How to apply
Accepts applications
The return gives an application contact and rules, as below.
- Contact
-
Executive Director William T Kemper
Commerce Bank Trustee 1000 Walnut, Suite 1560
Kansas City, MO 64106
(816) 234-1768
- Form and materials
- We seek to support proposals which fall in the following categories: education, health & human services, civic improvements, & arts. Following are the key elements we require as a prerequisite for funding consideration: 1. Brief description of organization; 2. Summary of project; 3. Goals & plan for implementation; 4. Other sources of support; 5. Budget for project & future funding plans; 6. Timetable with specific, measurable objectives; 7. Method of evaluation; 8. Organization's most recent audited financial statement and current year budget; 9. List of board of directors, including identification of the president/chair; 10. IRS determination letter. Grant recipients are required to submit a written narrative report and an accounting of all disbursements from the proceeds of the grant on an annual basis. Any grant that extends for more than one year will be conditional on further review and evaluation of the request as may be determined by the staff and contributions committee.
- Deadlines
- Deadlines are set by staff
- Restrictions
- The following are reasons or subject areas which will constitute rejection of proposal: 1. Inability to produce a 501(c)(3) tax determination letter; 2. The recipient is defined as a "private foundation" in section 509(a) of the IRS code; 3. Organizations operating outside of the foundation's geographic area of interest; 4. Aid to an individual; 5. Politically partisan purposes; 6. Tickets for dinners, benefits, exhibits, conferences, sports events or other event activities; 7. Advertisements; 8. Underwriting of deficits or post-event funding; 9. Research unrelated to the foundation's current projects or priorities; 10. Endowment funds the recipient is responsible to ensure that the grant is used for the purposes indicated in the grant request. Variations will be made only at the discretion of the foundation, and must be requested in writing. If the grant is used for other than the stated purposes without explicit permission, the foundation reserves the right to withdraw funding.
Assets and giving by year
-
Tax year 2024
$16,204,153
- Grants listed
- 130
- Assets, end of year
- $293,043,428
-
Tax year 2023
$15,488,378
- Grants listed
- 142
- Assets, end of year
- $288,473,816
-
Tax year 2022
$16,297,117
- Grants listed
- 134
- Assets, end of year
- $271,997,857
-
Tax year 2021
$16,739,442
- Grants listed
- 152
- Assets, end of year
- $275,292,023
-
Tax year 2020
$14,721,376
- Grants listed
- 145
- Assets, end of year
- $279,723,609
-
Tax year 2019
$14,404,492
- Grants listed
- 145
- Assets, end of year
- $260,896,271
Grants paid in 2024
As listed on the return.
-
Nine Network of Public Media DBA Nine PBSSt Louis, MO
Engage, connect, strengthen campaign over 3 years
$1,800,000 -
William Jewell CollegeLiberty, MO
Jewell reimagined initiative
$1,275,000 -
Forest Park Forever IncSaint Louis, MO
Campaign for the glade over 3 years
$1,000,000 -
CounterpublicSaint Louis, MO
Counterpublic 2026: international institute focus area
$500,000 -
Kansas University Endowment Assoc - School of Architecture & DesignLawrence, KS
Design for next phase 1: construction of kube signature over 2 years
$500,000 -
Kansas University Endowment Assoc (university of Kansas Cancer Center)Kansas City, KS
Building a destination cancer center facility over 3 years
$500,000 -
Kansas University Endowment Assoc (university of Kansas Cancer Center)Kansas City, KS
Building a destination cancer center facility over 3 years
$500,000 -
St Louis Childrens Hospital FoundationSaint Louis, MO
Together we will campaign - child life zone
$500,000 -
The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior UniversityStanford, CA
The kemper family stanford in oxford teaching fellow fund
$500,000 -
The Opportunity TrustSt Louis, MO
Expanding quality seats in ST. Louis over 3 years
