Wichita Collective Impact Initiative

Together, we are creating a more equitable place to learn, work and succeed.

The Wichita Collective Impact Initiative brings together the community, nonprofits, businesses and government entities to focus on educational success and workforce readiness, beginning in the 67214 ZIP code.

SNAPSHOT OF 67214

Why focus on 67214?

67214 is the poorest ZIP code in Kansas
Average adjusted gross income in 2018 was $27,906
19.6% had an income below $10,000
39.2% are not currently in the labor force
Of those 25+ years of age, 25.3% did not complete high school
24.8% of the population does not have health insurance coverage
43.6% of the population is Black or African American; 24.8% is Hispanic.

OUR GOALS

Through volunteerism, shared expertise and financial grants, we will achieve collective impact that strengthens equity through educational success and workforce readiness.

Educational Success

Increase access to quality early childhood education
Improve third grade reading
Improve seventh grade algebra
Increase graduation rates
Improve teacher representation

Workforce Readiness

Increase number of students engaged in ready-to-work programs
Increase diversity and number of jobs created
Improve local post-secondary enrollment
Reduce mid-career departures

2023 SUMMER GRANT APPLICATION

Applications must be submitted by Monday, April 3, 2023, at noon.

Sixty percent of young people entering kindergarten in Wichita Public Schools (WPS) come in without the fundamental reading skills of recognizing ‘Letter Names’ and ‘Letter Sounds’. In addition, forty percent of students entering WPS are not able to regularly recognize numbers or a number of grouped objects (‘Number Sense’).

The focus of this round of funding is summer programming serving students entering Kindergarten, first or second grade in the fall of 2023, and students must be living and/or attending a school in or around the 67214 ZIP code, including 67219, 67220, 67208, 67218, 67211, 67202, 67201, 67203 and 67204. This area has been identified as an area where residents are significantly underserved in education.

For this grant cycle, WCI intends to give out investments up to $25,000 for those organizations who can align with Wichita Public Schools strategic plan to:

Grow parent participation in Ages & Stages Questionnaires (ASQ) that pinpoint developmental progress in children. View Wichita Public School’s questionnaire here: https://www.usd259.org/Page/20396.
Boost competencies among all student served in the program using approved age-appropriate curriculum
Engage parents in the literacy activities

Process & Timeline

All potential grant recipients must attend all meetings and trainings listed on the timeline to be eligible for a summer grant award. To register for trainings, contact LaWanda DeShazer, Senior Program Director for the Greater Wichita YMCA, at lawanda.deshazer@ymcawichita.org or (316) 776-8176, with the name of your organization and the individual(s) who will be attending.

February 15, 2023: 9:00 a.m. Application opens
February 21, 2023: 8:30 a.m. Collective Impact Training, Downtown YMCA
February 28, 2023: 8:30 a.m. Curriculum-based Measurements Training, Downtown YMCA (Will also include Collective Impact Training)
March 7, 2023: 8:30 a.m. Program Development Training, Downtown YMCA
March 14, 2023: 8:30 a.m. Grant Writing Training, Steve Clark YMCA
April 3, 2023: 12:00 p.m. Deadline for proposals
April 10, 2023: Summer Grantees Announced
April 17, 2023: Awardees Workshop (expectations)
July 2023: Summer Programs Begin
August 2023: Summer programs End/Grant Period Ends
September 30, 2023: Summer Program Grant Report Due

Eligibility

The following requirements must be met for an organization to be eligible for funding through the Wichita Collective Impact process:

The organization must be a 501(c)(3).
The proposed program must concentrate its efforts and services within in and around the 67214 service area, as defined above.
The proposed program must work towards the goals defined in this application guide.
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.

Application

Applications must be completed by Monday, April 3, 2023, at noon.

Download the grant application guide here.

This grant application was initiated and managed by the Greater Wichita YMCA, and hosted by United Way of the Plains. For questions, contact LaWanda DeShazer, Senior Program Director for the Greater Wichita YMCA, at lawanda.deshazer@ymcawichita.org or (316) 776-8176.

All questions are limited to 300 words, unless stated otherwise.

Step 1 of 2

Name of Organization: *

Mailing Address: *

Program Name: *

Contact Name: *

Contact Phone: *

Contact Email: *

Organization Website: *

Employer Identification Number (EIN XX-XXXXXXX): *

Upload IRS Nonprofit Determination Letter (File type must be .pdf or .jpg, and smaller than 2MB.): *

Click or drag a file to this area to upload.

Upload IRS Form 990 (File type must be .pdf or .jpg, and smaller than 2MB.): *

Click or drag a file to this area to upload.

Upload Most Recent Financial Audit (Only for organizations that generate over $500,000 in revenue):

Click or drag a file to this area to upload.

Financial audit must be generated by an independent firm that includes financial statements, footnotes, and an opinion letter from auditors. File type must be .pdf or .jpg, and smaller than 2MB.

Select the audience your program will serve: *

How will your program address the root causes that impact grade-level and/or grade level achievement? Please paint a picture in words of how your program will run each day and serve the target age group. *

How will your program increase parent participation in the Ages & Stages Questionnaires (ASQ)? *

Does your program collaborate with partners? If so, please share who those partners are and how they will be part of the proposed program. *

Grantees will be provided with grade level appropriate pre-/post- tests which will be required to be utilized. Training on the pre-/post- tests will be provided. Please describe how you intend to ensure pre-/post- tests are completed, how the program will capture any additional program specific outcomes, solicit feedback from clients served, and make course corrections for the duration of the grant (if required). *

Please provide the proposed budget for the 2023 summer program and how the requested funds will be expended. (Limited to 150 words.) *

How will you retain the relationships with your participants into the school year and beyond? *

Acknowledgement *

I hereby certify that the above statements are true and correct to the best of my knowledge.

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COLLABORATION PARTNERS

Funded through a $2 million gift from Wichita-based Cargill Protein North America, Wichita Collective Impact is a three-year initiative led by United Way of the Plains, Greater Wichita YMCA and the Public Policy & Management Center at Wichita State University.

QUESTIONS?

For more information, contact LaWanda DeShazer, Senior Program Director for the Greater Wichita YMCA, at lawanda.deshazer@ymcawichita.org or (316) 776-8176.