Online Grant application process

Grant requests will be reviewed semi-annually by the Foundation. Beginning July 1, 2011, only applications submitted through the online application system described below will be accepted.

The Foundation accepts applications on a rolling basis, but has two deadlines per year. 
  • Wednesday, March 8, 2023 -- Applications submitted for this deadline will be reviewed in May 2023. 
  • Wednesday, September 6, 2023 -- Applications submitted for this deadline will be reviewed in November 2023. 

Application dates for the following year will be posted in December.
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After initial culling by staff, every grant request is read and evaluated by each director. Since the Foundation often receives over one
hundred grant applications each meeting, it is necessary that requests be concise, yet sufficiently complete to allow for evaluation of an
organization and the project or program for which it seeks funding.

Grant application overview

As of Fall 2019, the Foundation is using a new software system. ​Use the following link to access the grant application: Grant Application
  • If you have not used the new system before, you will need to create a new account via the "Register" button in the upper right hand corner of the grant application web page.

The online grant application form requests the following essential information:
  • A description of the organization and its mission
  • A description of the project or program to be considered, including its purpose and realistically projected results
  • A description of how the request fits with the Foundation's target funding areas
  • A description of the people served by the program or project
  • A listing of other sources of funding
  • Name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address (if applicable) of a person available to discuss the request with one or more of the Foundation's directors
  • The organization's federal tax exemption number 501(c)(3)

The following must be attached to the online Grant Application form:
  • A proposed budget for the project or program
  • An annual operating budget for the organization
  • A copy of the organization’s latest Form 990 (Federal tax return)
  • Board of Directors Information: A detailed list with the following: (1) full name; (2) company affiliation; (3) term expiration; (4) indicate board chair and officer names, affiliation(s), and term start and end date; and (5) breakdown of board demographics, including ethnicity and gender
If you have questions regarding the Foundation, or the grant request process, please contact the Greater Kansas City Community
Foundation at (816) 627-3444 or at greenfoundation@growyourgiving.org.

For technical assistance with the application system, please contact us at (816) 627-3452 or at grants@growyourgiving.org.

Grant evaluation process

The grant evaluation process is evolving to enable the Directors to give thorough and fair consideration to an ever-growing number of grant
requests.
  • All applications are received and processed via the online application system
  • GKCCF staff mails copies of all grant requests to the Directors.
  • Every grant request is read and evaluated by each Director.
  • Directors give each grant request a funding priority as high, medium or low
  • Directors suggest an alternate funding amount if the requested amount seems too large or otherwise inappropriate.
  • Directors return their ratings to GKCCF staff who aggregate funding priorities based on a simple numeric scale
  • The prioritized list is returned to the Directors.
  • When they meet, the Directors discuss the grants in the order that they appear on the list.
  • They decide on an amount to be awarded for each request, moving down the list until the amount available to be given has been exhausted.
  • Determination notifications will be mailed to all applicants approximately two weeks after the board's meeting