Manhattan, Kansas — July, 1, 2026 — The Greater Manhattan Community Foundation (GMCF) announceD its second quarter grant distributions for 2026, awarding funding to a wide range of nonprofit organizations working to strengthen the community through essential services, education, healthcare, and the arts.
Through multiple grant programs, GMCF distributed significant funding to support both immediate needs and long-term initiatives across the region.
The Lincoln & Dorothy Deihl Community (Endowed) Grants program awarded $30,000 to Be Able for their Pathways to Work program construction costs, $13,074 to the Flint Hills Community Accelerator/Childcare Business Initiative for the Childcare Business Initiative Support Sub-Project, and $10,000 to the Flint Hills Roots Project for their Produce Supplementation for Manhattan's Food Insecure Youth and Disadvantaged Populations. The Lincoln & Dorothy Deihl Community Grants were established with three fundamental priorities; basic human needs, youth, and the arts and humanities.
Additionally, through the Butler Family Community Foundation program, a total of $247,495 was awarded to organizations addressing a wide variety of community needs. Funded projects include Big Lakes, Flint Hills Summer Camp, Juneteenth, Grow Green Arts Match, MESI, Pawnee Mental Health Services, Girls on the Run of the Flint Hills, Manhattan Arts Center, KSU - Rise Up, Flint Hills Breadbasket, DPIL-KUW, Wonder Workshop Children's Museum, and the Melanoma Research Foundation.
At the end of quarter 1, we received notification on the Eichman Family Foundation grants and the Goldstein Foundation grants.
The Eichman Family Foundation, with focuses on education, health, and entrepreneurship, granted $129,000 between three organizations. The Wamego Hospital Foundation received $20,000 for their expansion construction project, Good Shepherd Homecare & Hospice received a $100,000 to support their endowment over five years, and the Wamego Community Foundation Scholarship program received $9,000 for nine scholarships.
Additionally, through the Goldstein Foundation program, a total of $1,095,000 was awarded to nine local organizations including Be Able, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Dorothy Bramlage Public Library, Flint Hills Summer Fun Camp, KSU Foundation, Parks & Rec Foundation, Manhattan-Ogden Public Schools Foundation, UFM, and the YES! Fund.
"Each grant awarded represents an investment in the people, organizations, and ideas that strengthen our community. We are grateful to our donors for making these opportunities possible and to the nonprofits whose work continues to improve quality of life throughout the region," said Dr. Sarah F. Barrett, Vice President for Impact Strategy & Grant Programs.
For more information about GMCF grant opportunities or to learn how to support community impact, visit www.mcfks.org/apply-for-a-grant P