Sunflower Community Action is a left-of-center grassroots advocacy group based in Wichita, Kansas. The organization conducts community organizing, hosts protests, and engages in policy advocacy on racial and economic issues, immigration, worker justice, and environmentalism. The group generated controversy in 2013 for hosting immigration-related protests outside the home of then-Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach (R). It maintains affiliations with national left-wing networks such as the Center for Popular Democracy and has received grants from left-of-center institutions, including the People’s Action Institute, the Sierra Club, and the Ford Foundation. ^{1 2 3}

Background
Sunflower Community Action was formed in the early 1990s as part of efforts among left-of-center activists to organize low-income and racial minority communities in Kansas. Over time, it expanded its focus from local neighborhood concerns to broader state and national policy campaigns, often in partnership with national left-wing organizations, such as the Center for Popular Democracy, which lists the group as its only Kansas-based affiliate. The group has operated programs addressing immigration, labor issues, and environmental issues in Wichita’s industrial areas. ^{4  2}

Activities
Sunflower Community Action has operated campaigns on immigrant rights, worker justice, fair lending, neighborhood issues, and voter engagement. It provides resources and education for immigrants and mobilizes communities on immigration policy. ^{2 1}

The group’s environmental organizing activities include the Climate Defenders Academy, a training program for residents to advocate for left-of-center state and local environmental policies. The Climate Defenders Academy Program has received funding support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in association with the Center for Popular Democracy. ²

In 2015, the EPA Environmental Justice Small Grants Program gave the group a $30,000 award to “bring community stakeholders together to better understand the environmental factors that may be impacting the quality of life and health, and discuss action plans to improve air and water quality” with a focus on Wichita’s 67214 zip code. ⁵

The group has organized protests, including a 2013 demonstration outside the home of then-Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach (R) during immigration debates, which drew calls for an investigation from Kobach. ^{3 6}

Funding

Sunflower Community Action has relied on a mix of foundation grants, government awards, and contributions. The group’s revenues have fluctuated, with $345,333 reported in 2023 and $148,086 in 2024. ⁷

Major funders have included the Center for Popular Democracy, which provided $157,090 to the group in 2023. Other funders include the Ford Foundation, the Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Justice Small Grants Program, the People’s Action Institute, Interfaith Worker Justice, the Sierra Club, the Center for Community Change, the Kansas Health Foundation, the Needmor Fund for Social Justice, the New World Foundation, NEO Philanthropy, Community Catalyst, and the Funding Exchange. ⁸

1. “Sunflower Community Action.” Popular Democracy. Accessed February 9, 2026. https://populardemocracy.org/partner/sunflower-community-action/.
2. “Programs.” Sunflower Community Action. Accessed February 9, 2026. https://www.sunflowerwichitaks.org/community-engagment.
3. “Immigration reform group visits Kobach’s house.” The Capital-Journal. June 16, 2013. Accessed February 9, 2026. https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/politics/state/2013/06/16/immigration-reform-group-visits-kobachs-house/16393957007/.
4. “Affiliates.” Popular Democracy. Accessed February 9, 2026. https://populardemocracy.org/our-affiliates/.
5. “EPA Region 7 Selects Environmental Justice Grant Projects to Address Local Community Health and Environmental Issues.” U.S. EPA News Releases. October 8, 2015. Accessed February 9, 2026. https://www.epa.gov/archive/epa/newsreleases/epa-region-7-selects-environmental-justice-grant-projects-address-local-community.html.
6. “Kobach calls for criminal investigation against protesters.” FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV. June 18, 2013. Accessed February 9, 2026. https://fox4kc.com/news/kobach-calls-for-criminal-investigation-against-protesters/.
7. Form 990, Schedule I. Center for Popular Democracy. 2023. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/453813436/202403049349301130/IRS990ScheduleI
8. “Full Filing Text Search: Sunflower Community Action.” ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Accessed February 10, 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/full_text_search?form%5B%5D=IRS990ScheduleI&form%5B%5D=IRS990PF&q=%22Sunflower+Community+Action%22&sort=best&submit=Apply