HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson Community Foundation awarded Fund for Reno County grants totaling $196,151 to 26 nonprofit organizations in its first impact cycle this spring.
Established in 1990, the Fund for Reno County Endowment serves as a permanent resource for the changing needs of Reno County. Grants represent an innovative approach or collaboration, a new efficiency, a critical need that requires funding or an opportunity that needs a bit of local support to leverage resources for the community.
Funding for Impact Cycle 1 grants was supplemented by contributions from the Charles E. Carey Memorial Endowment Fund and from the following donor advisors through the foundation’s Giving Together program: Shirley Alpers, Shirley Brandyberry, Brad Dillion, and Mary and Darrell Pankratz.
Proposals for the grants are accepted during impact cycles in February and August. Impact Cycle 1 grants are aimed at projects in the following categories: Community Catalyst, Community & Economic Development and Strong Organizations.
The following organizations received grants:
Community Catalyst: $16,266
Projects that improve community engagement, communication, confidence and pride.
Boy Scouts of America-Quivira Council, $2,000: The project provides annual program registration assistance for up to 15 local youth facing financial barriers, enabling participation in leadership development, outdoor education, and community service programs. By removing cost obstacles, the initiative builds confidence, teamwork, and civic engagement while strengthening family and community involvement.
City of Haven, $1,800: This project will advance top community initiatives from the 2025 Haven/Yoder Benchmark Report, confirmed by resident vote. The grant will provide the resources necessary to conduct structured community meetings focused on developing actionable strategies with measurable outcomes that strengthen Haven’s economic vitality, infrastructure and quality of life.
City of Plevna, $1,000: Funding will go toward hosting an appreciation event on the first anniversary of the tornado that hit the town on May 18, 2025. The event will honor individuals and businesses that donated labor and resources to the cleanup and recovery from the tornado, as well as all city and rural residents who sustained damage.
City of Pretty Prairie, $2,500: The city of Pretty Prairie and Pretty Prairie Public Library would like to create a community garden in vacant spaces on Main Street and encourage volunteers to help build, maintain and harvest produce that would be offered free to the community. Funding will help provide the necessary materials to establish the garden.
Hutchinson Friends of the Zoo, $1,489: The Hutchinson Zoo Teen Program helps middle and high school students develop job skills for careers in wildlife and zoos. This grant will allow the zoo to provide shirts and name tags for Zoo Teen participants, ensuring a professional and unified appearance when working at the zoo.
Pretty Prairie Community Food Pantry Association, $1,000: Having reached its 2024 goal of raising $150,000 to build a new food pantry, and with the building now in construction, the food pantry board would like to hold a community-wide celebration to commemorate the opening of the facility. Grant funds will help offset supplies and other costs of the event.
Salt City Orchestra Association, $2,500: This project will establish a sustainable community orchestra that provides accessible, high-quality musical experiences for local musicians and audiences. Start-up funds will support infrastructure, including music acquisition, rehearsal space and initial performance costs, ensuring a strong foundation from the outset. By reducing barriers to participation and creating cultural experiences, the orchestra will strengthen community, expand access to the arts, and enrich the city’s cultural life.
Sylvia Helping Hands, $2,477: This project aims to improve community communication in Sylvia, as highlighted by the First Impressions report, a community assessment conducted by K-State Research and Extension. The grant will fund the purchase and installation of community bulletin boards and using smart television and a digital scrolling sign to advertise local events.
Wisdom in Motion, $1,500: Future Farmers, Founders & Foodies @ KHF will activate a youth-led, experiential learning hub at the Kansas State Fair, engaging at least 500 Reno County residents through hands-on agricultural education, outdoor skills, entrepreneurship exposure and quick cooking demonstrations. The project builds youth confidence, workforce awareness and community pride by showcasing youth-led innovation at Kansas’ largest public gathering. The grant will go toward interactive stations and supplies.
Community & Economic Development: $116,497
Projects and plans that strengthen the community and local economy by building a diverse and resilient workforce, activating central business districts or Downtowns, supporting existing businesses, attracting new ones, and encouraging entrepreneurs; also, projects that strengthen the quality of place in Reno County through placemaking in public spaces and improving housing quality and accessibility.
Arlington Community PRIDE Association, $2,247: The Arlington Community PRIDE group is sponsoring the painting and repair of the façade of the historic Arlington Trading Co. building that dates to the 1890s. This building will house a new business that will provide small-format groceries and grab-and-go food items, as well as a floral shop. Grant funds will help with the purchase of renovation and repair materials.
Buhler Mennonite Church, $15,000: Soil & Soul is a community-based gathering focused on the mental health, well-being and resilience of local farmers, ranchers and agriculture workers through shared meals, facilitated discussions, resource sharing and guest speakers. The grant will help with expenses for keynote speakers and meals.
