Pete and Mary Hughes Impact Fund Mini Grant

The Parsons Area Community Foundation (PACF) Mini Grants, supported by the Pete & Mary Hughes Impact Fund, provide quarterly funding opportunities for nonprofit organizations within a 25-mile radius of Parsons, Kansas. Established in 2024 through the generosity of lifelong community volunteers Pete and Mary Hughes, this program reflects their dedication to local community development and aims to enhance the capacity of local nonprofits to positively impact the area. The fund embodies the PACF's broader mission of investing in the vitality and sustainability of the Parsons community by enabling accessible, small-scale funding opportunities tailored to the needs of grassroots and mid-sized initiatives. The Mini Grants are specifically designed to offer flexible, rapid-response funding to a variety of nonprofit-led projects that serve local communities. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) organizations, religious institutions, government entities, schools, and churches, as long as they operate within the specified geographic zone. Fiscal sponsorship is permitted if the sponsoring body is a qualified government or nonprofit entity. The intent is to allow community-serving projects to either launch or complete short-term efforts without the complexity of large-scale grant competitions. Mini Grants are awarded up to four times per year, aligning with quarterly deadlines. Each cycle has its own application window: Q2 runs from April 1 to June 15, Q3 from July 1 to September 15, and Q4 from October 1 to December 15. Awards are capped at $1,500 per organization per calendar year, though the PACF Board of Directors maintains discretion to increase or decrease individual award amounts based on project need, scope, and the availability of funds. There is no stated minimum award floor, further enhancing the fund’s flexibility in meeting small but urgent local needs. The application process is straightforward. Interested applicants can access submission forms online via the PACF website. Though the foundation does not require a pre-application or concept paper, all applicants must be prepared to document their nonprofit status, including providing a federal EIN. Funded organizations are obligated to submit a brief final report within six months of receiving funds, detailing the outcomes and community impact of the grant. This report is a critical component for future funding consideration. While evaluation criteria are not exhaustively detailed, it is clear that the PACF values high-quality completion reporting and demonstrable community impact. Applications are reviewed on a quarterly basis by the PACF Board, which determines final award decisions and allocates funding accordingly. There is no indication of external review panels or public input into the decision-making process. As such, applicants are encouraged to present clearly defined project goals and realistic budget uses within their submissions. The PACF can be reached directly for inquiries at [email protected] or by phone at (620) 421-0723. The foundation is located at 1810 Main Street, P.O. Box 894, Parsons, KS 67357. No PDF documentation is publicly linked for this opportunity, and all applications are handled online through the organization's official website. Given the recurring nature of this opportunity, applicants should plan for future cycles accordingly and prepare internal calendars aligned with quarterly deadlines.

Submit a strong final report to enhance future funding eligibility.