Community Solutions Grant

Community Solutions Grant is sponsored by Network Kansas. Encourages collaboration among Networked participants through cross-sector team building and collective action.

Community Solutions Grant - Network Kansas Kansas-based organizations have the chance to apply for $5,000 & $10,000 grants. The Networked Community Solutions Grant makes funding available to encourage collaboration among Networked participants through cross-sector team building and collective action. Kansas-based organizations that participated in Networked from July 2025 through June 2026 may apply as Lead Applicants.

Applications will be considered in the order in which they are received. The Networked Grant is a project by Network Kansas with funding support from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, the Kansas Health Foundation and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. In three grant rounds, Network Kansas has awarded $265,000 in grant awards.

Grant Application Round 5 Closed Network Kansas Active Participants Have you engaged with Networked this past year? Check out the Networked Active Participant list! Find community projects from the past grant cycles.

The Networked Community Solutions Grant is a pilot project by Network Kansas with funding support from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas, the Kansas Health Foundation and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.

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The recap video and presentation are available to help you get started. Use Passcode: 5g? @J!

5V to view the recap. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Project teams must have representation from at least three different sectors found below: Community Development Organizations Economic Development Organizations Entrepreneurship Support Organizations Minority-led Organizations What are the roles in a team project? Each project team must identify an individual to fill each of the following roles.

Best practice has proven that one person should not fill multiple roles. Applications with one person filling multiple roles will be considered ineligible. Project teams may identify additional roles within the grant application, as applicable.

Must be an existing Networked participant as defined above Agrees to be identified and named as the Lead Applicant on the grant application for the project team Accepts grant funds into the Lead Applicant’s organization to be used for the intended project Agrees to use the grant funds for the intended project Manages the project budget by paying and tracking project expenses Maintains accurate project budget statements Collects project-related invoices, receipts and other financial documents on behalf of the project team Submits accurate and timely financial information for the final project report template Serves as the point of contact for financial-related inquiries that are routed to the project team by Networked Serves as the primary point of contact for project-related inquiries that are routed to the project team by Networked Coordinates suppliers/vendors/volunteers/speakers, as applicable, for the project team Manages project timelines, due dates and deadlines to ensure project is efficiently implemented Oversees internal and external project-related communication for the project team Oversees the coordination of marketing and external project-related communication Leads trouble-shooting for project-related challenges Oversees data collection and reporting (i.e. participant reach, demographics, etc.) Serves as the primary monthly report writer for the team Gathers information from project team members and the Lead Applicant to enter into the monthly project team report and the final project team report Submits complete project team reports monthly and the final project team report Organizes project team meeting agendas Captures project team meeting minutes Supports the project coordinator when collecting information for internal and external project-related communication Is responsible for overseeing project planning and logistics Are multiple applications allowed across organizations/teams?

No; organizations may only participate on one project team UNLESS the organization is a statewide organization with offices in distinct geographies. Individuals cannot serve on more than one project team. Project teams should only submit one project during the application period.

What guidance will be used to analyze applications? Applications that are complete and that meet eligibility criteria will be considered for funding in the order received until grant dollars are exhausted.

Criteria emphasizes: Eligibility – The project and its team members must meet the grant eligibility requirements Completeness – The grant applications are submitted in full; incomplete applications will not be reviewed or considered for funding; applications may not be edited once they are submitted Project plan – The project should reflect the specified impact area with clear approaches, success indicators and implementation processes to better ensure success Proposal quality – The project is assessed for planning and programmatic quality with particular emphasis on projects with actions, methods or approaches deemed as innovative, creative and achievable Budget – The budget narrative clearly describes and justifies project costs Bonus points are allocated to those who attended the final session of the 2026 Networked for Change Conference and registered to claim those bonus points using the provided form Can organizations participate as a Lead Applicant on multiple applications?

No; organizations serving as the Lead Applicant may only serve as Lead Applicant on one project team. What are eligible project impact areas?