$500,000 -
Nelson Gallery FoundationKansas City, MO
Acquisition of "physichromie panam 110" by carlos cruz-diez
$468,242 -
Children's Mercy HospitalKansas City, MO
Capacity building for path clinic as part of illuminate campaign
$400,000 -
Eisenhower FoundationAbilene, KS
I like ike capital campaign: education center
$250,000 -
Kansas City Art InstituteKansas City, MO
Annual bequest
$250,000 -
Kansas City Art InstituteKansas City, MO
Vanderslice roof partial replacement
$250,000 -
Kansas City Ballet AssociationKansas City, MO
Bolender center masonry, steel, and roof repairs over 2 years
$250,000 -
Kansas City UniversityKansas City, MO
Center for population health and equity facility renovation over 2 years
$250,000 -
Lindenwood Education System DBA Lindenwood UniversitySt Charles, MO
Butler library renovation
$250,000 -
Missouri Historical Society Jefferson Memorial Building DBA Missouri HistorSt Louis, MO
Gallery STL exhibit
$250,000 -
St Louis Art Museum FoundationSaint Louis, MO
Anselm kiefer: becoming the ocean exhibit
$250,000 -
Grace and Holy Trinity CathedralKansas City, MO
Annual bequest
$200,000 -
Kansas City SymphonyKansas City, MO
2024/2025 season support
$200,000 -
Neighborhood Solidarity Fund DBA Invest STLSt Louis, MO
Northside resilience fund
$200,000 -
Turner House Clinic Inc DBA Vibrant HealthKansas City, KS
Establish fund for patient services
$200,000 -
School Smart KC IncKansas City, MO
Literacy for all students - crossroads central street campus
$176,936 -
Liberty Memorial Association DBA National World War I Museum and MemorialKansas City, MO
Digitization project
$150,000 -
Missouri Botanical Garden Board of TrusteesSaint Louis, MO
President's residence renovation
$150,000 -
Samuel U Rodgers Health Center IncKansas City, MO
Patient uncompensated care
$150,000 -
United Way of Greater Kansas City IncKansas City, MO
Eviction prevention initiative
$150,000 -
Friends of Chamber MusicKansas City, MO
2025/2026 season support
$125,000 -
Greater St Louis Inc FoundationSaint Louis, MO
Tower grove connector infrastructure project over 2 years
$120,000 -
Wellesley CollegeWellesley, MA
Teaching greenhouse
$118,000 -
Umkc Foundation (university of Missouri-Kansas City - School of HumanitiesKansas City, MO
William t. Kemper associate professor in digital humanities
$108,000 -
Boy Scouts of America - Heart of America CouncilKansas City, MO
H. Roe bartle scout reservation campsite improvements over 2 years
$100,000 -
Entrepreneur Startup Business Development Corporation DBA Arch GrantsSt Louis, MO
Global startup competition over 2 years
$100,000 -
Forest Park Forever IncSaint Louis, MO
Tornado recovery fund
$100,000 -
International Institute of Metropolitan St LouisSaint Louis, MO
Emergency assistance
$100,000 -
Kansas City Rescue Mission DBA Shelter KC A Kansas City Rescue MissionKansas City, MO
Expansion of shelter KC'S men's center
$100,000 -
Mothers RefugeIndependence, MO
Welcome home: transitional living for homeless young moms and children
$100,000 -
Operation Breakthrough IncKansas City, MO
Capacity building for teen programming over 2 years
$100,000 -
Public Television 19 Inc DBA Kansas City PBSKansas City, MO
Civic impact journalism
$100,000 -
Saint Louis Symphony OrchestraSaint Louis, MO
Slso playlist: a new audience development initiative
$100,000 -
School Smart KC IncKansas City, MO
Literacy for all students - crossroads central street campus
$100,000 -
Trustees of Princeton University - Art MuseumPrinceton, NJ
Support of the curator of teaching and learning
$100,000 -
Washington University Mildred Lane Kemper Art MuseumClayton, MO
Mildred lane kemper art museum exhibition support
$100,000 -
Uncover KCKansas City, MO
KC field trips
$96,500 -
William Jewell College (harriman-Jewell Series)Kansas City, MO
2024/2025 season support and underwriting of emanuel ax and anthony mcgill
$90,000 -
Boston DanielsKansas City, KS
Boston daniels monument commissioning
$80,000 -
Americans for Oxford IncNew York, NY
Worcester lake restoration
$75,000 -
