Who We Fund

Reach Out Kansas, Inc. is looking for grass roots, community organizations addressing fundamental needs and issues by:

  1. Identifying needs not addressed by traditional government or social service programs
  2. Focusing on needs specific to rural or underserved communities
  3. Providing skills/programs that empower people to become self-sufficient and/or foster long term stability

Past Grantees

Kansas City G.I.F.T. (Generating Income For Tomorrow) – is creating a clear path to economic prosperity and wealth for the African American community in Kansas City by providing grants to Black owned businesses in Kansas City, with
a specific interest in businesses that operate in low income areas. We know that
this creates more jobs and potentially converts an economically disadvantaged
area into an area of economic opportunity.

Determination Incorporated – creates a pathway to opportunity for formerly
incarcerated people through entrepreneurship.

The Grooming Project – devoted to helping impoverished families become self-
reliant through job training in the high-demand, high-pay trade of pet grooming. The Grooming Project’s education-based approach not only financially
empowers single parents in poverty through equipping them with credentials in
a competitive market, but it also ensures that they focus on improving their
family’s future as a whole through parenting and budgeting classes, mental
health support, life skills courses, and other needed medical services
coordinated with many local organizations.

reStart – empowers individuals and families to prevent, navigate or end
homelessness. As of January 2019, Missouri and Kansas have
8,560 of homeless individuals and families. Through strong community
partnerships and effective, diverse programming, we work to help those that
come through agency.

Kanza Rail – Trails Conservancy – manages the Flint Hills Trail and the Landon
Trail, converting these former rail lines into non-motorized public trails and
wildlife areas across Kansas.

Amethyst Place
The Mission of Amethyst Place is to support women recovering from drug and
alcohol addiction and their children by providing safe, drug-free housing and
individualized services to promote healthy families. We help families overcome
significant trauma and develop essential life skills.

Kanbe’s Markets
Kanbe’s Markets provides consistent access to fresh, healthy and affordable foods in the areas of Kansas City designated by the USDA as “food deserts.” Our goal is to eliminate food insecurity by providing an innovative food delivery system that is more inclusive, enhances small businesses, and improves communities one neighborhood at a time.

Youthrive
YOUTHRIVE focuses on our foster youth as they transition to adulthood. We broadly engage the community to empower, equip, and support youth as they make the transition from foster care to becoming healthy and contributing adults.

City Year – Kansas City 
Grounded in an evolving research base, City Year focuses on supporting development, growth and success of students in systemically under-resourced schools.

Multicultural Scholars Program at the University of Kansas 
An academic enrichment scholarship program designed to support the recruitment and retention of underrepresented, first generation undergraduate students.

Navo 
Navo uses an innovative education initiative combining the arts and technology to provide courses and curriculum in Math, Physics, Violin, Viola, and Cello. NAVO offers educational projects in schools and online, including collaboration opportunities for arts students.

Chicago International Music Competition
Chicago International Music Competition aims to find and cultivate a new generation of music talents in the world and to promote the development of classical music and cultural exchange.

Meadow Lark Project
Current and historical social issues addressed through song and music with performances for rural communities and underserved populations.

Jazz Day of Improvisation
Professional Jazz Musicians and strong student musicians, from underserved communities, come together.  This experience provided group and one on one instruction, performance opportunities, and mentoring.

Holiday Vespers Symphony Concert
A “no cost” opportunity for people in the community to come together to experience music that celebrates the holidays of many cultures across the world.  

Rural Strings Program
Stringed instruments and weekly instruction were provided for students from rural communities.  The communities did not have a school orchestra program or access to instruments and instruction. 

Opera Outreach
A quartet of costumed singers performed opera versions of children’s stories across 50 rural and underserved communities. The performances engaged children in fun, energetic, and vocally beautiful experiences of the theatrics, sounds, and humor of opera.