Neighborhood Empowerment Grant Accepting New Applications

Kansas City is accepting applications through the Neighborhood Service Department's Empowerment Grant Program to build neighborhood capacity, enhance community engagement, promote neighborhood identity, prevent violence and crime in neighborhoods, facilitate repairs or upgrades to improve overall safety, and foster positive interactions and resident collaboration.

The 2026-2027 Annual Empowerment Grant Cycle will provide funding for neighborhoods with a maximum funding request of $20,000 per applicant. These grants provide critical funding that enhances the quality of life in Kansas City communities.

Applications open April 17 at 8am and close May 22 at 11:59pm. Neighborhood nonprofits and Homeowner Associations are encouraged to apply for projects that enhance and improve the city's neighborhoods and support local programs.

For this year's Empowerment Grant award cycle, the Neighborhood Services Department is providing technical assistance training to all awarded organizations. Through this required hands-on educational training, neighborhoods will learn about grant financials, volunteer and community participation, project implementation, and leadership capacity building. This training is provided at no cost thanks to grant funding through the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.

"We're grateful to the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation for making this opportunity possible at no cost to our neighborhood partners," said Director Forest Decker. "Our goal is to set neighborhoods up for success long after the grant cycle ends. This training strengthens financial skills, leadership capacity, and community engagement so organizations can turn great ideas into meaningful, sustainable results.

Eligibility Criteria:

• The Neighborhood Empowerment Grant is open to not-for-profit neighborhood associations and organizations that are registered with the City of Kansas City (through Neighborhood Direct) and with the
• Applicants must provide a Certificate of Good Standing from the State of Missouri.
• Applicants must submit a list of the organization's board of directors, leadership team, or governing officials.

Neighborhood Associations can utilize a nonprofit partner as a fiscal agent if needed, but the neighborhood must be the applicant. An MOU, collaborative agreement or letter of support will be required if awarded.

Please note: to be eligible for new funding, organizations must have fully used any previous Neighborhood Empowerment Grant funds. Only one Empowerment Grant may remain active at a time. Apply for the Neighborhood Empowerment Grant.

The Neighborhood Services Department is hosting three training workshops in May, including two in-person sessions and one virtual meeting option.

In-person workshops:

• May 1 | 10:00-11:15 a.m.
  Line Creek Community Center
• May 14 | 5:30-6:45 p.m.
  Southeast Community Center

Virtual Lunch and Learn:

• May 6 | 12:00-1:15 p.m.
  The link for the virtual session can be found at KCMO.gov.