Available Grants

Community Foundation Capacity Building Program

Overview

A rural community foundation is a place where compassionate people and organizations can come together to create change. Community foundations hold a longer-term perspective and share a deep affinity for their local community.

A growing number of community foundations are creating opportunities to empower their local community and develop a strategy for the transition of wealth, keeping rural dollars in rural communities.

Many rural community foundations are staffed by a volunteer board who are tasked with managing day-to-day operations, setting strategies for their organization, and increasing community foundation assets. There is an opportunity to support community foundations now, empowering them to prepare for the future by building the capacity of their organizations.

The Community Foundation Capacity Building Program supports small, rural community foundations without a full-time staff member. This program will provide funding to hire and sustain one staff member for up to three years. The Patterson Family Foundation believes that this investment in community foundations will help retain local assets while growing the number of donors and funds held. We believe in doing this alongside our rural communities, and current partners, and working together on a long-term solution to continue this staff position beyond the initial three years.


This program will empower the local community foundation board to determine the best way to staff their organization and support their community’s needs.
Applications will be received from September 19th – October 20, 2023. Read on for more details.

Program Details

Eligibility


Applicant organizations should:
• Be a 501(c)(3) community foundation or an affiliate of a 501(c)(3) community foundation (of any asset size).
• Be located in and serving a county or community within the Patterson Family Foundation's catchment in Kansas or Western Missouri.
• Community foundations must be willing to reapply and submit annual reports of community foundation assets, growth, and overall progress report at the end of each year.
• Community foundations must agree to a sustainability plan to provide funding to keep full-time staff members after the third-year ends.

Parent Community Foundations:
Parent Community foundations can apply for their affiliates that do not have a full-time staff member. Staff can be hired through the parent community foundation, utilizing their benefits, office, technology, and support systems. Priority will be given to those parent organizations that can recruit this staff member from the affiliate community. The parent community foundation can apply for one or multiple staff members based on the communities affiliates will serve. Priority will be given to those community foundations with detailed use of staff members’ time.

Affiliate/Associate Community Foundations:
Affiliates can apply on their own for a full-time staff member if they do not have one. Applications will not be accepted for positions from both parent and affiliate community foundations.

Non-Associated Community Foundations:
Community Foundations within the PFF catchment can apply for a full-time staff member to support operational growth. Community foundations with part-time (less than 35 hours per week) or volunteer ran would be eligible to apply for this program.

The community foundations in both Patterson Family Foundation’s catchment and Dane G. Hansen’s catchment will not be eligible for this program. We are looking to work collaboratively with Dane G Hansen to support a program that will launch at a later date.

Required Documentation
  • Copy of most recent 990
  • Copy of IRS Tax exempt letter
  • Letter from Community Foundation Board President confirming participation in the application
  • Annual Report (optional)
How to Apply
  • Interested and eligible organizations can apply via the Patterson Family Foundation Grants Portal between September 19, 2023 and October 20, 2023. Organizations will first register for a portal account, and we will review and verify that organizations meet the eligibility criteria before allowing access to the portal.
  • Please click here to preview the questions that will be asked in the application process.
Reporting Requirements
  • If awarded, Patterson Family Foundation will need to submit a six-month update on the hiring process detailing if staff has been hired and a brief summary of their current work.
  • Grantees will also be required to submit an annual report of community foundation assets, growth, and overall progress report at the end of each year. These reports are required for re-submission of the program.
Grant Usage

This grant aims to support community foundations building capacity by hiring and sustaining a full-time staff member. Funds are to be used for the purpose of covering the costs of the hiring process, onboarding, and operational expenses associated with this position. The Patterson Family Foundation reserves the right to suggest changes to funding used in the event there are concerns regarding distribution strategies.

This grant should be used for operational expenses for providing a full-time staff member. This can include:

  • Salary costs
  • Benefit expenses
  • Technology associated with the position
  • Travel reimbursement budget

If the organization has a current part-time staff, funds can be used to make that staff person full-time. The grant will only pay for the portion of funding to make full-time salary, benefits, technology associated with the position, and travel reimbursement budget.

