Kansas is home to a diverse ecosystem of non-profit organizations that provide essential services to communities across the state.
From advocacy groups and charitable foundations to educational institutions and healthcare providers, these organizations form the backbone of Kansas’ social support systems.
This comprehensive guide explores the landscape of non-profit organizations in Kansas, highlighting their impact, services, and contributions to the state’s wellbeing.
Types of Non-Profit Organizations in Kansas
Kansas non-profits span numerous sectors and service areas, including:
1. Health and Human Services
Health-focused non-profits in Kansas provide critical medical care, mental health support, substance abuse treatment, and disability services.
These organizations often serve as safety nets for vulnerable populations who might otherwise lack access to essential healthcare.
2. Education and Youth Development
Educational non-profits supplement the state’s formal education system through after-school programs, literacy initiatives, scholarship funds, and specialized training opportunities.
Youth development organizations focus on character building, leadership skills, and positive social engagement.
3. Animal Welfare and Environmental Conservation
Kansas’ animal welfare non-profits rescue and rehabilitate animals, advocate for humane treatment, and provide veterinary services.
Environmental organizations work to preserve Kansas’ natural resources, promote conservation practices, and address climate challenges.
4. Arts, Culture, and Heritage
Cultural non-profits enrich Kansas communities through museums, performance spaces, historical preservation, and creative programming.
These organizations help maintain Kansas’ cultural identity and provide accessible arts experiences.
5. Community Development and Housing
Community development organizations address economic challenges, affordable housing shortages, and neighborhood revitalization across Kansas.
Their work strengthens local economies and improves quality of life.
List of Top Non-Profit Organizations in Kansas
Beauties And Beasts, Inc.
Category: Animal Welfare and Rescue
Website: Beauties And Beasts Website
Location: Wichita, Kansas
Impact: As one of the largest animal welfare charities in Kansas, Beauties and Beasts has rescued over 5,000 at-risk animals since its founding.
The organization provides comprehensive medical care, rehabilitation services, and adoption support while advocating for improved animal welfare legislation throughout Kansas.
Their community education programs reach thousands of Kansas residents annually, promoting responsible pet ownership and humane treatment of animals.
Art Of Opera Foundation
Category: Arts and Heritage—Music
Website: Art of Opera Website
Location: Wichita, Kansas
Impact: The Art of Opera Foundation has introduced classical opera to more than 10,000 Kansas students through its educational outreach programs.
The foundation provides performance opportunities for emerging artists, scholarships for vocal students, and accessible opera experiences for diverse audiences.
Their annual productions attract visitors from across Kansas, contributing significantly to Wichita’s cultural economy.
Botanica, The Wichita Gardens
Category: Environmental Education
Website: Botanica Website
Location: Wichita, Kansas
Impact: Botanica’s 18-acre botanical paradise attracts over 100,000 visitors annually, serving as Wichita’s premier environmental education center.
Through horticultural therapy, they improve the lives of seniors, people with disabilities, and at-risk youth across Kansas.
Their gardens promote environmental sustainability, and their events boost Wichita’s economy while offering accessible outdoor experiences
World Travel & Tourism Council
Category: Arts and Heritage—Museums
Website: WTTC Website
Location: Wichita, Kansas
Impact: The World Travel & Tourism Council’s Kansas branch has been instrumental in developing sustainable tourism practices throughout the state.
Their advocacy has helped preserve natural and cultural heritage sites while promoting economic growth in the tourism sector.
The organization partners with local businesses to create responsible tourism opportunities that showcase Kansas’ unique landscapes and history.
United Association Of Journeymen & Apprentices Of The Plumbing & Pipe
Category: Education and Training—Vocational Training
Website: UA Website
Location: Wichita, Kansas
Impact: This organization has trained over 2,500 skilled craftspeople through its apprenticeship programs.
Their comprehensive training initiatives have addressed critical workforce shortages in Kansas’ construction industry while providing family-sustaining careers for program participants.
The association maintains rigorous industry standards that ensure safety and quality in plumbing and pipefitting projects throughout Kansas.
