Grantmaking Strategy

The Hall Family Foundation concentrates its philanthropic efforts on six areas of interest in the Kansas City Area.

Early and K-12 Education:

Grantmaking in early, elementary and secondary education seeks to promote excellence and access to a quality education. We prefer to support organizations, programs and projects that address the educational needs of urban school children with a particular interest in systemic reform/improvement efforts, closing achievement gaps and building human capital.

Higher Education:

The Foundation makes Higher Education grants for select programs that are considered centers of excellence. We emphasize programs that expand research capacity and education opportunities. We recognize the link between Higher Education and the economic vitality of the region.

Children, Youth and Families:

Grants in this category intend to improve well-being and respond to families’ physical and emotional needs. We emphasize services to people most at risk due to poverty, limited access to resources, health issues and exposure to violence. Our preference is assistance to children and youth and to those living in the urban cores of Kansas City, Missouri and Kansas City, Kansas.

Community Development:

Our community development grantmaking seeks to prevent or overcome blight and deterioration of the urban core and its neighborhoods. We prefer to support organizations, programs and projects that promote lasting, comprehensive redevelopment in targeted areas or whose work leverages HFF grant awards in other interest areas that may affect specific neighborhoods.

The Arts:

Grants in The Arts encourage excellence in the community’s performing and visual arts organizations. Top priority is given to programs which enhance quality, strengthen management and increase audience development. While larger, established arts groups take priority, we also invest in smaller groups that fill a specific arts niche.

Additional Interests:

Grants in this category include Foundation support of community-wide efforts that seek to provide long-term solutions to high priority local issues, such as Life Sciences.

Current emphasis on Agency Improvement Grants. These grants:

• Address efficiency and financial stability of nonprofit organizations that work to serve the basic needs of children in our community, alleviating the negative impact of the economic downturn on children and their families;
• Are intended for the direct service agencies (or support organizations for direct service agencies) that primarily serve disadvantaged, at-risk children and families;
• Would fund technical assistance (quality improvements, program evaluation, training) and/or fund deferred capital needs (increased capacity to meet demand for services, deferred maintenance);
• Should act as stand-alone, one-time grants, i.e., those not requiring renewal in subsequent years; and,
• Use the same application process. Eligibility criteria requires agencies applying to have been in operation for at least five years. Proposals will not be accepted for past campaigns or to reduce debt.