
COMMUNITY IMPACT
The Marion and Henry Bloch Family Foundation seeks to make strategic and responsive grants that help organizations achieve one or more of the following:
- Support nonprofit excellence and transformational change
- Meaningfully impact systemic issues
- Improve outcomes for low-income, underserved communities
- Expand organizational services
Since its formation, the Foundation has invested over $140 million in Greater Kansas City nonprofit organizations. Marion and Henry’s legacy of serving others continues to enhance our beloved city.
GRANT OPPORTUNITY FAQ AND HOW TO APPLY
The Foundation accepts grant applications from organizations within the Greater Kansas City area by invitation year-round and award decisions are made in March, June, September, and December.
What organizations are eligible to receive a grant?
What organizations are ineligible to receive a grant?
Does the Foundation limit funding to a specific geographic area?
What areas of focus (or cause areas) does the Foundation support?
- Education for Poor, Disadvantaged, and Underserved Youth
- Healthcare
- Jewish Community Organizations
- Post-Secondary Business and Entrepreneurship Education
- Social Services
- Visual and Performing Arts
Due to the founders’ lifetime commitments to the following organizations, special consideration is given to these Foundation-designated Legacy Organizations:
- Henry W. Bloch School of Management at the University of Missouri-Kansas City
- Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
- Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City (Plaza location)
What activities does the Foundation support?
What activities does the Foundation not support?
- General organizational operating expenses and ongoing programs
- Sponsorships and/or special events such as galas, conferences, luncheons, performances, festivals, awards dinners, etc.
- Past operating deficits or debt reduction
- Single-disease causes
- Animal-related causes
- Sports-related causes
- Political activities
- Publications
- Historic preservation
How and when are grants awarded?
What is the typical amount and duration of grant awards?
The Foundation does not have fixed minimum or maximum award limits, though grant awards typically fall in the range of $100,000 to $250,000. The Foundation makes both one-year and multi-year grant awards. Grant recipients may be asked to provide reports during or at the conclusion of the grant on activities supported by the grant funds, use of the funds, and outcomes of the grant.
The Foundation’s sister organization, The H & R Block Foundation, makes grant awards that typically fall in the range of $25,000 to $100,000. Grants may be funded by either Foundation, though only a single application needs to be submitted. Foundation staff will review each application and determine the appropriate Foundation to consider each request.
If an organization’s grant request is denied, is it disqualified from reapplying?
No. A grant application that is denied does not disqualify or prevent an organization from reapplying, however the Foundation prefers organizations submit no more than one grant application in a 12-month period. If an organization is interested in re-applying, it should begin by completing a new questionnaire.
HOW TO APPLY
Organizations interested in applying for a grant are encouraged to review the information on this page regarding eligibility and the Foundation’s funding priorities and process:
1. After doing so, if you believe your organization and proposed funding request fall within the Foundation’s focus areas and funding objectives, please complete this short questionnaire.
This questionnaire is not a grant application; rather, it allows organizations to propose a grant idea that can be assessed for potential funding eligibility. Organizations may also contact us to obtain a copy of the questionnaire. Due to high volume, Foundation staff are unable to meet with interested organizations prior to submitting the questionnaire.
2. Questionnaire responses are reviewed by Foundation staff within 21 days of receipt, though it often takes less time.
3. Foundation staff will then follow up with the organization regarding next steps—for example, to discuss the proposal or the organization in more depth, to recommend a different direction if the proposal is not a fit for funding, or to invite the organization to submit a full application.
Once an organization has been invited to submit a full grant application, it will be given access to the online application portal. From there, the organization can create a new application, save work in progress, and submit the application at any time. Applications are accepted by invitation year-round. An invitation to submit an application is not a guarantee of approval.