City of South Hutchinson, $18,000: This project will fund community engagement in support of a comprehensive plan that serves as a roadmap for South Hutchinson’s future growth. Using insights from the Love Where You Live survey, along with community engagement and data analysis, the plan will outline strategies for land use, infrastructure, housing, and economic vitality.
Food Bank of Reno County, $30,250: Building on their successful capital campaign that created a welcoming, fully operational new food bank, the grant will pay for exterior improvements at the Fourth Avenue and Severance Street location with fresh paint, signage and inviting features for community members, reducing blight and strengthening neighborhood pride.
Hutchinson Community Foundation, $30,000 per year for five years: In partnership with the Greater Hutch Economic Development Partnership and the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce, this strategic grant will fund the implementation of a public communications campaign to improve community confidence, strengthen attachment and increase local economic growth as recommended in the 2026-2030 Elevate Reno County Economic Development Strategic Plan.
Hutchinson Friends of the Zoo, $6,000: Grant dollars will help with the installation of a floating boat dock as part of the zoo’s new themed pedal-boat rental activity on the zoo’s groundwater pond.
StartUp Hutch, $15,000: Funding will help support StartUp Hutch’s Rural Business Resilience & Expansion Microgrant Initiative through coaching, facilitated community conversations, and six targeted microgrants to help existing small businesses expand, activate underutilized properties, and fill high-need industry gaps in rural Reno County communities.
Strong Organizations: $63,388
Projects that strengthen the capacity, sustainability and resilience of Reno County community-based organizations.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Hutchinson, $3,388: Grant dollars will pay for the development of a comprehensive communications strategy and expenses associated with a facilitated strategic planning process.
Buhler Adult Community Center, $1,500: The Buhler Senior Center has 21 48-inch light fixtures that use excessive amounts of electricity, and the new fixtures provided by the city of Buhler will reduce lighting expenses by 50 percent. Funding will help cover installation costs for these new fixtures.
Buhler Special Olympics, $5,000: Funding will support athletes with intellectual disabilities by providing financial assistance for team travel, team uniforms and essential sports equipment, including basketball, track and field, and bowling supplies. This funding will ensure that every athlete can compete safely, confidently and with dignity, regardless of the financial circumstances.
City of South Hutchinson, $7,500: Funding will go toward upgrading digital ticketing and court systems to create a more efficient, user-friendly, and streamlined process for court employees and the public. These upgrades will minimize manual errors, increase effectiveness, and accelerate case capacity.
Earth Matters, $7,500: In collaboration with the Reno County Landfill, the Reno County Farmers’ Market, Seconds on 2nd and The Sterling Standard LLC, the Earth Matters organization is working to greatly reduce the amount of plastic material and e-waste taken to the Reno County Landfill. Grant dollars will help with the marketing costs associated with the effort.
Heart of MFB, $3,000: Funds will help the Heart of MFB board conduct a retreat to develop a three-year strategic plan, a diversified funding strategy, and formalization of policies and systems for responsible growth and sustained impact in Reno County.
Hutchinson’s Historic Fox Theatre, $7,500: This project will address sightline issues and provide patrons with the best possible viewing experience by relocating the audio booth from the center of the auditorium to the back. Funds from the grant will create a unified technical area for sound and lighting, enabling all technicians to collaborate more effectively, resulting in smoother performances and higher production quality.
Hutchinson Regional Medical Foundation, $7,500: Funding will pay for necessary materials for the Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Training project, a program that will strengthen Hutchinson Regional and collaborative agencies’ capacity by equipping health care workers and first-responders with evidence-based skills to manage traumatic events.
Reno County Crime Stoppers, $2,500: Grant dollars will help Crime Stoppers of Reno County Inc. promote safety, awareness and support to local law enforcement by installing signs that empower citizens to report crimes through anonymous tip lines, apps and community partnerships that offer rewards.
Reno County Historical Society, $7,500: With the help of this grant, Strataca will replace its failing 12-year-old camera system to eliminate blind spots, reduce safety risks and improve staff security in its underground mine environment.
Salvation Army of Reno County, $3,000: Funding will help with expenses associated with the Salvation Army’s Pathway of Hope program in Hutchinson that assists families with children to move from crisis to stability.
Sky Ryders Performing Arts Foundation, $7,500: The grant will purchase paint and graphics for the transformation of the Sky Ryders’ trailer into a professional mobile operations center. These improvements will carry Hutchinson’s name to 10-plus competitions over multiple states, enhance operational efficiency, protect $150,000-plus in equipment, and strengthen Sky Ryders’ image while promoting the community.
Hutchinson Community Foundation’s mission is to inspire philanthropy, leadership and collaboration to strengthen Reno County. Since 1989, the foundation has granted more than $115 million to organizations.
