2025 Elk County Community Foundation Rural Match Grant

The Elk County Community Foundation (ECCF), an affiliate of the Central Kansas Community Foundation, is accepting applications for its 2025 Rural Match Non-Competitive Grant Cycle. ECCF was established to promote and facilitate charitable giving to enhance the quality of life in Elk County, Kansas. Through its Rural Community Match Fund, ECCF channels philanthropic resources into rural areas to address identified community needs. This grant program aims to strengthen rural philanthropy and support meaningful, community-based initiatives through discretionary, strategic funding decisions made by the ECCF leadership team. This non-competitive grant opportunity offers a total of approximately $45,500 for distribution in 2025. Individual awards will range from a minimum of $250 up to the full available amount, depending on the discretion of ECCF leadership. The intent is to support charitable projects that demonstrate alignment with local needs and priorities, and to encourage responsible project planning and execution by eligible organizations. Funding decisions are not determined by competition but by internal ECCF review and alignment with rural development and philanthropic goals. To qualify for funding, applicants must be recognized as 501(c)(3) organizations, exempt under statute (such as educational institutions, churches, or government entities), or formally linked to a qualifying organization. In addition, organizations must demonstrate ethical and capable management. Prior grant recipients must have submitted all required reports to be eligible for new funding. All project activities must commence only after grant award decisions are made in September 2025 and must be completed by June 2026. A Grant Impact Report is required at the end of the funding period unless alternate arrangements are made in advance. The grant application process opens on Monday, June 23, 2025, and all applications must be submitted online no later than 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 24, 2025. Applications must align with the purpose of the fund and reflect projects that are charitable in nature and based in Elk County. Only one round of applications is scheduled during this cycle, and additional information may be requested by ECCF or its parent organization during the evaluation process. Interested applicants are encouraged to ensure all eligibility criteria are met prior to submission. The application must include clear documentation of project purpose, anticipated community benefit, budget, and timeline. ECCF leadership will evaluate proposals based on alignment with local priorities, management capacity, and the overall impact on Elk County communities. For questions or further information, applicants may contact Brandi Mast, Associate Director at ECCF, via email at brandi.mast@centralkansascf.org or phone at 316-251-4291. Additional inquiries may be directed to Melissa Schreiber, Program Officer for Grants at the Central Kansas Community Foundation, at melissa@centralkansascf.org or 316-251-4143.