Jo Zakas Legacy Foundation

2024 Grant Application

Download the Application

Application due date on the last Friday in April: April 26, 2024

2024-Zakas-Foundation-InstructionsDownload
2024-Zakas-Foundation-Grant-ApplicationDownload

The Legacy

The primary purpose of The Jo Zakas Legacy Foundation is “to assist organizations in providing training and support of individuals and groups who would help produce more effective citizens and entrepreneurs.”

Since Jo S. Zakas stablished the Foundation in 2003, our mission centers on “Changing People’s Lives.” Entrepreneur, artist, and civic leader, Zakas helped people improve their lives – both personal and career. She did this throughout her life until her untimely death in 2016.

A Runaway

Because she left home at the age of 12, Jo Zakas would be called an “at-risk” child today. Her determination to grow from that scared, 12-year-old runaway into the driving force she became in the Wichita community – led her to believe that other people can change their lives also.

In1972 Zakas developed Clifton Square Shopping Village, a shopping center of vintage College Hill houses for office and retail use. The Square served as an incubator for small business during her 45 years of ownership and continues today.

A Mentor

Her business and personal success forged a life-long mission in helping at-risk populations improve their lives. She understood the impact of the choices she made – in business and in life – determined her success. Zakas spent her lifetime mentoring others to make good choices. Her legacy of helping others become better citizens and entrepreneurs by making better choices continues through the Jo Zakas Legacy Foundation.

The Foundation

Annually the Jo Zakas Legacy Foundation awards grants to area non-profit organizations who serve at-risk populations in Wichita, KS and surrounding communities. A Board of Directors manages the Foundation. We first awarded grants in 2019. In 2020 we awarded close to $45,000 to nine local organizations.

Most grants awarded fall between $500 to $5,000. Grants can cover a project or program in full or join with other donors to help cover funding. Past grants have funded basic-need items like toothbrushes and paste for underserved school children, art therapy classes for youth in crisis, neighborhood gardens for teen employment, and transportation to development classes for domestic violence survivors.

Check out past recipients by searching for “organizations” or searching through our blog posts.

The Jo Zakas Legacy Foundation is a 501(c)3 Nonprofit organization.

The Process and Instructions

Application due date: Friday, April 28, 2023

Anticipated Award Month:         August 2023

  1. Fill out the application answering the questions in order.
  2. Use a word document with 12pt type and one-inch margins.
  3. Be clear and brief in your responses. Prefer less than 100-words in your answers.
  4. Once completed, send your application pages and supporting documents on or before the due date:
    1. By email: jozakas.foundation@gmail.com  OR
    2. By mail: 6446 E. Central, Box 115, Wichita, KS 67206
    3. Must be received or postmarked by due date to be considered.
  5. The Jo Zakas Legacy Foundation Board of Directors will review all applications received on time and ensure your program/project supports the purpose of the Foundation. If your application request does not support the purpose of the Foundation, you will be notified by email.
  6. Those who pass through the review stage, will be paired with a Board Member as their contact person. The Board Member will present your program/project in the Foundation’s selection process.
  7. If your organization is a finalist, The Board of Directors will then contact you to schedule a visit or a virtual interview, dependent on COVID-19 prevention best practices.
  8. After the interview process, The Jo Zakas Legacy Foundation Board of Directors will meet and review finalist to decide on funding.
  9. A phone call will be made to the selected organizations who are approved for funding and a letter will follow to all organizations who applied.
  10. Funding checks will be mailed shortly after approval notification.

Questions? Contact a Foundation Board member at jozakas.foundation@gmail.com:

Ipek Born              

Janice Brown

Jan Bush

Cathy Feemster      

Krista Peterson     

Kent Wilson          

The Application

Download the application with the link at the beginning of this article. The following is for reference only.

Organization Requesting Grant

Name of Organization:

Parent Organization (If applicable):

Year Founded:

Mission Statement:

Organization Overview:

Physical Address:

Mailing Address (if different than physical address):

City, State, Zip:

Office Phone Number:     

Office Email:

Website URL:

Facebook Address:

Other Social Media:

Has any news media highlighted your program? If so, please share the link of any online coverage here:

Contact Information for Grant Request

Contact Name:      

Title:

Contact Phone Number:                                           Mobile Phone:       

Contact Email:

Project/Program Requesting Grant Award

Amount Requested $_____

(Most requests range from $500 to $5,000 per each request)

Project/Program Name:

  1. Year Established:  
  2. Is this a special Project?   ð Yes  ð No
  3. Or on-going Program?      ð Yes  ð No
  4. Client populations served by Grant Award if funded. Mark all that apply specific to this program/project you wish to receive funding:
  • Youth          
  • Adults         
  • Female        
  • Male 
  • At-Risk Populations        
  • People with Disabilities   
  • Homeless    
  • Underserved Populations
  • Minority Population        
  • Artists         
  • Other: be specific  
  1. Purpose/Mission of Project/Program:
  2. Description of Project/Program:
  3. How many people/clients will the Project/Program serve during the funding year if the grant is awarded? Estimate is fine:
  1. Has the capabilities/scope of your project or program changed because of the COVID pandemic?

ð Yes  ð No

If yes, please tell us how you adjusted.

Project/Program Budget

  1. How will the requested grant funds be used?

Please be specific with items and amount: (For example: 100% of funds will be used for new Back Packs filled with basic toiletries and school items for first year high school students. Or $1,500 for printing of training materials and $2,250 for 90-day bus transportation passes for adult participants.)

  1. Please attach your Project/Program’s Estimated Budget.
  1. If your needs are greater than our funding ability, do you have any standalone funding items that the Foundation Board could consider for partial funding?
  1. Does this Project/Program have other funding sources?      ð Yes  ð No

If yes, please list:

Attachments

  1. Application
  2. Proof of Kansas nonprofit 501(c)3 current status
  3. Project/Program Budget Outline (if applicable)
  4. List of board of directors for your organization

Comments

Please add any items here that The Jo Zakas Legacy Foundation Board of Directors should be aware of while reviewing your application. (Reminder to keep answer short and specific – less than 100 words if possible)