Grants

2026 Grant Opportunities

Getting Started

Review our grant information to determine whether your organization and project are eligible to apply.

Register for the Grants Portal

Create an account to begin. Registration is reviewed for eligibility before access is granted.

Submit a Letter of Intent

Complete the LOI form to share key details about your organization and project.

Selections

We evaluate LOIs and invite aligned projects to submit a full application.

Submit Grant Application

Provide a project plan, budget, and required supporting documents.

Funding Decisions

Applicants are notified after review. Awarded organizations receive next steps regarding disbursement and reporting.

Grant Opportunities

For our 2026 grants, applications that match the criteria and opportunities outlined below are encouraged to apply. Projects that have secured at least 25% of the total project budget and include clear evaluation and sustainability plans will receive priority consideration. If you are unsure whether your program or organization qualifies for our grants, please review the applicant handbook or reach us through the Contact Us page, and we will connect you with a program officer who can support you through the process.

Grant Eligibility Requirements

Location: Eligible applicants must be located in or directly serving a county or community within the Patterson Family Foundation’s Kansas or western Missouri catchment area. Please refer to our philanthropic catchment map.

Nonprofit Status: Applicants must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, public school district, government entity, or be sponsored by an organization that meets these classifications.

Key Grant Dates

The Patterson Family Foundation reviews grant applications in two cycles, allowing us to disburse funds as efficiently as possible. LOIs submitted by February 18th will be considered part of round one and the deadline for these applications will be April 3rd. LOIs submitted after February 18th will be considered part of round two, and the deadline for these applications will be June 29th. We encourage interested parties to consider these timelines before applying.

All deadlines close at 12:00 PM (noon) CST on the due date.

2026 Grant Milestone	Round 1 Date	Round 2 Date
Registration Opens	January 12	January 12
Registration Deadline	February 13	May 6
Portal Opens for LOI Submissions	February 2	February 2
Letter of Intent (LOI) Deadline	February 18	May 13
Full Application Deadline	April 3	June 29
Determinations Communicated By	June 2026	September 2026
Disbursements Made	July 2026	October 2026

Please note that we cannot accept late or incomplete applications. If you experience any issues while applying, please reach out through the Grants Portal or Contact Us page.

Applicant Handbook

Please download the Applicant handbook for eligibility requirements, application and funding guidelines and answers to frequently asked questions. This handbook is designed to guide you through our application process, and we recommend you save this for easy reference.

DOWNLOAD THE APPLICANT HANDBOOK →

Applicant Support

If you have questions or need technical support, please submit an inquiry through the Grants Portal or through the Contact Us section of our website.

Grant Types

Open Call Grants

Patterson Family Foundation’s Open Call Grants are publicly announced and submitted through the Grants Portal. Applications are reviewed using criteria aligned with the Foundation’s priorities, including community impact, feasibility, sustainability, and readiness to implement the proposed work in the Kansas or western Missouri rural community.

Collaboration Grants

Collaboration Grants are developed through a shared planning process with organizations, institutions, and local stakeholders. Together, we identify needs, set goals, and define measures of success in our Kansas or western Missouri rural communities. These grants are created through collaboration rather than an open call, resulting in joint decision-making and shared accountability.

Economic Opportunity

Open Call Grant: Entrepreneurship and Business Support

This opportunity strengthens rural entrepreneurship by supporting mentorship, technical assistance, and programming that helps entrepreneurs start, sustain, and grow their businesses. Projects should expand access to resources and reinforce the entrepreneurial ecosystem in rural communities. Applicants should plan to report on the number of entrepreneurs served, the services provided, key business outcomes, and any new partnerships or ecosystem connections developed through the project.

Eligible uses of funds include:

Business development programs
Mentorship and coaching
Technical Assistance
Ecosystem and networking building
Entrepreneur recruitment and outreach

Open Call Grant: Trades and Workforce Development

This opportunity supports pathways into sustainable, well-paying careers for new entrants and incumbent workers. Projects should help rural residents access high-quality training, gain valuable credentials, and connect to meaningful employment within their region. Applicants should plan to report on the number of participants served, credentials or skills attained, local job placements or work-based learning outcomes, and employer partnerships established or strengthened through the project.

Eligible uses of funds include:

Training programs
Apprenticeships and workforce-based learning
Upskilling and reskilling
Education and licensure
Supportive services
Equipment and curriculum
Employer engagement

Open Call Grant: Innovation in Economic Opportunity

This opportunity recognizes that strengthening economic opportunity requires addressing systemic and structural barriers that limit access to jobs, wealth-building, and prosperity. Projects should propose creative, community-driven solutions that expand opportunity and improve long-term outcomes for rural residents. Applicants should plan to report on project outcomes, community impact, the challenges their innovation addresses, and early indicators of sustainability or potential for replication.

