouraged. All applications should be submitted via email to loni.heinen@emporiacf.org or physically delivered to the foundation’s office at 527 Commercial Street, Suite B, Emporia, KS 66801. Grant cycles occur four times per year with deadlines set for February 15, May 15, August 15, and November 15. Proposals are reviewed by the committee, and final funding approval is given by Clint Bowyer. Notification of award decisions is sent following his approval. As of the reference date of September 1, 2025, the next upcoming application deadline is November 15, 2025. This grant operates on a quarterly recurring cycle and is expected to reopen in February 2026.