Greater Kansas City Community FoundationKansas City, MO
Fund contribution
$75,000 -
St Louis Center for International Relations DBA World Trade Center St LouSt Louis, MO
International mentoring ST. Louis expansion
$75,000 -
Opera Theatre of Saint LouisSaint Louis, MO
Spring operas
$65,000 -
University of Missouri-Columbia - Missouri School of JournalismColumbia, MO
Watchdog writers group william t. Kemper foundation fellowship and scholarship
$65,000 -
Kansas State University FoundationManhattan, KS
Excellence in teaching awards
$60,000 -
Ad Hoc Group Against CrimeKansas City, MO
Adhoc center for healing and justice
$50,000 -
Beacon Media IncKansas City, MO
Local government accountability reporting
$50,000 -
Cardinal Ritter College PrepSt Louis, MO
Tuition assistance program
$50,000 -
Friends of Chamber MusicKansas City, MO
50th anniversary campaign
$50,000 -
Jewish Vocational Service Bureau of Kansas CityKansas City, MO
Refugee funding emergency assistance
$50,000 -
Nelson Gallery FoundationKansas City, MO
Annual bequest
$50,000 -
Orpheum Performing Arts Centre LTDWichita, KS
Orpheum theatre: second century campaign
$50,000 -
Police Foundation of Kansas CityKansas City, MO
Peregrine software
$50,000 -
Shakespeare Festival St LouisSt Louis, MO
Shakespeare in the zoo: romeo & zooliet
$50,000 -
Umkc Foundation (university of Missouri-Kansas City - Henry W Bloch SchoolKansas City, MO
Annual bequest
$50,000 -
Umkc Foundation (university of Missouri-Kansas City - School of HumanitiesKansas City, MO
Support to establish the head of digital scholarship services over 3 years
$50,000 -
University of Missouri-Columbia - Office of the ChancellorColumbia, MO
Annual bequest
$50,000 -
Young Men's Christian Assn of St JosephSt Joseph, MO
Community aquatics center
$50,000 -
Hope House IncLees Summit, MO
Community partnership building foundation repair project
$44,025 -
Repertory Theatre of St LouisWebster GRVS, MO
It infrastructure upgrades
$44,000 -
Meds & Food for KidsSaint Louis, MO
Emergency assistance - vehicles
$43,000 -
Lyric Opera of Kansas City IncKansas City, MO
2024/2025 season support
$40,000 -
Wornall-Majors House Museums IncKansas City, MO
Capacity building over 2 years
$38,000 -
Kansas University Endowment AssocLawrence, KS
William t. Kemper fellowship for teaching excellence
$37,500 -
Kansas City Ballet AssociationKansas City, MO
2025/2026 season support and partial underwriting of swan lake
$35,000 -
Mid-America Arts AllianceKansas City, MO
Exhibitsusa for exhibits in missouri and kansas
$35,000 -
John Burroughs SchoolSaint Louis, MO
Annual fund
$33,500 -
St Louis Area Food Bank IncBridgeton, MO
50th anniversary truck wraps
$30,000 -
The Children's Place IncKansas City, MO
Day treatment - improving futures through mental health access
$30,000 -
Archdiocese of St LouisSaint Louis, MO
Fund contribution
$25,000 -
Association of Missouri Charter SchoolsKansas City, MO
Capacity building campaign
$25,000 -
Contemporary Art Museum St LouisSaint Louis, MO
Ceiling-mounted projector installation
$25,000 -
Donald Danforth Plant Science CenterSaint Louis, MO
Danforth center impact fund
$25,000 -
Kansas City ChoraleKansas City, MO
2024/2025 season support with annual springsong concert at the nelson underwritten in memory of laura kemper fields
$25,000 -
KIPP St LouisSaint Louis, MO
William t. Kemper excellence in teaching awards over 2 years
$25,000 -
Maryville University of St LouisSaint Louis, MO
DR. Mark lombardi scholarship campaign
$25,000 -
Peter and Paul Community Services IncSaint Louis, MO
Emergency cold weather shelter
$25,000 -
President and Fellows of Harvard CollegeCambridge, MA
Villa i tatti digital humanities program
$25,000 -
Public Television 19 Inc DBA Kansas City PBSKansas City, MO
KC media collective project manager
$25,000 -
St Louis Community Foundation IncorporatedSt Louis, MO
City of ST. Louis tornado relief fund
$25,000 -
University of Missouri-Columbia - Office of the ChancellorColumbia, MO
William t. Kemper fellowships for teaching excellence
$25,000 -
William Jewell CollegeLiberty, MO
