Hutchinson Community Foundation awards $196K in grants to 26 nonprofits

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Community Foundation has awarded more than $196,000 in grants to 26 nonprofit organizations across Reno County through its first impact cycle of the year.

The Fund for Reno County distributed $196,151 in grants spanning three categories: Community Catalyst, Community & Economic Development, and Strong Organizations. The endowment, established in 1990, serves as a permanent resource for the county's evolving needs.

Additional funding came from the Charles E. Carey Memorial Endowment Fund and several donors through the foundation's Giving Together program.

The largest share of funding, $116,497, went to Community & Economic Development projects. Among the recipients, the Food Bank of Reno County received $30,250 for exterior improvements at its Fourth Avenue and Severance Street location, while StartUp Hutch received $15,000 to support its Rural Business Resilience & Expansion Microgrant Initiative. The Hutchinson Community Foundation also awarded itself $30,000 per year for five years to fund a public communications campaign developed in partnership with the Greater Hutch Economic Development Partnership and the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce.

Strong Organizations grants totaled $63,388, supporting capacity-building efforts at organizations including Hutchinson Regional Medical Foundation, which received $7,500 for Critical Incident Stress Management training, and Hutchinson's Historic Fox Theatre, which received $7,500 to relocate its audio booth and improve sightlines for patrons.

The $16,266 distributed through Community Catalyst grants supported engagement and quality-of-life initiatives, including $2,500 to establish a community orchestra through the Salt City Orchestra Association and $2,500 to the city of Pretty Prairie to create a community garden on Main Street.

Grant proposals are accepted during impact cycles in February and August.