CFSEK Awards $180,000 in 2025 General Funds Grants

Since 2001, the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas (CFSEK) General Funds grant cycle has been making a difference across the region. This year is no different, with $180,000 granted to 68 organizations in 20 towns across 10 SEK counties for projects in the focus areas of Arts & Culture, Basic Human Needs, and Youth Activities. Since 2001, the CFSEK General Funds grant cycle has awarded over $2,100,000 in competitive grants across SEK!

“Our General Funds grant cycle is always a highlight for us because it allows us to support all of Southeast Kansas,” said Devin Gorman, CFSEK Executive Director. “Our review committee has the opportunity to evaluate proposals from so many different communities, each with their own unique needs. We are proud to support these wonderful organizations that work hard to improve our region.”

This year’s recipients are:

Arts & Culture

• Altamont Flag Day INC- Bringing Art and Culture to Altamont Flag Day 2026
• Cato Historical Preservation Association, Inc.- Cato Celebration for Kids (Cato Kids Day)
• First Baptist Church Riverton- BE THE ART
• Josiah Fletcher Foundation- Josiah Fletcher Jazz Camp Theme
• Northeast Unified School District #246- Less Stress Through Crafting
• Oswego Historical Society- Historic Arts Workshop Series for Youth
• Safe Families for Children- Support Through Reading

Basic Human Needs

• Building Health, Inc.- Unlocking Home
• Caney Valley Agape Network, Inc.- Family Crisis Intervention
• Care Cupboard Hygiene Pantry- Hygiene for Hope
• Catholic Charities Inc.- Housing and Homeless Services
• Catholic Diocese of Wichita – The Lord’s Diner-Pittsburg- Healthy Bodies, Healthy Living
• Cherokee County Health Department- Good Night, Sleep Tight, Protecting Babies, With All of Our Might
• CLASS LTD- Client Emergency Assistance Fund
• Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas- SEK Diaper Stock
• Cornerstones of Care- Stopping the Spiral
• Crosstimbers Food Pantry Association- Cooking on a Budget with Shelf Stable Foods
• DBLO Association- No Longer Sleeping on the Floor for SEK Children
• Dream Center of the 4 States- Help and Hope Community Meal Project
• Family Resource Center, Inc.- Detection and Prevention of Bed Bugs in Cherokee and Crawford Counties
• First Baptist Church Riverton- Share with Love Food Pantry
• First United Methodist Church Wesley House- One Monty Supply for Food Pantry
• Fort Scott Compassionate Ministries- Restore
• Foster Adopt Connect, Inc.- Family Stabilization Assistance
• Habitat for Humanity of Crawford County KS, Inc- Handicap Accessible Ramps for Two Crawford County Families
• Homer Cole Community Center Inc- Height Matters…
• Hospital District 1 Crawford County Foundation- Pressure Check: Expanding Access to Home Blood Pressure Monitoring
• Integrated Behavioral Technologies, Inc- Acquisition of Needed Assessments and Program Materials for SEK Autism Program
• Labette County Emergency Assistance Center- Emergency funds for Labette County Residents
• Mosaic- Making Healthy Lives Happen for People with Intellectual Developmental Disabilities in SE KS
• Outside the Wire Veterans Foundation- Unit Reunification and Mental Health Wellness retreat
• Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Four States- Meeting Basic Human Needs for Families with Hospitalized Children
• Safehouse Crisis Center, Inc- Soles for Survivors
• SE Kansas Women Helping Women- Basic Needs
• Southeast Kansas Area Agency on Aging- 60+ Nutrition Kitchen Upgrades
• Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center- Assertive Community Treatment
• Southwind Extension Education Foundation Inc- Libraries with Heart: Empowering Rural Communities to Take Charge of their heart Health
• Stay Strong Live Long Wilson County- Free Community Baby Shower

Youth Activities

• Arma Rec- Arma Rec Free Signup for Basketball and 2 New Goals
• Caney Valley Agape Network, Inc.- At-Risk Youth Support
• Care to Share Cancer Support Group of Bourbon County, Kansas, Inc.- FortFest 25
• Chanute Public Library- Literacy4Littles
• City of Mulberry- New Playground Equipment for Park
• City of Pittsburg – Memorial Auditorium- 2025/2026 School Outreach Series
• City of West Mineral, Kansas- A Gathering Place for All
• Compass Academy Network, Inc.- Pitsco Modules at Compass Academy Network in SEK, 2026
• Curious Minds Discovery Zone, Inc.- Exploration Through Energy Release
• Families and Children Together Inc.- Autism Safe and Play
• Fostering Connections- Teen Impact Events
• Frontenac USD 249- Next Gen Assembly at Frontenac USD 250
• Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland- First Aid and Safety Fair
• Inspire Health Foundation, Inc.- Inspire Health Careers
• Kids First Daycare- New Playground Equipment
• Learning Tree Institute at Greenbush- Interactive Video Wall
• Miners Hall Museum Foundation- Franklin Community Park Playground Improvements
• Oswego Historical Society- Voices of Oswego: Youth Oral History Recording and Digital Access Project
• Our Lady of Lourdes Parish/St. Mary’s Colgan Catholic Schools- Playground Fun
• Ozark Trails Council, Boy Scouts of America- Ozark Trails Council Recruitment Activity Materials
• Pittsburg Kiwanis Club (Noon)- Kiwanis Park Improvements
• Reach One Teach One Foundation- Youth QPR Suicide Prevention Training
• SEK Running Camp- The Running Camp
• SparkWheel- Sparking Success for Students in Uniontown
• Special Olympics Kansas- Unified Games in Southeast Kansas
• Spring River Mental Health and Wellness- Pathfinders 2025-2026
• The Foster Closet, Inc.- Family Enrichment Events
• The Salvation Army- Gifting Indoor & Outdoor Play Items
• USD 257- Writing Our Way Out: Publishing Youth Perspectives in Allen County
• Victory Life Church- Back2School Event 2025

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

CFSEK would like to congratulate this year’s recipients and thank them for their work in Southeast Kansas every day, making this a great place to call home.