William jewell college / crossroads preparatory academy scholarship
$25,000 -
Boy Scouts of America - Heart of America CouncilKansas City, MO
Scoutreach 2025
$24,000 -
Flance Management Inc DBA Flance Early Learning CenterSt Louis, MO
Emergency support - hvac
$24,000 -
Kansas University Endowment Assoc - Hall Center for the HumanitiesLawrence, KS
2025 ai & digital literacy institute teacher stipends
$22,500 -
Benedictine CollegeAtchison, KS
The remnant trust exhibit
$20,000 -
G & A Sourcing Inc DBA Grand Center IncSt Louis, MO
Strauss park lighting enhancement project
$20,000 -
University of Missouri-Kansas City - Kcur RadioKansas City, MO
Matching challenge funds for membership drives
$20,000 -
Urban SproutsUniversity Cy, MO
Boundless possibilities campaign
$20,000 -
Forest Park Forever IncSaint Louis, MO
Used at the discretion of the board of directors or trustees as they see fit for operating their organization
$17,000 -
Kansas University Endowment AssocLawrence, KS
William t. Kemper artist-in-residence renewal over 2 years
$15,500 -
American Public Square IncKansas City, MO
Aps fact sheets
$15,300 -
Cultural FestivalsClayton, MO
Creative castle and performing arts stage
$15,000 -
Mid-America Regional CouncilKansas City, MO
Double up heartland
$15,000 -
Historic Kansas City FoundationKansas City, MO
2024 annual appeal challenge match grant
$12,500 -
Smithsonian InstituteWashington, DC
National portrait gallery
$12,500 -
President and Fellows of Harvard CollegeCambridge, MA
Villa i tatti council
$12,000 -
Shawnee Mission Medical Center Inc DBA Adventhealth Shawnee MissionShawnee Mission, KS
Liv dental fund
$12,000 -
AlignedShawnee, KS
Sponsor edunomics certificate in education finance in-person program through georgetown university
$10,000 -
Casa de SaludSaint Louis, MO
Used at the discretion of the board of directors or trustees as they see fit for operating their organization
$10,000 -
KIPP St LouisSaint Louis, MO
Beyond prom: in honor of kelly garrett
$10,000 -
Show Me KC SchoolsKansas City, MO
City school fair
$10,000 -
The Heart of America Shakespeare FestivalKansas City, MO
Used at the discretion of the board of directors or trustees as they see fit for operating their organization
$10,000 -
Umkc TrusteesKansas City, MO
Umkc trustee scholars program
$10,000 -
Washington University Mildred Lane Kemper Art MuseumClayton, MO
Mildred lane kemper art museum
$10,000 -
Youth Symphony Association of Kansas City IncKansas City, MO
Matching challenge funds for membership drives
$10,000 -
French Heritage Society IncNew York, NY
French heritage corridor initiative
$9,000 -
Missouri Main Street Connection IncBranson, MO
2025 main street now conference in kansas city
$9,000 -
United Way of Greater St Louis IncSaint Louis, MO
Alexis de tocqueville society
$9,000 -
French Colonial AmericaSte Genevieve, MO
Used at the discretion of the board of directors or trustees as they see fit for operating their organization
$8,000 -
Summerfest Concerts And-Or Recordings IncKansas City, MO
2025 season support
$7,500 -
Urban League of Metropolitan St LouisSaint Louis, MO
Tornado relief distribution project
$7,500 -
Washington University Mildred Lane Kemper Art MuseumClayton, MO
Mildred lane kemper art museum
$7,500 -
Umkc Foundation (university of Missouri-Kansas City - School of HumanitiesKansas City, MO
Digital and public humanities internship
$5,650 -
National Council of Jewish Women IncorporatedSt Louis, MO
Community service award
$5,000 -
United Way of Greater St Louis IncSaint Louis, MO
Alexis de tocqueville society
$5,000 -
William Jewell College (harriman-Jewell Series)Kansas City, MO
Annual bequest
$5,000 -
University AcademyKansas City, MO
College incentive program match
$4,500 -
University AcademyKansas City, MO
College incentive program match
$3,500 -
Kansas City Public LibraryKansas City, MO
Creative writing initiative with umkc through writers for readers program
$2,500 -
Boy Scouts of America - Heart of America CouncilKansas City, MO
Annual bequest
$500
Approved for future payment
Approved in 2024 and not yet paid.
