Grants

The Community Legacy Fund awards grants to programs and agencies which enhance and maintain the quality of Jewish life in the Greater Kansas City area. Grants are available for Core support and Innovative/Emergency programs. Innovative/Emergency grant applications are due April 1. Core grant applications are due June 15.

Fund Objectives

In an effort to have the greatest impact upon the Jewish community, the Community Legacy Fund maintains the following objectives:

• To provide financial support for safety net services
• To nurture a strong Jewish community by providing underwriting for Jewish education, community relations, and cultural arts
• To provide financial support for seed programs which meet an identified community need
• To purchase equipment which enhances an organization’s general operations or programs
• To provide core support for Jewish community agencies
• To provide support for programs which are essential to Jewish life in Kansas City

The Community Legacy Fund will NOT make grants for the following:

• General Fundraising campaigns
• Dinners, annual meetings or special events which are not community-wide in nature

Eligibility

An organization that self-identifies as a Jewish communal organization and maintains the quality of Jewish life and/or promotes the pursuit of tikkun olam (repairing the world) is eligible for funding by the Community Legacy Fund.

Houses of worship are excluded unless they contribute a unique service not otherwise available within the Jewish community that is essential to the Jewish community or Jewish life. To determine eligibility, please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions below.

Support is restricted to Kansas City and neighboring Jewish communities. This includes Manhattan, Kansas to the west, St. Joseph, Missouri to the north, Columbia, Missouri to the east and Joplin, Missouri to the south.

The Jewish Community Foundation now uses Foundant software to accept and process grant applications. Please note that JCF and our partner organization Menorah Heritage Foundation share this grant portal, so be mindful that you are applying for the correct grant from the intended organization.

For questions about the grant application process, please email JCFgrants@jcfkc.org.

Innovation/Emergency Grant Application Instructions

Applications are due April 1.
If the deadline falls on a weekend, applications are due the next business day.

Applicants may apply for funding to support high-quality, new programs that provide an innovative approach or solution to an existing or emerging community need, or respond to financial or humanitarian emergencies. Applications for 2024 are by invitation only. If you have any questions, please contact Beatrice Fine at bfine@jcfkc.org.

Core Support Application Instructions

Applicants may apply for funding for operations central to the accomplishment of an organization’s mission or funding for unique services not otherwise available within the Jewish community that are essential to Jewish life.
Applicants for Core Grants must meet all of the following requirements:

• Must be located within the service area (defined above)
• Must serve the Jewish community
• Must be qualified as tax-exempt under section 501c3 of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended (the “Code”) or, if providing essential services, an equivalent religious exemption under the Code as a Jewish house of worship
• Must have missions compatible with the Jewish Community Foundation

Houses of worship that perform or sponsor such services may be eligible to apply under this section. If so, they must complete the program budget form.

Applications are due June 15.

If the deadline falls on a weekend, applications are due the next business day.

Contact Beatrice Fine BEFORE applying at bfine@jcfkc.org.

A meeting with the grants committee and/or a site visit may be necessary to receive funding.