Envision
Category: Services for Blind and Visually Impaired
Website: Envision Website
Location: Wichita, Kansas
Impact: Envision provides comprehensive services to over 11,000 blind and visually impaired Kansans annually.
From creating jobs to advancing research and supporting children, they address vision loss comprehensively.
Their employment programs are a national model, while their research, intervention, and advocacy initiatives improve lives in Kansas and beyond.
VFW Auxiliary-National Organization
Category: Veterans Rights and Welfare
Website: VFW Auxiliary Website
Location: Kansas City, Kansas
Impact: The VFW Auxiliary has provided over $2 million in direct assistance to Kansas veterans and their families over the past decade.
Their community service programs engage thousands of volunteers annually, supporting veterans through hospital visits, care packages, housing assistance, and employment resources.
As one of the largest veterans’ support organizations in Kansas, they advocate effectively for improved benefits and services at the state and national levels.
Unbound
Category: Poverty Alleviation and Community Development
Website: Unbound Website
Location: Kansas City, Kansas
Impact: Unbound has connected Kansas donors with over 15,000 sponsored children and elders worldwide.
Their unique person-to-person sponsorship model has created lasting relationships between Kansans and families in developing countries.
The organization employs over 200 Kansas residents at their headquarters, contributing significantly to the local economy while advancing global development.
Outreach International
Category: International Development and Poverty Alleviation
Website: Outreach International Website
Location: Kansas City, Kansas
Impact: Through sustainable development initiatives, Outreach International has improved living conditions for communities across 10 countries.
Their participatory approach empowers local leaders to identify and implement solutions to poverty-related challenges.
The organization has established strong partnerships with Kansas-based universities, businesses, and faith communities, channeling expertise and resources toward effective international development.
Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas
Category: Multi-Service Social Support
Website: Catholic Charities Website
Location: Kansas City, Kansas
Impact: Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas serves over 85,000 people annually across 21 counties.
They offer a wide range of essential services, from emergency aid and food pantries to financial education and refugee support, and extend their reach to rural areas via a Mobile Resource Bus.
Their disaster response ensures swift relief during crises
United Way of Greater Kansas City
Category: Community Development and Philanthropy
Website: United Way Website
Location: Kansas City, Kansas
Impact: The United Way of Greater Kansas City mobilizes over $30 million annually to address education, financial stability, and health challenges in the region.
They strengthen Kansas’s social fabric by providing grants to numerous non-profits, fostering collaboration to solve complex problems, and connecting thousands with impactful volunteer opportunities.
Military Veteran Project Inc
Category: Veterans Rights and Welfare
Website: Military Veteran Project Website
Location: Topeka, Kansas
Impact: The Military Veteran Project has provided mental health support services to over 1,200 Kansas veterans suffering from PTSD and traumatic brain injuries.
Their research initiatives have contributed to improved treatment protocols adopted by healthcare providers throughout Kansas.
The organization’s advocacy efforts have resulted in several state-level policy changes benefiting veterans and their families.
Evel Knievel Museum Inc
Category: Arts and Heritage – Museums
Website: Evel Knievel Museum Website
Location: Topeka, Kansas
Impact: This unique museum attracts more than 25,000 visitors annually to Topeka, generating significant tourism revenue for local businesses.
Their educational programs highlight the engineering, physics, and safety innovations that emerged from Knievel’s career.
The museum preserves an important aspect of American popular culture while contributing to Topeka’s cultural landscape.
Helping Hands Humane Society
Category: Animal Welfare
Website: Helping Hands Humane Society Website
Location: Topeka, Kansas
Impact: Helping Hands Humane Society cares for over 6,500 animals annually, maintaining one of the highest adoption rates among Kansas shelters.
They offer affordable pet care to low-income families in northeast Kansas, expand animal rescue through specialized fostering, and reduce pet surrenders with community outreach.
Kansas Children’s Discovery Center
Category: Children’s Education
Website: KCDC Website
Location: Topeka, Kansas
Impact: The Kansas Children’s Discovery Center welcomes over 85,000 visitors annually to its interactive educational exhibits.
They’ve significantly improved science and math education for Kansas students through innovative STEAM programs, while ensuring accessibility for all children and delivering hands-on learning to underserved communities.
