Rooted Change Fund

The application period for the 2nd round of the Rooted Change Fund opens on Nov. 6.

Empowering communities, expanding opportunities, building brighter futures

Community Capital Fund, with support from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, created the Rooted Change Fund to support grassroots, community-based organizations advancing economic mobility in historically underserved areas of the Kansas City metro.

Eligible applicants can request up to $50,000 (1-year) or $100,000 (2-year) to launch or grow projects that create and expand economic mobility in target areas of need.

Apply for Rooted Change Fund (opens Nov. 6)

Examples of What Can Be Funded

The Rooted Change Fund is designed to support organizations in developing and strengthening sustainable revenue models that promote long-term organizational stability while advancing the economic mobility of the communities they serve. Through extensive research and due diligence, Community Capital Fund has identified several high-growth industries and professions that offer strong opportunities for economic advancement and community impact. Applicants are encouraged but not mandated to align their proposed activities with these sectors, which include, but are not limited to, healthcare, skilled trades, manufacturing, tourism, and biosciences. 

Examples of eligible activities and their alignment with high-growth industries include:

  • Job Creation and Business Development

  • Creating employment opportunities or supporting small business development.

  • Launching or expanding businesses in growing industries such as HVAC, electrical services, home healthcare, catering, and other in-demand trades.

  • Establishing micro-business incubators or shared-use spaces, including commercial kitchens, tool and equipment libraries, and trade-focused workshops.

  • Providing wraparound business support services such as bookkeeping, licensing assistance, insurance navigation, and operational planning.

  • Sector-Focused Workforce Development

  • Offering mentorship, apprenticeships, industry-specific training, certifications, and networking opportunities that lead to career advancement and economic stability.

  • Supporting workforce pathways in: 

  • Healthcare (e.g., Nursing, Certified Nursing Assistant, Medical Assistant)

  • Construction and Skilled Trades (e.g., HVAC, Plumbing, Electrical, Carpentry)

  • Manufacturing (e.g., Welding, CNC Operations, Logistics)

  • Tourism and Hospitality (e.g., Culinary Arts, Event Operations)

  • Biosciences (e.g., Laboratory Technician)

  • Financial Assistance and Capital Access

  • Providing credit-building and financial coaching services.

  • Offering stipends and incentives that reduce barriers to workforce participation.

  • Supporting property improvements, façade enhancements, and other investments that enable businesses to open, expand, or increase capacity.

  • Funding tools, uniforms, scrubs, certification exams, licensing fees, and equipment required for employment in high-growth fields.

  • Social Capital and Professional Networks

  • Strengthening connections between individuals, organizations, and industries through strategic partnerships and collaboration.

  • Supporting memberships in trade associations and professional organizations for program graduates, entrepreneurs, and small business owners.

  • Developing peer learning networks, mentor circles, and industry-specific cohorts that help entrepreneurs and workers build relationships, share resources, and access opportunities within high-growth sectors.

Through these investments, the Rooted Change Fund aims to foster sustainable economic growth, expand access to quality employment and entrepreneurship opportunities, and build stronger pathways to long-term prosperity for communities.

If an applicant has an idea to promote economic mobility but that activity is not listed, please contact CCF. We love to hear new ideas.

Eligibility

Organizations must be based in Jackson County, MO; Clay County, MO or Wyandotte County, KS and serve low- to moderate-income neighborhoods. Applicants may be registered nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status) or other entities with a charitable purpose, must have at least one year of operating history, and $300,000 or less in current/prior-year revenue. Grant awards are capped at 30% of the previous year’s budget.

Application Timeline (timeline subject to change)

  • Nov. 6, 2026 — Application Opens

  • Dec. 7, 2026 — 1st Info Session (in-person) at 11am to 12:15pm at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. RSVP and event details here.

  • Jan. 5, 2027 — 2nd Info Session (virtual) at 5pm to 6pm. RSVP link will be available later on this page.

  • Jan. 11, 2027 — Application closes at 11:59pm

  • Early March 2027 — Notification of award decision via email

  • Early April 2027 — 1st half Rooted Change Fund disbursement of funds 

  • April to August 2027 — 4 grantee gatherings will be hosted by CCF for Rooted Change Recipients 

  • June 7, 2027 — Midway Report Due via Good Grants

  • Sept. 30, 2027 — Final Report due via Good Grants

In partnership with the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation

Grounded in the generosity and love for Kansas City that Mr. Kauffman instilled, the Foundation is dedicated to advancing equitable access to opportunity and spurring economic growth. It supports organizations and communities testing innovative solutions, connecting students, educators, families, and small business owners with resources to achieve their goals. Through this work, new businesses and a skilled workforce drive regional growth, fostering financial stability, upward mobility, and economic prosperity. The Foundation is private, nonpartisan, and committed to racial equity, diversity, and inclusion. For more, visit kauffman.org.

Frequently Asked Questions

    • Eligible applicants must: Be based in Jackson County (MO), Clay County (MO), or Wyandotte County (KS), and serve residents in low- to moderate-income neighborhoods. 

    • Be a registered business entity in good standing with the State of Missouri or Kansas (nonprofit with or without 501(c)(3) status, or another entity with a clear charitable purpose and charitable use of funds)  

    • Have at least one year of operating history, and 

    • Have $300,000 or less in current or prior year revenue 

  • Applications must be submitted online by Monday, January 11, 2027, at 11:59 PM CST. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

  • Organizations may request: 

    • Up to $50,000 for a one-year award, or 

    • Up to $100,000 for a two-year award. 

