The Kansas Leadership Center (KLC) is offering workforce development grants to organizations across Kansas to help them create a culture that embraces change, tackles problems and seizes opportunities. Applications are now being accepted for KLC’s 2024 Leadership Transformation Grant program.

“KLC has been awarding grants to civically engaged organizations around the state for the past nine years and we look forward to helping them make lasting progress on their biggest challenges. This is just one of the many ways KLC provides training to foster leadership for healthier and more prosperous Kansas communities,” said Kaye Monk-Morgan, KLC’s president and CEO.

Organizations that receive a Leadership Transformation Grant will establish a core team of three to six individuals to take on the responsibilities of the grant. Organizations chosen will have one year to participate in KLC’s dynamic program experiences and utilize KLC resources and consultation.

“The Leadership Transformation Grants allow participation in the KLC Path, a three-step sequence which teaches that leadership is an activity—not a position—and that anyone within an organization can exercise leadership effectively. These programs offer a framework by which organizations can share a common language and skills to approach their challenges and empower employees to mobilize others to create progress in their organization and communities,” said Rebekah Starkey Keasling, KLC partner manager.

In the nine years KLC has provided Leadership Transformation Grants, the organization has given 500 grants, trained over 11,000 people and partnered with over 315 organizations across Kansas. 

A third-party funded survey, interviewed over 50 of KLC’s past grantees to learn the effect of leadership training on an organization. The research indicates a strong link between increasing leadership behaviors among employees, positive change to culture and greater progress on key challenges facing the organization. 

KLC’s own research center indicates that leadership development at all levels of an organization leads to a more engaged workforce in the non-profit sector, with employees more committed, more hopeful for the future, and more satisfied with their job. Among high-tech employees, it yields an adaptive mindset, collaborative problem-solving, and better listening and communication. And ORS Impact, 

KLC will host virtual informational webinars about the grants and application process on October 19 at 2 p.m. and October 26 at 10 a.m. Applications for Leadership Transformation Grants are being accepted through November 15, 2023. Any organization from Kansas can apply but those most suited for the grant are in the following sectors: business, education, faith, government and nonprofit. To learn more, apply or register for the one-hour sessions visit https://kansasleadershipcenter.org/grants/.