TARC, Inc.
Category: Services for Intellectual Disabilities
Website: TARC Website
Location: Topeka, Kansas
Impact: TARC provides comprehensive support services to over 2,500 Kansans with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
They foster independence and community integration through inclusive residential programs, create meaningful employment opportunities through vocational training, and advocate for stronger disability rights in Kansas.
Topeka Rescue Mission
Category: Homelessness Services
Website: Topeka Rescue Mission Website
Location: Topeka, Kansas
Impact: The Topeka Rescue Mission provides emergency shelter for over 2,000 homeless individuals annually, offering a comprehensive pathway from crisis to stability.
They provide trauma-informed care and educational support for homeless children, offer addiction recovery services, and empower individuals through workforce development, addressing diverse needs in Kansas.
Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence
Category: Advocacy and Victim Services
Website: KCSDV Website
Location: Topeka, Kansas
Impact: The Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence coordinates a statewide network of 26 crisis centers serving all 105 Kansas counties.
This organization combats domestic violence and sexual assault through multi-faceted strategies: extensive professional training, impactful legal advocacy, and proactive prevention initiatives across Kansas.
American Academy Of Family Physicians – AAFP
Category: Healthcare Services
Website: AAFP Website
Location: Overland Park, Kansas
Impact: AAFP has provided continuing education to over 5,000 Kansas family physicians, directly improving healthcare quality for hundreds of thousands of Kansas residents.
Their advocacy for primary care has strengthened rural healthcare systems throughout the state, addressing critical provider shortages.
The organization employs over 400 people at their Kansas headquarters, making significant contributions to the local economy while advancing healthcare nationwide.
Harvesters Community Food Network
Category: Hunger Relief
Website: Harvesters Website
Location: Overland Park branch, Kansas
Impact: Harvesters distributes more than 47 million pounds of food annually across their Kansas service area, supporting 760 non-profit agencies that feed hungry people.
This organization fights hunger in Kansas through a comprehensive strategy: providing weekend meals to schoolchildren, advocating for stronger food policies, and educating communities on healthy eating.
Heartland Therapeutic Riding
Category: Equine Therapy
Website: Heartland Therapeutic Riding Website
Location: Overland Park, Kansas
Impact: Heartland Therapeutic Riding provides equine-assisted therapy to over 300 Kansans with physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges annually.
They provide specialized equine therapy programs for children with autism, veterans with PTSD, and individuals recovering from trauma, with research backing their effectiveness and scholarships ensuring accessibility.
Headquarters, Inc.
Category: Suicide Prevention and Crisis Services
Website: Headquarters Website
Location: Lawrence, Kansas
Impact: Headquarters operates Kansas’ oldest suicide prevention hotline, responding to over 15,000 crisis calls annually.
Thousands of Kansans benefit from their affordable counseling, while over 10,000 have been trained in suicide prevention, and communities receive support after traumatic events, demonstrating their wide-reaching impact.
Lawrence Community Shelter
Category: Homeless Services
Website: Lawrence Community Shelter Website
Location: Lawrence, Kansas
Impact: The Lawrence Community Shelter provides emergency housing for approximately 700 homeless individuals annually, including families with children.
They provide comprehensive support, including case management for housing transitions, employment opportunities through business partnerships, and advocacy for affordable housing policies in Douglas County.
Lawrence Humane Society
Category: Animal Welfare
Website: Lawrence Humane Society Website
Location: Lawrence, Kansas
Impact: The Lawrence Humane Society cares for over 4,000 animals annually, maintaining a live release rate exceeding 95%.
Thousands of pets receive vital care through their low-cost clinics, challenging shelter animals find loving homes through rehabilitation, and over 5,000 students learn compassion annually.
Van Go, Inc.
Category: Arts-Based Youth Development
Website: Van Go Website
Location: Lawrence, Kansas
Impact: Van Go provides arts-based job training to over 100 at-risk Kansas youth annually, combining creative expression with employment skills development.
They excel in youth development, demonstrably boosting academic engagement, mental health, and workforce skills.