-
University of Missouri-Kansas City - Kcur RadioKansas City, MO
A new home for kcur
$2,000,000 -
Kansas University Endowment Assoc - School of Architecture & DesignLawrence, KS
Design for next phase 1: construction of kube signature over 2 years
$500,000 -
Northeast Community CenterKansas City, MO
Crescendo: increasing capacity for harmony project KC
$500,000 -
The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior UniversityStanford, CA
The kemper family stanford in oxford teaching fellow fund
$500,000 -
School Smart KC IncKansas City, MO
Literacy for all students - crossroads central street campus
$377,048 -
Trustees of Princeton University - Art MuseumPrinceton, NJ
Support of the curator of teaching and learning
$310,500 -
National World War I MuseumKansas City, MO
Digitization project
$300,000 -
School Smart KC IncKansas City, MO
Literacy for all students - crossroads central street campus
$280,000 -
Eisenhower FoundationAbilene, KS
I like ike capital campaign: education center
$250,000 -
Kansas City Art InstituteKansas City, MO
Vanderslice roof partial replacement
$250,000 -
Saint Louis Symphony OrchestraSaint Louis, MO
Slso playlist: a new audience development initiative
$200,000 -
Kansas City Ballet AssociationKansas City, MO
Bolender center masonry, steel, and roof repairs over 2 years
$150,000 -
Opera Theatre of Saint LouisSaint Louis, MO
Spring operas
$130,000 -
Wellesley CollegeWellesley, MA
Teaching greenhouse
$118,000 -
University AcademyKansas City, MO
College incentive program match
$104,000 -
Boy Scouts of America - Heart of America CouncilKansas City, MO
H. Roe bartle scout reservation campsite improvements over 2 years
$100,000 -
Children's Mercy HospitalKansas City, MO
Capacity building for path clinic as part of illuminate campaign
$100,000 -
Community Services League of Jackson CountyIndependence, MO
Bridges to career opportunities expanded capacity over 3 years
$100,000 -
Entrepreneur Startup Business Development Corporation DBA Arch GrantsSt Louis, MO
Global startup competition over 2 years
$100,000 -
Public Television 19 Inc DBA Kansas City PBSKansas City, MO
Civic impact journalism
$100,000 -
Washington University Mildred Lane Kemper Art MuseumClayton, MO
Mildred lane kemper art museum exhibition support
$100,000 -
William Jewell College (harriman-Jewell Series)Liberty, MO
2026/2027 season support
$90,000 -
Boston DanielsKansas City, KS
Boston daniels monument commissioning
$75,000 -
St Louis Center for International Relations DBA World Trade Center St LouSt Louis, MO
International mentoring ST. Louis expansion
$75,000 -
University of Missouri-Columbia - Missouri School of JournalismColumbia, MO
Watchdog writers group william t. Kemper foundation fellowship and scholarship
$65,000 -
Harry S Truman Library InstituteKansas City, MO
Preservation and digital access to archival collections
$50,000 -
Mid-America Regional CouncilKansas City, MO
Double up heartland
$30,000 -
President and Fellows of Harvard CollegeCambridge, MA
Villa i tatti digital humanities program
$25,000 -
University of Missouri-Columbia - Office of the ChancellorColumbia, MO
William t. Kemper fellowships for teaching excellence
$25,000 -
Forest Park Forever IncSaint Louis, MO
Used at the discretion of the board of directors or trustees as they see fit for operating their organization
$16,000 -
Wornall-Majors House Museums IncKansas City, MO
Capacity building over 2 years
$10,000 -
Harvard-Radcliffe Club of Kansas CityKansas City, MO
Summer community service fellowship program challenge match
$5,000
Where the money goes
By cause: grants to organizations we matched to the IRS list of exempt organizations, by their category.
- Education26 grants $3,888,93641% of the total
- Arts and culture25 grants $2,528,24227% of the total
- Environment4 grants $1,267,00013% of the total
- Health3 grants $910,00010% of the total
- Human services7 grants $415,5254% of the total
- Community development2 grants $129,0001% of the total
- 5 other causes9 grants $271,0003% of the total
By State
Grants to organizations with a US address, latest year.
- Missouri108 grants $13,095,153
- Kansas14 grants $2,257,500
- California1 grant $500,000
- Massachusetts3 grants $155,000
- New Jersey1 grant $100,000
- New York2 grants $84,000
- District of Columbia1 grant $12,500
Officers, directors and trustees
As filed on the return, with average hours per week and pay from the foundation.
- Commerce Bankna-InvmgmtCORP TRUSTEE Hours 40Pay $762,496
- Commerce Bankna-Char MgmtCORP TRUSTEE Hours 10Pay $84,722
- Commerce Bankna-Char MgmtCORP TRUSTEE Hours 40Pay $372,732
The return
More foundations
- Private foundations in Missouri
- Private foundations in Kansas City
- Foundations that fund education in Missouri
- Foundations that fund arts and culture in Missouri
- Foundations that fund environment in Missouri
Similar foundations
Same main cause (education), giving between a quarter and four times this foundation’s where possible, nearby first.
- Patterson Family Foundation 607 grants Preselected only $22,296,325 giving
- The Sosland Foundation 131 grants Accepts applications $4,297,039 giving
- The JSM Charitable Trust 14 grants Preselected only $18,179,000 giving
- W W Smith Charitable Trust 251 grants Accepts applications $12,070,376 giving
- TW L D McEachearn 3 grants Preselected only $7,300,000 giving