Funds may not be used for:

  • Funding for the staff position of the community foundation not in PFF catchment.
  • Funding for parent community foundation staff to support parent community work.
  • Funds to be used for other operational costs.
  • Community Foundations in Dane G. Hansen’s catchment.
Grant Award and Notifications

Applications will be reviewed after the submission deadline of October 20, 2023.

Funds will be allocated based on the completion of applications, justification of staffing needs, and support of rural communities.

Applications will be reviewed during the month of November with awards determined in December. If approved, funds will be disbursed by December 30, 2023.

Resources


If you have any questions about this program, please contact:

Sara Hackett, Program Officer
Patterson Family Foundation
sara@pffkc.org
816-601-1415

FAQS

Community foundations located and serving in Kansas or Missouri within the Patterson Family Foundation's catchment. Applicants must have 501(c)(3) designation or be an affiliate partner with 501(c)(3) designation. The community foundations in both Patterson Family Foundation’s catchment and Dane G. Hansen’s catchment will not be eligible for this program. We are exploring opportunities to work collaboratively with Dane G. Hansen to support a program that will launch at a later date. Please see the "Eligibility" section above for full details.
Information submitted either on or related to this program’s application is accessible by the Patterson Family Foundation staff only. The Foundation will not release any sensitive information gathered during this process; unless approved by the applicant.
This grant aims to support community foundations building capacity by hiring and sustaining a full-time staff member. Funds are to be used for onboarding and operational expenses associated with a full-time staff position. Funds are to be used for salary, benefits, technology, and travel associated with the position. The Patterson Family Foundation reserves the right to suggest changes to funding used, in the event there are concerns regarding distribution strategies. Please see the "Grant Usage" section above for full details.
The first step is the registration process on the Patterson Family Foundation registration portal. This will take approximately half an hour to answer the questions and upload attachments. Please note that the registration process is separate from the application process. Registration must be manually approved prior to receiving and submitting an official application, and it may take up to 48 hours for full access.
Yes, each application will be asked about the type of support they may need to complete a successful hiring process including job description, interview guide, and 30, 60, 90 checklists. We provide a resource guide for community foundations that request it.
We request that community foundations try to recruit qualified candidates from their community. While we understand this isn’t always possible, we encourage community foundations to look at their resource pool of those familiar with their local rural area. Job posting for the position should be held at least 60 days before beginning recruitment outside of the local community.
We believe in a flexible work environment that supports both the employee and community foundation. Community foundation staff can work remotely, hybrid, or at their local office determined by their community foundation board.
By accepting the grant award letter, the community foundation listed is responsible for following all requirements federally, and by their state of residence. Nonprofits must follow the labor laws on reporting employees, including unemployment security and workers’ compensation. For more information please visit: https://ksbiz.kansas.gov/start/starting-a-non-profit-organization/ https://labor.mo.gov/
Applications will be accepted until October 20, 2023. Applications will be reviewed during the month of November with awards determined in December. If awarded, funds will be disbursed by December 30, 2023.
Yes. If awarded, Patterson Family Foundation will need to submit a six-month update on the hiring process. Grantees will also be required to submit an annual report of community foundation assets, growth, and overall progress report at the end of each year. These reports are required for re-submission of the program.
Yes, the Capacity Building program will accept new and repeat applications for 2024 and 2025.
We understand that attrition happens. You are able to retain the grant award for the re-hiring process. You will be required to submit an application for continued funding in 2024.
No; the Patterson Family Foundation trusts your Community Foundation Board to execute the hiring process and select the best candidate for their needs. However, we would like an update once the selection is made with the contact information including name, title, organization, phone, email and progress update six months after the grant is awarded.
Please reach out to Sara Hackett via email at sara@pffkc.org or via phone at 816-601-1415.
You are welcome to look at other eligible opportunities on our website at grants.pffkc.org
Si necesita ayuda en español, favor de contáctenos en programs@pffkc.org