Smoky Hills Community Fund Grant
The Smoky Hills Community Fund is an unrestricted community grant fund.  The Fund was created by the generosity of individuals who have contributed money to the Foundation for charitable use to address the present and future needs of Ellsworth County.  From this endowed fund, the Foundation board annually determines and designates the amount of available funding in the form of community grants.

The Foundation’s Smoky Hills Community Fund accepts applications once a year, in February-March (awarded in the spring). Specific dates are announced annually in the local newspapers and on our website. Applications are not accepted outside of the grant cycles.

The applications are open to a variety of different issues and target populations.  However, successful applications are those that will help fulfill the Foundation’s mission to improve the quality of life for Ellsworth County. All individuals, groups, and non-profit organizations are encouraged to apply.  For-profit organizations will not be considered unless the request is for a charitable project.  Grants will be limited to projects within Ellsworth County and to those organizations that were founding donors.

All applicants will need to fill out a grant application form, and all applications will be considered by the board according to the Foundation’s grant guidelines (see below).

SHCF Grant Application & Budget page (PDF)
SHCF Grant Application & Budge page (Word.doc)

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Board Chairman, Sara Soukup, at 785-531-0470. Thank you for your interest in making Ellsworth County a better place to live!

Click here to see all the grants made from the Smoky Hills Community Fund

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Grant Guidelines
Smoky Hills Charitable Foundation

Applications for the Smoky Hills Community Fund are sought once a year from the general public.  Traditionally, grants from this unrestricted fund are open to a variety of different issues and target populations and the board has the power to decide how the grants will be distributed.  Grants may be made to charitable organizations (501(c)3 designation), or to individuals, groups or others that are requesting funding for a charitable project.  All applications should benefit the greater good of the population or the community, and are restricted to Ellsworth County and to those organizations that were founding donors.
When reviewing applications for grants from the Smoky Hills Community Fund, the following will be considered:

What type of support is being requested?

• Project or program support—supports specific projects or programs that are often linked to an organization’s service
• Operating or general support—supports the work of an organization from administrative expenses to program costs
• Endowments—a permanent gift to be invested to provide income for continued support for an organization
• Seed money—to establish or initiate a new project, program, or organization.  Seed money can cover salaries and other operating expenses of a new project (also known as start-up funds).
• Capacity building—activities that strengthen an organization and help it fulfill its mission either through staff and equipment, new building or renovation, publications, training, and convening.
• Capital—supports construction or renovation of a facility

The board can choose to grant to any of the above type of requests. However, preference will be given to grants that fall into the following types of support: project, seed money, or capacity building.  It is very unlikely that the Foundation will support an Endowment project unless it was for a specific initiative that supported the greater good of Ellsworth County. 

What opportunities are there to fund?

The Foundation also considers grants that support a variety of funding opportunities including projects or programs that support:

• Health and Human service needs
• Arts, including visual and performance
• Education
• Spirituality
• Environment

Is the program or project sustainable?

The Foundation will also consider if the program, project, or organization for which funding is requested is sustainable.  Will the initiative continue after Foundation support ends?  Do they have other ways of funding?

Is this a new grant request?

Although the review committee will consider a request for funding that is the same or similar previously approved grant, preference will be given to new and innovative grant requests.

The Foundation will NOT consider grants to the following:

• Political projects of any kind
• Organizations or projects that practice discrimination by race, color, creed, sex, age, or national origin
• Operating deficits or retirement of debt

Please pay special attention to the directions on the grant applications listed under “Request for Funds,” for your application to be considered. Any incomplete, incorrect or late applications will not be considered.