Networked Community Solutions Grant applications will be analyzed for: Community input – A surveying or community conversation project to solicit public input on a matter relevant to the selected impact area Community outreach – An event that involves gathering the public to discuss and engage in activities that are relevant to the selected impact area Community service – A project that engages volunteers and others to benefit an effort, initiative or goal relevant to the selected impact area Marketing – digital and/or hardcopy campaigns to educate the public on a matter relevant to the selected impact area Eligibility – The project and its team members must meet the grant eligibility requirements Completeness – The grant applications are submitted in full; incomplete applications will not be reviewed or considered for funding; applications may not be edited once they are submitted Project plan – The project should reflect the specified impact area with clear approaches, success indicators and implementation processes to better ensure success Proposal quality – The project is assessed for planning and programmatic quality with particular emphasis on projects with actions, methods or approaches deemed as innovative, creative and achievable; returning applications will be analyzed for clearly-articulated and distinctly-new components of existing projects within 2026-2027 Budget – The budget narrative clearly describes and justifies project costs What are eligible project types?

Projects must be brand-new efforts that meet the eligibilty criteria within the Networked impact area and project type. Phase 4 grant teams must have complied with Phase 4 requirements and be considered eligible to reapply. Project teams will submit a project plan and budget as part of the application.

Each team will select ONE of the following impact areas: Civic Engagement – defined as projects that generate greater issue-based awareness among people and/or ways to engage in non-partisan public service opportunities (not campaigning or lobbying) Community Development – defined as projects that are focused on helping people and/or groups to improve neighborhoods and/or public spaces (not passive real estate) Engaging Broadly – defined as projects that generate greater awareness, appreciation, empathy and understanding for broader population segments and/or populations of focus Entrepreneurship Support – defined as projects that are focused on serving entrepreneurs, business owners and/or leaders of social enterprises (not new business starts) Data Collection and Storytelling – defined as projects that are focused on helping improve organizational understanding, capacity, technology and capability to capture data, store data, protect data and/or analyze data to share stories of impact for public awareness and/or activations.

Food Access – defined as projects that are focused on creating greater access to healthy, nutritious food through retail or mobile distribution, pantries, farmers’ markets, food halls, etc. Health and Wellness – defined as projects that are focused on improving active living, healthy eating, tobacco prevention, mental health or reducing disparities in access to care Youth Enrichment – defined as projects that are focused on improving leadership, community-based mentoring, tutoring, entrepreneurial and/or other related programming for young people incoming to grades 3rd through high school senior in public, private and/or homeschool learning environments OR collegiate undergraduates (not childcare-related; specific grade levels 3rd-high school or collegiate undergraduates will be required to be selected) How will projects be selected for funding?

Applications that are complete and meet eligibility criteria will be considered for funding in the order received until grant dollars are exhausted. How much funding is available for each project? The entire grant funding pool is $100,000.

Project teams may apply for either $5,000 or $10,000 grants in support of their proposed project. No other funding amounts may be requested or awarded Matching funds are not required for this grant fund Administrative expenses may not exceed 25 percent of the grant award What are allowable expenses?

Networked Community Solutions Grants are designed for short-term needs and may include covering expenses relating to: Convening support – venue fees, refreshments Engagement incentives – gift cards, gas cards, swag – branded t-shirts, pens, cups, mugs and other promotional materials Postage – Stamps, envelopes Printing – postcards, flyers, posters, banners, brochures, etc. Short-term staffing support for projects – stipends, honorariums, facilitators Software/technology for action projects– public engagement tools (i.e. Telephone Town Halls, surveys, pop-up kiosks, etc.) Supplies – Office supplies, equipment What are ineligible expenses?

Contributions to capital campaigns Operating deficits or retirement of debt Construction projects, real estate acquisitions Political activities, lobbying and/or Candidate endorsements Refinancing existing debt Acquisition of or holding passive investments such as commercial real estate or purchasing securities Repayment of delinquent federal or state income taxes Repayment of taxes held in trust or escrow, e.g., payroll or sales taxes Increasing a pool of funds that generates tax credits Financing non-grant purposes, and / or financing costs other than what is described in the grant application What should project teams do if they don't expend all grant funding?

Project teams are expected to expend all awarded grant funds. If more than $1,000 is remaining in unused funds, the project team is expected to return funds to Network Kansas: Check made payable to the Kansas Center for Entrepreneurship dba Network Kansas Email request for an ACH debit initiated by Network Kansas Remaining funds of $999 or less, may remain with the project team and is not expected to be returned to Network Kansas.

What is the application format? We look forward to connecting with you.