Eligible uses of funds include:

Rural job placement strategies
Industry diversification initiatives
Regional innovation hubs
Innovative childcare models

Collaboration Grant: Rural Housing Solutions

This opportunity supports rural communities in advancing long-term housing solutions that strengthen local vitality. Funding is intended to help design actionable housing strategies that address gaps in availability, affordability, and quality. Projects should build shared understanding, deepen coordination among organizations and institutions, and position communities to move toward meaningful, sustainable housing outcomes.

If you have a collaborative idea, please submit an inquiry here.

Healthcare

Open Call Grant: Primary and Specialty Care Access

This opportunity supports projects that expand and sustain access to primary and specialty medical services in rural communities. Funding is intended to strengthen the clinical care system by supporting provider recruitment, improving service availability, and enhancing the infrastructure needed to deliver timely, high-quality care close to home. Projects should increase access to medical services, reduce barriers to receiving care, and support long-term stability of rural healthcare delivery. Applicants should plan to report on residents served, services added or expanded, provider recruitment outcomes, and improvements in access to care.

Eligible uses of funds include:

Technology (electronic medical records are ineligible)
Patient navigation and care coordination
Transportation supports reduce access barriers
Partnership development to strengthen local care networks
Education and training

Open Call Grant: Healthcare Workforce Opportunities

This opportunity expands and retains the healthcare workforce by supporting education, training, and recruitment pathways that prepare residents for meaningful healthcare careers in rural communities. Funding strengthens local training programs, supports credentialing and certification, and builds long-term workforce pipelines that meet community needs. Applicants should plan to report on participants trained, credentials or certifications earned, local job placements, and partnerships that strengthen the rural healthcare workforce pipeline.

Eligible uses of funds include:

Recruitment of medical professionals
Education programs that expand the healthcare workforce
Funding for workforce programs (e.g. technical training and certifications for clinical and community health roles)

Open Call Grant: Mental Health Services

This opportunity increases access to mental health support by expanding services, strengthening local care networks, and promoting prevention, harm reduction, and behavioral health education. Projects should create supportive environments that reduce stigma, increase awareness, and help residents access appropriate care. Applicants should plan to report on services delivered, residents served, improvements in access or awareness, and partnerships that enhance local mental health support.

Eligible uses of funds include:

Creating or expanding mental health services
Community education opportunities
Training for educators
Developing care models and supportive environments

Open Call Grant: Chronic Disease Prevention, Screening, and Education

This opportunity supports community-based initiatives that prevent chronic disease, increase early detection, and strengthen residents’ ability to manage their health. Funding is intended for prevention-focused efforts that improve awareness of chronic conditions, promote healthier behaviors, and expand access to screening and education in rural communities. Projects should help residents understand risk factors, identify conditions earlier, and adopt lifestyle changes that support long-term health. Applicants should plan to report on residents reached, screenings or education delivered, behavior-change or awareness outcomes, and early indicators of reduced chronic disease risk.

Eligible use of funds include:

Community-based prevention and health education programs
Screening events that promote early detection
Lifestyle and behavior change programs, including nutrition, physical activity, and wellness coaching
Training for community educators, health coaches, or prevention-focused personnel
Materials, curriculum, or tools that support prevention and self-management
Data collection or evaluation activities on prevention outcomes

Open Call Grant: Maternal Health

This opportunity expands maternal and child health services in rural communities by increasing access before, during, and after pregnancy. Projects should strengthen the maternal health workforce, improve care availability, and support families through enhanced training, equipment, and service options. Applicants should plan to report on services expanded, residents served, workforce growth, and improvements in access to maternal and child health care.

Eligible use of funds include:

Expanding the maternal-child health workforce
Training and education on specialized equipment
Creating opportunities for maternal health professionals to practice in rural settings
Equipment

Open Call Grant: Innovation in Healthcare

This opportunity supports new or pilot programs that expand access to healthcare in rural communities. Projects should be evidence-based, designed for long-term sustainability, and structured for replication across other rural areas. Applicants should plan to report program outcomes, community impact, lessons learned, and indicators of sustainability or replication potential.