    • Grant awards will be capped at 30% of the previous year’s organizational revenue. 

  • Economic mobility is the ability of individuals and families to move toward stability, opportunity, and prosperity over time. It is not only about income, but it also includes: 

    • Economic Success (secure jobs, financial resilience) 

    • Power & Autonomy (agency over life decisions and systems) 

    • Dignity & Belonging (feeling valued and included in community life) 
      (Urban Institute, 2021) 

  • No. The Rooted Change Fund accepts one application per applicant organization. Collaborative or partnership projects should be submitted as one application with a clear lead organization responsible for reporting.

  • No. Requests are reviewed as submitted. If your two-year proposal is not approved, it will not automatically be converted to a one-year grant. In limited cases, CCF may follow up with applicants to discuss an adjusted award, but this is not guaranteed. 

  • Please contact Community Capital Fund at (816) 502-9584 or grants@ccfkansascity.org with any questions about eligibility, application assistance or technical issues.

  • No. You do not need to have 501(c)(3) status to apply. The Fund is open to organizations that can show their work has a charitable purpose and benefits the community—not private owners or shareholders. This includes: 

    • Nonprofits that are registered in Missouri or Kansas, even if they do not yet have federal tax-exempt status. 

    • Other types of tax-exempt organizations (such as 501(c)(4) or 501(c)(6)) that use funds for charitable purposes. 

    • Social enterprises or for-profit companies that have a clear charitable initiative focused on economic mobility and can demonstrate that funds will be used for community benefit, not personal gain. 

  • $300,000 cap is all real revenue including earned revenue and raised revenue. In-kind contributions do not count towards the cap.

  • No, there is not a strict, pre-set number of awardees. The number of organizations funded will depend on the total amount of funding available, the size of individual grant requests, and the overall strength of applications received.

  • No. An organization does not need to operate in all three counties. To be eligible, organizations must be based in at least one of the three eligible counties: Jackson County (MO), Clay County (MO) or Wyandotte County (KS).

  • Yes. Faith-based organizations are eligible to apply. However, religious programming is not eligible for funding. All funded activities must be open and accessible regardless of religious affiliation and must not include proselytizing or worship as a core component.

    Applicants that are faith-based should clearly describe in their application how the proposed project: a) meets Rooted Change Fund eligibility criteria and b) is not religious programming, even if it is housed within a faith-based institution.  

  • Yes. Information sessions are scheduled for December 7th, 2026, at 11:00 AM at the Kauffman Conference Center (4801 Rockhill Rd KCMO 64110) and January 5th, 2027, at 5:00 PM on Microsoft Teams. Check timeline on website for the link.  

  • Adopted from the 501(c)3 tax code to fit the mission of the Rooted Change Fund, these projects include relief for the poor, distressed, or underprivileged; advancement of education; and combating community issues. CCF may ask additional questions of organizations to understand if a project’s activities benefit the public, not private individuals; assurance that surplus project dollars are returned to CCF; and that funds will not be used for lobbying and political campaign involvement. 

  • No. For this grant, organizations must be based in one of the three eligible counties: Jackson County (MO), Clay County (MO), or Wyandotte County (KS) and the project must serve a low- to moderate-income area within at least one of these counties. 

  • Incomplete applications and submissions after the deadline will not be considered. Please plan ahead to start early, save your work frequently, and submit the application before the deadline in case of technical issues. 

  • No. All applications for this grant must be completed and submitted online. Paper applications are not available for this funding opportunity. 

  • The grant is capped at 30% of all applicant’s previous year’s budget to promote that this grant award is within the capacity of each organization to successfully manage and report on.  

  • After extensive review and a recommendation of the Community Advisory Board, CCF may decide to fund a proposal at the full amount requested or at a partial amount and may offer funding as either a 1-year or 2-year grant. CCF may also decide not to fund a proposal in this round. Applications for proposing new projects/programs for a one-year award will be evaluated with high scrutiny for feasibility given the shorten timeframe for completion.  

  • No. For this grant, eligible organizations must have annual revenue of $300,000 or less (based on the most recent fiscal year). Organizations with revenue above $300,000 are not eligible to apply for this funding opportunity. 

  • No. Applications must be submitted by the stated deadline and late submissions will not be considered, even in the case of technical issues. We strongly discourage waiting until the final minutes to submit and encourage applicants to complete and submit their materials ahead of the deadline to avoid unexpected system or connectivity problems. 

  • Your eligibility is not affected, but all communication (including decisions and follow-ups) will be sent to the email used in the application. If you need to update the main contact email, please reach out to grants@ccfkansascity.org as soon as possible before the deadline. 

  • No. All applicants must have at least one full year of operating history by the January 14th, 2026, application deadline. This helps ensure that organizations have some track record of operations, finances, and programming before receiving Rooted Change funding.

  • In most cases, CCF will be able to offer brief, high-level feedback on declined applications after funding decisions are finalized. Due to staff capacity, detailed line-by-line reviews may not be possible, but you are encouraged to reach out to CCF staff if you’d like to strengthen a future application.

  • No. For this specific grant, all applications must be completed and submitted online only. Emailed or paper applications will not be accepted.

  • No. Rooted Change Fund applicants must be registered as a business entity in Kansas or Missouri and must be located in Jackson County, MO; Clay County, MO; or Wyandotte County, KS, while serving residents in low- to moderate-income neighborhoods.

  • Yes. However, to be eligible, your organization must forfeit its second-year grant payment by December 8, 2026. To do so, please submit your request in writing to grants@ccfkansascity.org. 

Questions? Contact Us