Since 2022, the Knights of Columbus have hosted an annual grant cycle through the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas (CFSEK) to benefit projects supporting various needs in Crawford County. Since inception, the Knights of Columbus grant cycle has awarded over $256,000 to vital service projects in our area!
“We’re proud to continue our partnership with the Knights of Columbus to create a meaningful and lasting impact in our community,” said CFSEK Executive Director Devin Gorman. “These grants open the door to new opportunities while helping address some of the most pressing needs facing local individuals and families.
Applications for the 2026 Knights of Columbus grant cycle are available online until midnight on May 31st. Any questions while completing the grant applications should be directed to CFSEK Program Coordinator Kara Mishmash at SoutheastKansas.org/Contact/Kara.
Applications are available at SoutheastKansas.org/Grant-App, and more information about the fund is available at SoutheastKansas.org/KoC.
The Knights of Columbus was founded by Father Michael J. McGivney in 1882 on principles of charity, unity, and fraternity with the intent to bring financial aid and assistance to the sick, disabled, and needy and their families.
The Knights of Columbus Endowment Fund was established in 2021 to continue those principles and be used for the following charitable purposes:
- to provide housing, rent, and utility needs assistance to elderly, handicapped, and low-income families and individuals of Pittsburg, Kansas, and the surrounding area
- to provide health and human services to meet the educational, social, physical, spiritual, and psychological needs of such persons
- to promote the health, security, happiness, and usefulness of such persons
- to improve community services for such persons
The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas awarded over $2.8 million in grants from all foundation funds in 2025 and has facilitated over $28 million in total granting to Southeast Kansas since its inception in 2001. CFSEK serves the region by providing donors with various charitable interests and encouraging charitable giving, which addresses present and future needs in our area. The Columbus Area, Fort Scott Area, and Girard Area Community Foundations are affiliates of CFSEK. More information about CFSEK is available at SoutheastKansas.org.