Applications are now open for the FCS Financial Shaping Rural Missouri Grant program. Local 4-H clubs and FFA chapters across the state are encouraged to apply for $500 grants to fund community improvement projects that create a lasting, positive impact on rural Missouri.
Now in its 15th year, the Shaping Rural Missouri Grant program empowers youth to take a leadership role in their hometowns. Since the program’s inception in 2012, FCS Financial has awarded more than $310,000 to support student-led initiatives, ranging from developing roadside parks and community gardens to providing accessible park equipment and landscaping projects.
“At FCS Financial, we believe the future of Missouri is built by our rural youth,” says Rob Guinn, CEO of FCS Financial. “These grants do more than just improve a physical space; they provide 4-H and FFA members the opportunity to work as a team, develop leadership skills, and see the tangible results of their hard work in the communities where our member-owners and employees live and work.”
To be eligible for the funding, applicants must be a local 4-H club or FFA chapter located within FCS Financial’s 102-county service area. While the program is open to individual clubs and chapters, it does not extend to county councils or state-level organizations. Selected projects must provide long-term value to the community and be completed by the end of the 2026 calendar year.
The deadline for submissions is April 1, 2026. Following a review period, FCS Financial plans to notify the award recipients by May 15, allowing students to begin their projects during the summer months.
Interested club leaders and chapter advisors can access the online application and review the full list of program guidelines by visiting the FCS Financial website at www.myfcsfinancial.com/about-us/shaping-rural-missouri. Additional inquiries regarding the grant process can be directed to the marketing department via email at marketing@myfcsfinancial.com.
