WICHITA, Kan. – The Kansas Health Foundation (KHF) and the Kansas Leadership Center (KLC) are teaming up on a new grant program in support of KHF’s efforts to improve Upward Mobility in Kansas.

The Upward Mobility Mass Action Mini-Grant Program is open Aug. 18 – Sept. 29 and is geared toward providing grant support to Kansas organizations and community partners with innovative ideas for making a difference on the issue.

“If we’re going to make progress on the issue of Upward Mobility, it’s critical that we have as much action and activity as possible,” said Ed O’Malley, KHF president and CEO. “This grant program is meant to spur action and get more Kansas organizations involved in helping improve health in our state.”

A key component of making progress on daunting health challenges is the presence of civic leadership. KHF is proud to partner with KLC to administer the program and to provide training to grant recipients.

“This partnership creates an opportunity to equip Kansans to turn ideas into action and make meaningful progress toward greater economic opportunity,” said Kaye Monk-Morgan, president and CEO of the Kansas Leadership Center. “At KLC, we have the experience and infrastructure to facilitate a process that encourages experimentation and action that will make a difference on this issue, as well as track and share stories of progress.”

KHF defines Upward Mobility as the opportunity to stabilize, thrive and build a future over time. It takes into account everything from job training and workforce development, to ways to increase income and complete additional education.

KLC’s role with this initiative involves recruiting organizations to apply for the grants by activating its network of hundreds of civically minded organizations around the state. Once grant recipients are selected, KLC will host a “Strategy Lab,” a full-day workshop to equip grantees with leadership and engagement skills to implement their experimental solutions for making progress on Upward Mobility.

“This grant opportunity creates space for diverse strategies to move in a shared direction, encouraging learning and experimentation. We are excited to get Kansans in a room to share and refine their plans and then go out and take action,” said Shaun Rojas, senior director of civic engagement at KLC.

Interested applicants can find complete eligibility details and apply on KHF’s website in the “Opportunities” section. Grant request amounts can be up to $10,000.

Applications must be submitted by noon CT on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026. Grant recipients will be notified by the end of October. All recipients should plan to attend the KLC Strategy Lab on Jan. 28, 2027.

“It’s going to take all of us to improve Upward Mobility in Kansas,” O’Malley said. “We encourage Kansas nonprofit organizations to put their best ideas together and apply soon.”

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About the Kansas Health Foundation

The Kansas Health Foundation (KHF) is a nonprofit organization based in Wichita but statewide in its focus. At KHF, all our work centers on our mission: to improve the health of all Kansans. As part of the KHF strategic framework, developed by our staff and board of directors, KHF also strives to accomplish three primary purposes: empower Kansas to lead the nation in health; eliminate the inequities that create health disparities; and, for KHF to become THE model for philanthropic impact.

About the Kansas Leadership Center

The Kansas Leadership Center (KLC) is a first-of-its-kind nonprofit educational organization with a civic mission, national reputation and global reach. Founded in 2007 to foster civic leadership for stronger, healthier and more prosperous communities in Kansas and beyond, KLC receives core funding from the Kansas Health Foundation (a private, philanthropic organization). It partners with nonprofit organizations, government agencies, educational institutions, businesses and communities to build cultures that are healthy, productive and well-positioned to make measurable progress on daunting challenges and emergent opportunities. KLC Press publishes leadership books and The Journal, a nationally recognized, award-winning civic issues magazine.

For more than 19 years, KLC has built a strong and respected institution in Kansas designed to deliver leadership development and culture change at unparalleled scale. Now, organizations across the country and around the world look to us to provide resources and consultation to support their own aspirations for mission-driven leadership education. Learn more at kansasleadershipcenter.org.