The Wichita Collective Impact is seeking applications for the 2024 Summer Grant to strengthen equity in Wichita by transforming education and workforce development.
Donor Name: United Way of the Plains
State: Kansas
City: Wichita
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 02/02/2024
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
Funded through a $2 million gift from Wichita-based Cargill Protein North America, the initiative is jointly led by the Greater Wichita YMCA, United Way of the Plains, Wichita State University Public Policy Center and Wichita Public Schools.
Education advancement achieved through quality early childhood education, 3rd grade reading and math proficiency, and increased high school graduation rates is a key step to reaching and maintaining workforce readiness within the community. This initiative aims to build a stronger Wichita for all by creating a more equitable place to learn, work and succeed.
2024 Summer Grant Focus: Increase Access to Quality Early Childhood Education
- Fifty percent of young people entering kindergarten in Wichita Public Schools (WPS) come in without the fundamental reading skills of recognizing ‘Letter Names’ and ‘Letter Sounds’. In addition, forty eight percent of students entering WPS are not able to regularly recognize numbers or a number of grouped objects (‘Number Sense’).
- As the Wichita school district looks to increase the number of students that enter school each fall, this summer funding will look to partner with organizations that will serve students entering K-3 rd grade living and/or attending a school within the 67214 ZIP code. This ZIP code has been identified as an area where residents are significantly underserved in education.
For this grant cycle, WCI intends to give out grants up to $25,000 for those organizations who can align with Wichita Public Schools strategic plan to:
- Boost competencies among kindergarteners using curriculum-based measurements
- Boost competencies among 1st graders using curriculum-based measurements
- Boost competencies among 2nd graders using curriculum-based measurements
- Boost competencies among 3rd graders using curriculum-based measurements
- Engage parents in the literacy process
Eligibility Criteria
The following requirements must be met for an organization to be eligible for funding through the Wichita Collective Impact grant process:
- The organization must be a 501(c)(3).
- The proposed program must concentrate its efforts and services within the 67214-service area.
- The proposed program must work towards the goals defined in this application guide.
- Organizations must not discriminate based on race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, religion, disability, medical condition, sex or gender (including pregnancy), gender identity and/or expression (including transgender identity), sexual orientation, marital status, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.
For more information, visit United Way of the Plains.