Eligible use of funds include:

Projects that increase access to healthcare
Programs essential to rural communities that do not currently exist
Programs that support community health and wellbeing

Education

Open Call Grant: Literacy Advancement

This opportunity supports schools in strengthening foundational literacy skills, advancing reading comprehension, and fostering a lifelong appreciation for reading. Applicants should plan to report on improvements in reading scores and proficiency rates, participation in literacy initiatives, and the impact of family or community engagement activities.

Eligible uses of funds include:

Instructional resources and curriculum; student support services
Professional Development for teachers, coaches, and volunteers
Family and community engagement initiatives

Open Call Grant: Career and Technical Education

This opportunity strengthens career readiness pathways in public school districts by aligning CTE programs with local and regional workforce needs. Funding helps districts equip students with industry-relevant skills, certifications, and experiences that lead to high-demand careers and strengthen connections between students and local employers, while also addressing regional workforce shortages and supporting economic growth. Applicants should plan to report on student participation, credential attainment, work-based learning or internship placements, local job placements, and business or industry partnerships established or strengthened through the project.

Applicants with an open, active CTE grant are not eligible to apply until the existing grant is closed. This includes all 2025 CTE awards and 2023–2024 awards with unspent funds.

Eligible uses of funds include:

Equipment and technology
Work-based learning opportunities
Professional Development for teachers, counselors, and administrators
Industry partnerships
Student support to ensure access

Open Call Grant: Early College Pathways

This opportunity expands early college pathways that enable students to graduate high school with both a diploma and an associate degree or equivalent college credit. Funding supports partnerships between school districts and accredited colleges that increase postsecondary attainment, reduce college costs, and prepare students for future success. Projects should help students transition into local career opportunities, strengthen the regional talent pipeline, and encourage long-term retention in rural communities. Applicants should plan to report on student participation, credits earned, degree completion, local job placements, and partnerships that support students’ long-term retention in the region.

Eligible uses of funds include:

Funding for new instructors
Student support services
Recruitment and job placement
Development of rural workforce partnerships
Place-based curriculum aligned with regional economic needs

Open Call Grant: Adult Learning

This opportunity supports adult learners in building literacy, workforce readiness, and lifelong learning skills. Funding helps reduce barriers to participation and expands equitable access to evidence-based education that prepares adults for meaningful employment, civic engagement, and personal advancement. Projects should strengthen community-based programs, support innovation, and align adult learning with local workforce needs, with priority given to organizations in our rural catchment area or partnering with local employers. Applicants should plan to report on learner participation, skills or credentials gained, employment or career advancements, and partnerships that connect adult learners to local opportunities.

Eligible uses of funds include:

Funding for new instructors and staff training
Instructional materials
Technology and digital learning tools
Outreach and recruitment
Support services that reduce participation barriers
Program evaluation and data collection

Community Engagement

We continue to invest in community-focused work through dedicated programs and initiatives that strengthen local leadership and support long-term community vitality. Our Community Engagement opportunities for the 2026 cycle are offered through targeted, collaborative efforts rather than an open call application process, allowing us to work closely with communities and organizations on high-impact, locally driven projects.

For more information about Community Engagement opportunities, please Contact Us and we will direct you to the right individuals.

Collaboration Grant: Community Foundation Opportunities

Our rural community foundation programming remains an important resource for strengthening local communities. For the 2026 cycle, we will continue supporting established partners through the match and capacity-building initiatives as we monitor needs and opportunities moving forward.

For questions, please Contact Us and we will help direct you to the right departments.

Open Call Grant: Community Needs

This opportunity supports projects that strengthen resident retention and encourage former residents to return by enhancing the spaces, services, and community assets that make rural places appealing to live, work, and build a future. Projects should help communities create environments where people feel connected, supported, and inspired to stay or come home. Applicants should plan to report on community participation, improvements to key spaces or assets, and early indicators of resident retention or increased engagement from returning residents.

The maximum funding award for community needs projects is $250,000. Applicants should apply to their local community foundation for support when available.

Examples of prioritized projects include:

Main Street Revitalization: Reactivating downtown corridors through adaptive reuse, façade improvements, and public-space enhancements that attract residents and businesses.
Community Hubs & Gathering Spaces: Upgrading libraries, community centers, parks, and shared-use venues that foster connection and serve as daily touchpoints for community life.
Local Storytelling & Branding: Initiatives that communicate a community’s strengths, such as quality of life, amenities, recreation, and economic opportunities, to help retain residents and attract returning families.
Tourism as Reconnection: Community-led efforts that highlight local assets and experiences to bring former residents, alumni, and visitors back—and encourage relocation or reinvestment.

If you have questions about our Kansas and Missouri grant opportunities or simply wish to learn more, contact us!