Their public art initiatives transform community spaces, and their exhibitions generate crucial income for marginalized artists.
Just Food
Category: Food Bank and Hunger Relief
Website: Just Food Website
Location: Lawrence, Kansas
Impact: Just Food distributes over 2 million pounds of food annually to Douglas County residents, serving approximately 10,000 food-insecure Kansans.
They combat food insecurity in rural Kansas with a mobile pantry, empower unemployed individuals through culinary job training, and enhance nutritional access via a community garden.
Flint Hills Volunteer Center
Category: Volunteer Coordination
Website: Flint Hills Volunteer Center Website
Location: Manhattan, Kansas
Impact: The Flint Hills Volunteer Center connects over 2,500 volunteers annually with meaningful service opportunities throughout the region.
This organization strengthens Kansas communities through senior volunteer programs, youth leadership development, and coordinated disaster response, ensuring effective volunteer deployment during emergencies.
Manhattan Emergency Shelter
Category: Homelessness Services
Website: Manhattan Emergency Shelter Website
Location: Manhattan, Kansas
Impact: The Manhattan Emergency Shelter provides safe housing for approximately 500 homeless individuals annually, including veterans, families with children, and domestic violence survivors.
Their approach to combating homelessness focuses on rapid rehousing, addressing root causes through financial and employment support, and reaching those on the streets to connect them with vital services.
Homecare & Hospice Foundation
Category: End-of-Life Care
Website: Homecare & Hospice Foundation Website
Location: Manhattan, Kansas
Impact: Homecare & Hospice provides compassionate end-of-life care to over 300 Kansans annually, ensuring dignity and comfort during their final journey.
Hundreds of families receive vital grief support, Kansans with serious illnesses experience improved quality of life through palliative care, and healthcare professionals statewide gain essential end-of-life care skills.
Boys & Girls Club of Manhattan
Category: Youth Development
Website: Boys & Girls Club of Manhattan Website
Location: Manhattan, Kansas
Impact: The Boys & Girls Club of Manhattan serves over 1,500 Kansas youth annually through after-school programs, summer camps, and specialized initiatives.
They offer educational support that demonstrably improves academic outcomes, leadership programs that build character, and prevention initiatives that reduce juvenile crime in targeted areas.
Wonder Workshop Children’s Museum
Category: Educational Services
Website: Wonder Workshop Website
Location: Manhattan, Kansas
Impact: Wonder Workshop delivers engaging, hands-on learning to over 10,000 Kansas children each year, with a focus on STEM education, particularly for underserved students.
They extend their reach to rural schools and empower educators with innovative teaching methods.
Starting a Non-Profit Organization in Kansas
Legal Requirements
Establishing a not-for-profit corporation in Kansas requires several key steps:
- Articles of Incorporation: File with the Kansas Secretary of State, specifically designating the organization as not-for-profit
- Bylaws: Create governing documents that outline organizational structure and operations
- EIN Registration: Obtain an Employer Identification Number from the IRS
- 501(c)(3) Application: File Form 1023 or 1023-EZ with the IRS to obtain tax-exempt status
- State Tax Exemptions: Apply for relevant state tax exemptions through the Kansas Department of Revenue
- Annual Reporting: Maintain compliance through timely filing of required reports
Resources for Kansas Non-Profits
The following organizations provide support, training, and networking opportunities for Kansas non-profits:
- Kansas Nonprofit Association: Offers professional development, advocacy, and member resources
- Kansas Association of Community Foundations: Supports philanthropic organizations throughout the state
- Kansas Small Business Development Center: Provides training and consulting services for non-profit management
- Topeka Community Foundation: Offers grants and capacity-building resources for area non-profits
- Wichita Community Foundation: Provides funding opportunities and non-profit support services
Conclusion
Non-profit organizations are vital contributors to Kansas’ social, cultural, and economic wellbeing.
From providing essential services to advocating for vulnerable populations, these organizations address critical needs while strengthening communities throughout the state.
Whether you’re seeking services, considering donations, or planning to establish a new non-profit, Kansas offers a supportive environment for mission-driven organizations dedicated to public service.
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