Community Health Improvement Grants

The Community Health Improvement Grants represent a collaborative philanthropic initiative launched in fall 2023 by three key organizations in Reno County, Kansas: Hutchinson Community Foundation, Hutchinson Regional Medical Foundation, and United Way of Reno County. Each partner contributes $10,000 annually from 2023 to 2025, creating a joint funding pool to support community-driven projects that align with the Reno County Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). This structured, multi-year funding initiative reflects a commitment to collective impact, emphasizing shared goals and collaboration across organizations to improve health outcomes in the region. The CHIP is grounded in data collected through the Community Health Assessment—a triennial survey designed to evaluate the health landscape of Reno County and identify pressing issues. Based on this assessment, the county's Healthcare Access Taskforce engages in further outreach to determine specific areas of concern for targeted investment. The current CHIP outlines four priority focus areas: substance misuse, mental health, access to care, and child care. These categories define the scope of eligibility for grant-supported projects and inform funding priorities for the duration of the three-year program. The first funding cycle concluded in 2024 with $57,000 awarded to four organizations. Open Door Health Services received a three-year $30,000 grant to implement sexual health and wellness programs for youth in Reno County, addressing early sexual activity and STI prevention. Milestone Clubhouse was granted $18,000 over three years to reduce mental health stigma and engage individuals with severe mental illness through education and employment. NAMI Reno County was awarded $4,000 to strengthen local mental health resources through education and advocacy. Fight the Stigma Inc. received $5,000 to assist individuals facing mental health challenges by improving their living conditions and access to care. Grants are awarded through a competitive annual cycle. A joint committee composed of board members from all three partner organizations reviews proposals and selects recipients. The process is designed to ensure alignment with CHIP goals and maximize impact in the priority areas. Although the total award amount varies annually depending on funder contributions and selected projects, each year's cycle is grounded in the $30,000 joint annual investment. Interested applicants must submit their proposals through Hutchinson Community Foundation's Grant Lifecycle Management (GLM) system. While no pre-application such as an LOI or concept paper is required, applicants are encouraged to contact Hutchinson CF staff to discuss ideas or receive guidance on the application process. For technical or eligibility inquiries, potential applicants can contact Jan Steen, Senior Program Officer, at 620-663-5293 or Kari Mailloux, Director of Strategic Initiatives, at [email protected]. Application instructions, including GLM tutorials, are available via the foundation’s website. The next Community Health Improvement Grant cycle is scheduled to open for applications in fall 2026. The program is explicitly recurring, running annually through 2025, and future cycles are expected to maintain alignment with CHIP priority areas unless updated through new community assessments. Continued tracking of awarded projects and shared storytelling are encouraged to foster community engagement and accountability. Community members interested in CHIP efforts are also invited to participate in related task force meetings facilitated by United Way of Reno County.