Opportunity on the Plains is the largest annual investment program from United Way of the Plains to help meet the most pressing needs in our community. We look for partners who want to work collectively to advance the common good in south-central Kansas.
Opportunity on the Plains provides grants to health and human service programs to advance their work in our impact areas of health, youth opportunity, and financial security. This is a competitive application process. Applications are evaluated by a dedicated group of community volunteers. The recommendations of these volunteers are reviewed and approved by the United Way Board of Directors.
2027-2028 GRANT APPLICATION NOW OPEN
Applications must be submitted online by 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 18, 2026
Ready to apply? Here’s what you need to know:
- Proof of 501(c)(3) status required.
- Program operates within the United Way of the Plains service area: Sedgwick, Butler (all ZIP codes except 67042), Barber, Cowley, Harper, Kingman, Pratt, and Sumner Counties, and the following ZIP codes: 67025, 67035, 67068, 67108, 67135, 67147, and 67154.
- Program aligns with United Way’s strategies in our impact areas of healthy community, youth opportunity, and financial security. Download this handout to learn more about our impact areas and strategies within them. NOTE: United Way does not fund grants to individuals, art/cultural organizations, animal services, capital needs or environmental concerns.
- Organizations must not discriminate based on race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, religion, disability, medical condition, sex or gender (including pregnancy), gender identity and/or expression (including transgender identity), sexual orientation, marital status, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.
Scroll down for helpful resources about our funding strategies and a link to virtual office hours with United Way staff each week.
Timeline of Grant
- Deadline for submissions: 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 18, 2026
- Grant recipients announced: April 2027
- Funding cycle: July 1, 2027, to June 30, 2028
- Reporting: Quarterly reports required.
Applications must be submitted online by 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 18.
To begin the application, follow these steps:
- Create an account. Follow the prompts to register your organization, create your profile and provide the required proof of 501c3 status. If you are a returning applicant, you’ll use the same login information that you’ve used in the past but confirm that you are using the link to this year’s application (button above).
- Once registered, begin your application by selecting “Get Started.”
- Required documents associated with the application can be found below.
- Upon completion and review of your application, select “Submit.” This will complete your application. Once applications are submitted, they cannot be edited.
- For multiple program applications, repeat steps 2 through 4.
Required documents:
GRANT APPLICATION RESOURCES & VIRTUAL OFFICE HOURS
This fall, United Way of the Plains adjusted strategy areas within the Youth Opportunity impact area. The Community Impact Forum was held in October where we shared these updates. Below are helpful resources from this event to reference as you write your application.
- Download the PowerPoint presentation here.
- Download our Impact Areas handout that outlines our strategy areas.
Assistance and Virtual Office Hours
United Way Community Impact staff are available to answer questions and review your application materials. Schedule a one-on-one meeting with a director (contact info below) or attend the weekly virtual office hours hosted on Wednesdays, noon – 1 p.m., Nov. 4 – Dec. 16. Join via Teams:
Meeting ID: 248 747 621 940 537 6
Passcode: 4dx7MQ3Q
Dial in by phone
+1 316-247-4841,,510080663# United States, Andover
Find a local number
Phone conference ID: 510 080 663#
2026-2027 INVESTMENTS
Thanks to the caring power of our community, Opportunity on the Plains is investing a total of $4.1 million in 74 area programs from July 2026 to June 2027 that will help create a region where all can thrive. By supporting programs that advance health, youth opportunity, and financial security, this funding will help individuals and families build stability and foster a stronger, more resilient community. Download the full list of recipients here.
Healthy Communitykgoertzen2026-04-09T19:30:33-05:00
We improve access to nutritious food and quality health education and services, so our neighbors have the resources they need to lead healthy lives. Together, we can improve the health and well-being for all. Thanks to generous donors, United Way is investing $1,490,000 to build a healthy community.
| ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTHCARE – $280,000 We invest in programs that provide supportive, culturally appropriate mental health resources, ensuring everyone has access to care that promotes emotional well-being. | |
| Breakthrough’s Therapy Program (Episcopal Social Services) | $37,500 |
| CANA Counseling (Catholic Charities) | $28,500 |
| Early Childhood Mental Health (Rainbows United) | $94,000 |
| Kidzcope (Wichita Children’s Home) | $20,000 |
| Mental Health Access for Survivors of Sexual Violence (Wichita Area Sexual Assault Center) | $85,000 |
| Recovery Hub (Wichita Recovery Hub) | $15,000 |
| ACCESS TO PHYSICAL HEALTHCARE – $430,000 We invest in programs that ensure everyone has access to quality care in ways that work for them and their families to help reduce the proportion of people who can’t get medical care when they need it. | |
| Bridge to Care (ICT Street Team) | $25,000 |
| CACSC Medical Services (Child Advocacy Center of Sedgwick County) | $15,000 |
| Charitable Pharmacy (Cairn Health) | $45,000 |
| Dental Outreach Program (GraceMed Health Clinic) | $67,000 |
| Diabetes Clinic Services & Community Programming (Great Plains Diabetes Research) | $35,000 |
| Outreach Center (Angels in the Attic) | $3,000 |
| Project Access (Central Plains Healthcare Partnership) | $125,000 |
| Victim Medical Care (Hope Medical) | $10,000 |
| Vision Care for All (Guadalupe Clinic) | $30,000 |
| Wheelchair Clinic & Assistive Technology Funding (Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation of Kansas) | $75,000 |
| EQUITABLE FOOD ACCESS – $300,000 We invest in programs that ensure everyone has access to affordable, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food so that community members don’t have to choose between paying their monthly bills and feeding their family. | |
| Community Food Ministry (United Methodist Open Door) | $90,000 |
| Community Food Pantry (Dear Neighbor Ministries) | $87,500 |
| Food Assistance Programs (Joseph’s Storehouse) | $4,000 |
| Food Pantry (The Center) | $10,000 |
| Food Pantry Program (FaithBuilders) | $5,000 |
| Meals on Wheels (Senior Services of Wichita) | $78,500 |
| Our Daily Bread Food Pantry (Catholic Charities) | $15,000 |
| Plant A Row (ICT Food Rescue) | $10,000 |
| HEALTHY LIFESTYLES – $230,000 We invest in programs that help increase knowledge of how to be physically active at any ability level, provide accessible opportunities for community members to move their bodies, build knowledge of nutrition and how to prepare nutritious food. | |
| Exercise and Wellness Program (Club Parkinson’s) | $63,200 |
| Exercise & Wellness Therapy for People with Disabilities (Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation of Kansas) | $13,000 |
| Health + Wellness in the Hispanic Community (Salud Más Bienestar) | $14,950 |
| Pedal Forward: Bicycle Education & Engagement for Youth & Families (Bike Walk Wichita) | $8,850 |
| Sober Active Community (The Phoenix) | $90,000 |
| Strengthening Girls from Start to Finish (Girls on the Run Heart of Kansas) | $40,000 |
| SAFE FUTURES & SURVIVOR EMPOWERMENT – $250,000 We invest in programs that ensure that community members who face violence and abuse receive services that can help them stabilize in the aftermath, recover from the trauma, and empower them to heal and grow. | |
| Advocacy & Therapy Services (ICT SOS) | $50,000 |
| Creating Safe Futures for Survivors of Sexual Violence (Wichita Area Sexual Assault Center) | $90,000 |
| Domestic Violence & Sex Trafficking Shelter & Services (Wichita Family Crisis Center) | $60,000 |
| Domestic Violence Survivors Services (StepStone) | $50,000 |
Youth Opportunitykgoertzen2026-04-09T19:25:00-05:00
We create pathways for young people to reach their goals, from early childhood education to college and career success. Together, we are helping young people reach their full potential. Thanks to generous donors, United Way is investing $1,050,000 in the area of youth opportunity.
