The Sunflower Foundation Board of Trustees has awarded a total of $1,085,117 in Capacity Building grants to 67 nonprofit organizations statewide. The grants were approved at the board’s meetings in April and June.

Capacity Building grants were open to nonprofit organizations providing health care and prevention services to low income, uninsured, and other vulnerable populations in Kansas. Funds provided through this opportunity support implementation of short-term strategies that build core organizational strength by increasing effectiveness, efficiency, quality, safety, impact, and/or sustainability.

“Hundreds of nonprofit organizations around our state are dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of Kansans. But when resources are tight, productivity and efficiency can be undermined by things like outdated technology or obstacles to public communication,” said Billie G. Hall, Sunflower Foundation President and CEO.

“That’s why, every few years, Sunflower has sought to boost the core strength of our state’s nonprofit organizations. The ability of Kansas nonprofits to focus on their missions is vital to our state.”

Sunflower Foundation began issuing Capacity Building grants in 2002 in response to a surge in financial pressure on the state’s nonprofit sector. Likewise, the foundation has since intermittently offered this grant opportunity to support organizations’ core strength, particularly in order to help them focus their limited resources on their missions. Over the last 15 years, Sunflower Foundation has awarded 485 Capacity Building grants totaling $8,604,323.

This year, Kansas nonprofits could apply for a maximum of $30,000 for projects to address organizational needs in three priority areas: 1) Technology, 2) Training and education, and 3) Media messaging and communication.

Following are brief summaries of the Capacity Building grants awarded this year in northwest Kansas.

Sunflower Foundation 2017 Capacity Building Grants

Cheyenne County Hospital
$6,416
Cheyenne County — St. Francis
This critical access hospital will transition to a different electronic medical record, as their current system was discontinued. Funds will also support upgrading security technology.

First Care Clinic Inc.
$15,577
Ellis County — Hays
This Federally Qualified Health Center will purchase video conference equipment for online classes.

Gove County Medical Center
$29,427
Gove County — Quinter
This critical access hospital will upgrade their electronic medical record.

Hays Area Children’s Center
$5,455
Ellis County — Hays
This early child care organization will upgrade office computer and network technology, as well as purchase interactive white boards for use in classrooms.

Kansas CASA Association
$26,956
Ellis County — Hays
This child advocacy organization will upgrade the management software for its 23 member-programs statewide.

Logan County Health Service
$26,029
Logan County — Oakley
This critical access hospital will purchase network and other equipment for emergency operation.

Norton County Hospital
$23,224
Norton County — Norton
This critical access hospital will implement an intranet to support staff at the hospital and its clinics.

Sheridan County Health Complex
$5,284
Sherman County — Hoxie
This federally qualified health center will purchase office technology.

Click HERE for a complete listing of grants.

Sunflower Foundation was established in 2000 to serve as a catalyst for improving the health of Kansans. The Topeka-based nonprofit directs resources statewide aimed at promoting healthy living in partnership with Kansas communities and schools; improving health care for the whole person; and developing leaders of Kansas organizations in a variety of sectors to be even more effective advocates for the causes and communities they serve.