Golden Belt Neighborhood Youth Grant Program

The Golden Belt Neighborhood Youth Grant is an annual funding opportunity administered by the Golden Belt Community Foundation, serving Barton, Pawnee, Rush, and Stafford Counties in Kansas. This initiative is designed to strengthen youth-related organizations and programs that enhance the well-being of children and families within these rural Kansas communities. The Foundation places a strong emphasis on supporting charitable activities that contribute to the health, development, and long-term sustainability of youth-focused initiatives. The grant specifically supports collaborative, measurable, and sustainable projects. Preferred proposals are those that leverage matching funds to enhance community impact. While the grant primarily funds programs that directly benefit youth and promote their health and well-being, it may also, to a limited extent, support other areas including arts and culture, services for the indigent, health and human services, nutrition and physical activity, public health, community education and development, and general community improvement. However, applicants should be aware that such areas receive only limited support compared to youth services. Eligibility for the Golden Belt Neighborhood Youth Grant is open to public charities under IRS code sections 501(c)(3) and 509(a)(1), (a)(2), or (a)(3), as well as private operating foundations. Additionally, units of government, including Native American tribal governments, are eligible to apply for public-purpose projects. In exceptional cases, other nonprofit entities and even businesses may receive funding, provided that the Foundation can maintain expenditure responsibility and the proposed activities are strictly charitable. The project or program must be located in one of the four eligible Kansas counties and must have a clearly defined charitable purpose. Applicants must adhere to specific restrictions on the use of funds. The Foundation does not fund grants to individuals, operating expenses, religious activities with religious purposes, political lobbying or activities, endowments, debt retirement, private foundations, grant-making organizations, or items like T-shirts and water bottles. These exclusions are in place to ensure the grant’s impact remains focused on sustainable and charitable activities that align with the Foundation’s mission. The application process begins with the release of the online application portal on July 1. All applications must be submitted by August 1. Grant decisions are made by mid-September. The application review process involves a staff eligibility screening, followed by review from donor advisors, with final funding decisions made by the Foundation’s board of directors. Applicants are advised that the Foundation receives more funding requests than it can approve, and a declined application does not necessarily reflect the value or necessity of the proposed project. No contact email, phone number, or named staff were listed in the source information. Applicants are encouraged to consult the Foundation’s website or contact the organization directly for any specific inquiries or clarifications during the application process.