We create pathways for young people to reach their goals, from early childhood education to college and career success. Together, we are helping young people reach their full potential. Thanks to generous donors, United Way is investing $1,050,000 in the area of youth opportunity.| ACADEMIC SUCCESS & YOUTH ENRICHMENT – $500,000 We invest in programs that ensure children and youth are supported throughout their academic journey, especially those at risk, through literacy development, extended learning opportunities, and addressing non-academic barriers to learning. | |
| Fresh Start to Learning (Simply Hygiene) | $56,250 |
| Juniper Fine Arts Programming (Juniper Arts Academy) | $13,150 |
| One-to-One Mentoring (Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters serving Cowley County) | $3,404 |
| One-to-One Youth Mentoring (Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters serving Sedgwick County) | $41,250 |
| PALS+: Partnership Assuring Learning Success+ (Prime Fit Youth Foundation) | $93,404 |
| Rise Up For Youth (Destination Innovation) | $52,000 |
| School Year and Summer Enrichment (Boys & Girls Clubs of South Central Kansas) | $67,138 |
| Student Success The Pando Way (The Pando Initiative) | $173,404 |
| CHILD & FAMILY WELL-BEING – $220,000 We invest in programs that ensure children grow up in safe, supportive, and thriving environments. This includes promoting the physical, mental, emotional, and social health of children while strengthening the capacity of families to nurture, protect, and advocate for their children and their children’s education. | |
| Be Brave Be Safe (Child Advocacy Center of Sedgwick County) | $35,000 |
| Change a Child’s Story (CASA of Sedgwick County) | $18,000 |
| Family Preservation and Prevention (FosterAdopt Connect) | $7,000 |
| Not Alone: Prevention & Awareness Education (ICT SOS) | $30,000 |
| Protection for Abused and Neglected Children (Tri-County CASA) | $5,000 |
| Residential Child & Family Wellbeing Program (Youth Horizons) | $75,000 |
| Residential Emergency Shelter (Wichita Children’s Home) | $50,000 |
| EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT & SCHOOL READINESS – $130,000 We invest in programs that lay a strong foundation for young children (0–5) to thrive through early learning, development supports, and successful kindergarten transitions. | |
| Early Childhood Connections (Child Start) | $130,000 |
| COLLEGE & CAREER READINESS– $200,000 We invest in programs that equip youth with the academic, technical, social-emotional, and real-world skills needed to navigate and succeed in post-secondary education, training, and employment. We support multiple pathways to post-secondary success, including college, trade school, military service, and direct-to-career routes. | |
| Elevate Our Youth (International Rescue Committee – Wichita) | $30,000 |
| Futures Program (Kansas Hispanic Education and Development Foundation) | $40,500 |
| Root the Power (Destination Innovation) | $37,000 |
| Substitute Career Specialist & Student Transportation (Jobs for America’s Graduates-Kansas) | $47,500 |
| Youth Employment Project (Workforce Alliance of South Central Kansas) | $45,000 |
Financial Securitykgoertzen2026-04-13T10:57:40-05:00
We connect people to education, tools, and job training so they have financial freedom and peace of mind. Together, we can create a stronger financial future for every generation. Thanks to generous donors, United Way is investing $1,560,000 in the area of financial security.
| ECONOMIC MOBILITY – $165,000 We invest in programs that help households improve their financial well-being by increasing income, reducing debt, and building assets. These services support individuals in moving from living paycheck-to-paycheck toward long-term financial stability and economic security. | |
| Core Community (Youth Core Ministries) | $50,000 |
| Exodus Program: Post-Incarceration Equipping & Launching (Union Rescue Mission) | $15,900 |
| Getting Ahead & Staying Ahead (Youth Horizons) | $7,100 |
| Guided Independent Living Assessment (Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation of Kansas) | $17,000 |
| Home Preservation Program Expansion (Winfield Habitat for Humanity) | $30,000 |
| Homebuyer Education Program (Wichita Habitat for Humanity) | $45,000 |
| HOMELESS PREVENTION – $650,000 We invest in programs that offer emergency financial assistance to help households maintain stable housing by preventing eviction or utility shutoff. These services aim to prevent homelessness by addressing short-term crises before they escalate. | |
| Community Helping Hands Ministry (First United Methodist Church of Winfield) | $10,000 |
| Homelessness Prevention (Center of Hope) | $268,500 |
| Homelessness Prevention (Family Promise of Greater Wichita) | $261,000 |
| Homelessness Prevention Program (Dear Neighbor Ministries) | $110,500 |
| PATHWAYS TO HOUSING – $600,000 We invest in programs that provide a safe and supportive space for individuals and families while guiding them toward permanent housing. These efforts center on personalized, trauma-informed care and work to break down the unique barriers each person faces to achieving long-term housing stability. | |
| Homeless Resource Center (United Methodist Open Door) | $230,000 |
| Housing Navigator for Medically Vulnerable Adults (ICT Street Team) | $50,000 |
| Inn Pathway to Housing (HumanKind Ministries) | $140,000 |
| St. Anthony Family Shelter (Catholic Charities) | $130,000 |
| Youth Anti-Homeless Programs (Wichita Children’s Home) | $50,000 |
| WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT – $145,000 We invest in programs that equip youth and adults for employment through job training, career navigation, and support services that lead to quality jobs and long-term economic mobility. | |
| Bridging Today’s Gaps, Shaping Tomorrow’s Future (Goodwill Industries of Kansas) | $70,000 |
| Domestic Violence Employment Program (The Women’s Initiative Network) | $55,000 |
| Seeds for Success Program (Catholic Charities) | $10,000 |
| Work Readiness & Experience (Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation of Kansas) | $10,000 |
QUESTIONS?
(316) 267-1321, ext. 4211
(316) 267-1321, ext. 4212
(316) 267-1321, ext. 4210
(316) 267-1321, ext. 4234
