CFSEK Awards $185,000 in 2026 Community Impact Grants

Since 2001, the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas (CFSEK) has been making a difference in the region through its Community Impact Grants (formerly known as the General Funds Grants). This year is no different, with $185,000 granted to 73 projects in the focus areas of Arts & Culture, Basic Human Needs, and Youth Activities. Since 2001, the CFSEK Community Impact Grants have awarded over $2.2 million in competitive grants throughout Southeast Kansas.

“This year was particularly competitive, with over $770,00 requested from 100 applicants,” said Kara Mishmash, CFSEK Program Coordinator. “It was really humbling to see the deep need in our communities, and it’s motivating us to keep growing our capacity to say ‘yes’ more often.”

The 2026 recipients are:

Arts & Culture – $10,000

• Caney Valley Agape Network, Inc. – Art in the Garden
• City of Pittsburg, Memorial Auditorium – Music Under the Stars (Hispanic Music Festival)
• First Baptist Church Riverton – BE THE ART
• Gordon Parks Museum Foundation – Historic Yearbook Preservation, Digital Access, and Exhibit Enhancement Project
• Josiah Fletcher Foundation – Scholarships for Jazz Camp
• Pittsburg State University Foundation, Inc. – 2026 Hispanic Music Festival
• USD 250 Pittsburg – Dragon Academy Global Explorers, Spanish Immersion Program

Basic Human Needs – $75,000

• Building Health, Inc – CareVan: General Public Transportation
• Care Cupboard Hygiene Pantry – Hygiene for Hope (Hygiene Outreach Promoting Equity)
• Catholic Charities Inc. – Housing and Homeless Services
• Catholic Diocese of Wichita, The Lord’s Diner, Pittsburg – Healthy Bodies, Healthy Living: Ensuring Essential Nutrition in Every Meal Served
• City of West Mineral Kansas – Encouraging Physical Activity and Hydration for Healthy Families
• CLASS LTD – AED Access for Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities
• Coffeyville Regional Medical Center Foundation – Caring Through Communication
• Community Food Pantry – Milk Money
• Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas – Baby’s Basic Needs
• Crosstimbers Food Pantry Association – Pantry Pathways
• DBLO Association – Restoring Comfort and Rest for Children in Southeast Kansas
• Dream Center of the 4 States – Help and Hope: Food Pantry Expansion
• Erie Area Community Christmas Basket Fund – Christmas Basket Program
• Erie Senior Center – Heart Safe Senior Center Initiative
• Families and Children Together Inc. – Essentials for Stability 2
• First Baptist Church Riverton – SHARE WITH LOVE FOOD PANTRY
• First United Methodist Church Wesley House – Cold Weather Survival Items for Those Experiencing Homelessness
• Fort Scott Compassionate Ministries – Restore
• Foster Adopt Connect, Inc. – Family Stabilization Assistance
• Hamilton Chapel United Methodist Church – Community Food Pantry
• Humanity House Foundation – Assisting Allen County residents
• Labette County Emergency Assistance Center – Investing in our neighbors in Labette County
• Live Healthy Montgomery County, Inc. – Laundry Love
• Mosaic – Ensuring Quality of Life for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
• Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Four States – Meeting Basic Human Needs for Families with Hospitalized Children
• Safehouse Crisis Center, Inc – Home Essentials for Survivors
• SE Kansas Women Helping Women – “Smile Again” Dental Assistance
• SEKMA Thrift Store and Food Pantry – Bridging the Gap: Supporting Local Food Access and Family Needs
• Southeast Kansas Area Agency on Aging – TC Fund all counties
• SparkWheel – Sparking Success for Students in Uniontown
• Stay Strong Live Long Wilson County – Wilson County FREE Community Baby Shower
• The Foster Closet, Inc. – Personal Care Items for Teens in Foster Care

Youth Activities – $100,000

• Bourbon County Core Community – New Class for Core Community
• Caney Valley Agape Network, Inc. – Backpack Program
• Cato Historical Preservation Association, Inc. – Cato Celebration for Kids (Also called Cato Kids’ Day)
• Cherry Street Youth Center, Inc. – Gaga Pit
• City of West Mineral Kansas – Encouraging Physical Activity in our Youth
• Compass Academy Network Inc – ICAN and iLead at Compass Academy Network in SEK, 2027
• Cornerstones of Care – Connected Kinds, Stronger Families: Youth Activity Support Fund for Family Preservation Families
• Crawford County Fair Association – Thanking 4-H Youth
• Families and Children Together Inc. – Healing through Play at the FACT Nature Preserve
• Family Resource Center, Inc. – AAC Playground Communication Boards
• Fostering Connections – Adoption Celebration Program
• Girard Lions Club – Disability-Friendly Musical Playground Area
• Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland – First Aid and Safety Fair
• Integrated Behavioral Technologies, Inc – Sensory-Friendly Community Inclusion Events
• K-State Extension Council – Money Habitudes
• Learning Tree Institute at Greenbush – Career Exploration Tools: Clay Anatomy Models
• Miners Hall Museum Foundation – Franklin Community Park: Enhancing Community Spaces for Youth and Families
• Our Lady of Lourdes Parish/St. Mary’s Colgan Catholic Schools – Photography
• Ozark Trails Council, Boy Scouts of America – Cub Scout Pack Enhancement and Recruitment Initiative
• Partnership for all Cherokee County Children – Empowering Cherokee County Students to be Vape-Free Through Art and Education
• Pittsburg Area Chamber Foundation: Pittsburg Area Young Professionals – PAYP Bike Drive
• Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Four States – More Comfortable Play for Youth
• SEK Running Camp – SEK Running Camp
• Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center – Ready, Set, Regulate!
• Special Olympics Kansas – Unified Sports in Southeast Kansas
• Spring River Mental Health and Wellness – Building Strong Foundations: A Lifespan Approach to Youth Behavioral Health
• Mary’s Catholic School – Connected Classrooms Initiative: Technology & Infrastructure Modernization
• Paul Schools Alumni & Friends Association – Miles to Go: Investing in Our Home Field
• The Foster Closet, Inc. – Family Enrichment Events: Christmas Party
• The Salvation Army – Sharing the Spirit of Christmas
• USD 257 – Out of the Margins: A Walk-Through Youth Mental Health Campaign

CFSEK also granted $5,000 to each of its affiliate foundations in Columbus, Fort Scott, and Girard to use for granting related to youth activities.

CFSEK would like to congratulate the recipients and thank them for their charitable work across Southeast Kansas.