Applications are now being accepted for the Community Needs Grant.
Donor Name: Patterson Family Foundation
State: Kansas, Missouri
County: Selected Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 05/13/2026
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
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.
Funding Information
The maximum funding award for community needs projects is $250,000.
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.
Eligibility Criteria
- 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.
- 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.
For more information, visit Patterson Family Foundation.
