Nonprofit Organization SPARK Application for Funding

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The McPherson County Community Foundation, in partnership with McPherson County, Kansas, is assisting nonprofit organizations seeking capital in response to the negative economic impacts of COVID-19 from the Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Nonprofit Grant Fund.

The McPherson County Community Foundation program offers grants of up to $25,000 to eligible nonprofit organizations. The amount of a grant is to reimburse for costs and loss of income due to reduced donations or cancelled fund-raising events.  The total funds available under this grant program are $200,000.00.

GRANT CRITERIA

Due to the limited funds available, priority will be given to the first applications received at the office of the McPherson County Community Foundation. There is no guarantee the maximum amount will be granted to a nonprofit organization. Grants will be awarded until funds have been depleted or through November 30, 2020 whichever occurs first.

No supporting documentation is required to be filed with us at this time; however, a business may be subject to audit to determine the accuracy of the information within this application. If a nonprofit organization accepts this economic support, the organization is required to maintain sufficient information and documentation for at least five years to allow the grantor to reasonably determine that such funds were used for COVID-19 business interruption costs incurred.

Eligibility

  • The organization must be able to demonstrate a loss of at least 25% of gross revenue from January 1, 2020 to June 30, 2020 over the previous period of January 1, 2019 to June 30, 2019. For simplicity purposes, the decrease in gross revenue percentage may be calculated by comparing gross revenue for the six-month period ending June 30, 2020 to one-half (50%) of the annual gross revenue for the prior year. Revenue is considered to be donations, proceeds from fund-raising activities, or fees for service.
  • The nonprofit organization operates with a total of 50 or fewer employees. An “eligible employee” means an employee who was employed on March 13, 2020 and June 30, 2020 and worked in McPherson County at least 350 hours of service with such employer during the six-month period ending June 30, 2020.
  • The nonprofit organization applying for funds is required to be in good standing with the Kansas Secretary of State, if applicable.
  • Small businesses are not eligible for this They are eligible for the McPherson County SPARK Small business grant.
  • The nonprofit organization must have been in operation since January 1, 2019.
  • The nonprofit organization is open for business as of the date of the grant application.
  • The grant proceeds can be used to pay working capital expenses such as payroll, insurance, rent, mortgage payments, utilities, inventory and more.
  • Proceeds from this grant should not reimburse any expenses incurred by the Organization during the period January 1, 2020 through December 30, 2020 that are reimbursed under any federal or state program.
  • The nonprofit organization has no tax liability prior to 2020 in arrears with the Kansas Department of Revenue, the IRS, or McPherson County Treasurer.