Hollywood Casino Grant

• 2025 applications are available on March 1, 2025.

• Virtual Grant Information Session: March 4, 2025, at 10:00 AM (Optional)

• Application Deadline: April 21, 2025, 5:00 PM.

• Notifications of award and decline: July 2025.

Grants are made only to nonprofits that have current 501(c)(3) status. Requests for general operating support will only be considered if the funding will be used to significantly expand the services of organizations.

Grant Range: There is no restriction on the minimum or maximum size of the grant. In 2024, grants ranged from $500 - $24,000 and the average grant award was $6,000.

The activities funded by the grants must be completed within one year. Reporting requirements for awarded grants include an interim report due March 2026 and a final report due July 2026 (these dates may be updated at the time of award). Grantees are required to report zip code data for program or service participants.

Geographic Focus: The Unified Government Hollywood Casino Charitable Fund is limited to Wyandotte County. Specifically, organizations must clearly demonstrate that the clients/beneficiaries of the program are residents of Wyandotte County. Grantees will be required to report zip code data for program or service participants.

Areas of Interest: Highest consideration will be given to programs and projects that accomplish the following.

• Leverage additional funding, both private and public.
• Demonstrate alignment with Wyandotte County’s Comprehensive Plan (wycokck.org)
• Demonstrate alignment with Healthy Communities Wyandotte and “work toward a happier, healthier Wyandotte for everyone.”
• Collaborate efforts among programs or providers.
• Demonstrate an effort to minimize duplication.
• Have clearly established measurable outcomes and the ability to monitor and report them.
• Reach at-risk or underserved populations.

Areas of Exclusion:

• Capital campaign
• Endowment campaign
• Annual fund drive
• Debt retirement or operating deficits.
• Direct support to individuals, including scholarships.
• Lobbying activities, legislation-related activities, or political campaigns.
• Activities that specifically benefit the members of an athletic, veteran, fraternal, sectarian or religious group.
• Equipment expenses, unless the equipment will directly improve the organization’s ability to provide and deliver services.
• Requests for general operating support will only be considered if the funding will be used to significantly expand the services of organization.

Selection Process:

• The Greater Kansas City Community Foundation will review all grant applications for eligibility and will submit the list of eligible applications to the Board of Commissioners.
• The Board of Commissioners will serve as the Selection Committee.
• Each Commissioner and the Mayor will be provided with grant applications and reports from 2024 and 2023 awards, when applicable.
• Each Commissioner and the Mayor will designate in writing how they wish to allocate their share of the total funds.
• The final distribution of funds must be approved by majority vote of the Board of Commissioners at a Commission meeting.

Areas of Interest: Highest consideration will be given to programs and projects that accomplish the following.

• Leverage additional funding, both private and public.
• Align with the Board of Commissioners’ and Healthy Communities Wyandotte priorities.
• Collaborate efforts among programs or providers.
• Demonstrate an effort to minimize duplication.
• Have clearly established measurable outcomes and the ability to monitor and report them.
• Reach at-risk or underserved populations.

Areas of Exclusion:

• Capital campaign, endowment campaign or annual fund drive
• Debt retirement or operating deficits
• Direct support to individuals, including scholarships
• Lobbying activities, legislation-related activities, or political campaigns
• Activities that specifically benefit the members of a veteran, fraternal, sectarian, or religious group
• Equipment expenses, unless the equipment will directly improve the organization’s ability to provide and deliver services

The Greater Kansas City Community Foundation will review all grant applications for eligibility and will submit the list of eligible applications to the Board of Commissioners. Due diligence may include:

• Site visits to interview key staff, board members, and key partners (collaborators and funders).
• Review of full application including budget, sustainability plan, etc.

The Board of Commissioners will serve as the Selection Committee. Each Commissioner and the Mayor will be provided with a listing of all grant applications and, upon request, the actual applications. Each Commissioner and the Mayor will designate in writing how they wish to allocate their share of the total funds. The final distribution of funds must be approved by a majority vote of the Board of Commissioners at a Commission meeting.

If this is your first time accessing the application software, please click the Register button in the upper right-hand corner. If you are a first-time user, but your organization has an application account, please contact grants@growyourgiving.org or (816) 627-3452 to be added to your organization.

Hollywood Casino Fund

• 2023 Hollywood Casino Grant Recipients(XLSX, 20KB)
• 2024 Hollywood Casino Grant Awardee(PDF, 458KB)
• 2023 Casino Grant Awards(PDF, 83KB)
• 2022 Grant Recommendations(XLSX, 35KB)
• 2021 Casino Grant Recommendations(PDF, 257KB)
• 2020 Casino Grant Recommendations(PDF, 247KB)
• 2019 Casino Grant Recommendations(PDF, 152KB)
• 2018 Casino Grant Recommendations(PDF, 148KB)
• 2017 Casino Grant Recommendations(PDF, 310KB)
• 2016 Casino Grant Recommendations(PDF, 286KB)

Do you have to be a federally designated 501(c)(3)? Yes, you must be a designated 501(c)(3) with the IRS to qualify for this grant.

Does this grant require a physical office in Wyandotte County? No, there is no requirement to have a physical location in Wyandotte County; only that Wyandotte County and its residents are the focus of the awarded funds. Zip codes for those served should be used to confirm funds are being used to support Wyandotte County residents.

How will notifications occur? All applicants will be notified via email whether or not they have been awarded. Additionally, awards will be posted on this webpage.

Is there a printable version of the application? No, there is not a printable version of the application; however, you may log into your application as needed to update information once you are registered.

What is needed to establish fiscal sponsorship? The fiscal sponsor is not required to submit the application; however, the Fiscal Sponsorship Confirmation must be included with the application, if applicable.

Can we reach out to Commissioners about this grant? Yes, you may reach out to the Board of Commissioners to request support of your application.