Commerce Bancshares Foundation
Historical FunderKansas City, Missouri · EIN 44-6012453 · Private foundation
Grants paid (2024)$2M
Organizations funded644
Typical grant$1,500
Total assets$42M
Half of its grants to organizations were between $1,000 and $2,500.
From the return
How to apply
The foundation filed the following application information (Form 990-PF Part XV, tax year 2024):
| Contact | PROGRAM DIRECTOR |
|---|---|
| Address | 1000 WALNUT, KANSAS CITY MO 64106 |
| Phone | 8162341768 |
| Form and materials | PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION RE CHARITABLE STATUS UNDER IRC 501 (C)(3) |
| Deadlines | NONE |
| Restrictions | NONE |
Copied as filed. Deadlines on a tax return describe the foundation's usual process; they are not confirmation of a current open cycle.
What it funds
Share of grant lines on the latest return, classified from the purpose each grant states.
Where it gives
40% of grants went outside Missouri.
Grants paid in tax year 2024
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Way of Greater St Louis Inc | St Louis, MO | Used at the discretion of the board of directors or trustees as they see fit for operating their organization | $60,500 |
| United Way of Greater St Louis Inc | St Louis, MO | Used at the discretion of the board of directors or trustees as they see fit for operating their organization | $60,500 |
| United Way of Greater St Louis Inc | St Louis, MO | Used at the discretion of the board of directors or trustees as they see fit for operating their organization | $60,500 |
| United Way of Greater St Louis Inc | St Louis, MO | Used at the discretion of the board of directors or trustees as they see fit for operating their organization | $60,500 |
| Police Foundation of Kansas City | Kansas City, MO | Peregrine technology acquisition | $50,000 |
| United Way of Greater Kansas City Inc | Kansas City, MO | Used at the discretion of the board of directors or trustees as they see fit for operating their organization | $42,628 |
| United Way of Greater Kansas City Inc | Kansas City, MO | Used at the discretion of the board of directors or trustees as they see fit for operating their organization | $42,628 |
| United Way of Greater Kansas City Inc | Kansas City, MO | Used at the discretion of the board of directors or trustees as they see fit for operating their organization | $42,628 |
| United Way of Greater Kansas City Inc | Kansas City, MO | Used at the discretion of the board of directors or trustees as they see fit for operating their organization | $42,628 |
| Urban League of Metropolitan St Louis | St Louis, MO | Natural bridge renovation | $40,000 |
| United Way of the Plains | Wichita, KS | Used at the discretion of the board of directors or trustees as they see fit for operating their organization | $35,000 |
| Artists Reenvisioning Tomorrow Dba Art Inc | Peoria, IL | Used at the discretion of the board of directors or trustees as they see fit for operating their organization | $25,000 |
| Black Entrepreneurs of the Flint Hills Association | Manhattan, KS | Used at the discretion of the board of directors or trustees as they see fit for operating their organization | $25,000 |
| Community Foundation of the Ozarks Inc | Springfield, MO | Lore leaders for ozarks regional development | $25,000 |
| Heart of Illinois United Way Inc | Peoria, IL | Used at the discretion of the board of directors or trustees as they see fit for operating their organization | $25,000 |
| Heartland Foundation Dba Mosaic Life Care Foundation | St Joseph, MO | Used at the discretion of the board of directors or trustees as they see fit for operating their organization | $21,500 |
| Tulsa Area United Way | Tulsa, OK | Used at the discretion of the board of directors or trustees as they see fit for operating their organization | $19,000 |
| Missouri Colleges Fund Inc | Jefferson City, MO | Scholarship/Tuition assistance | $16,000 |
| Community Foundation of Central Missouri | Columbia, MO | Interstate 70 / highway 63 beautification project fund | $15,000 |
| Exploration Place Inc | Wichita, KS | Ep2 initiative | $15,000 |
| United Way of the Ozarks | Springfield, MO | Annual fund drive / contribution | $13,000 |
| Heart of Missouri United Way Inc | Columbia, MO | 2024 heart of missouri united way community campaign | $12,000 |
| Cancer Free Kids Pediatric Cancer Research Alliance | Loveland, OH | Used at the discretion of the board of directors or trustees as they see fit for operating their organization | $10,000 |
| Empower Evergreen | Wichita, KS | Empower - nomar project campaign | $10,000 |
| Heartland Community College Foundation | Normal, IL | General operating support for their capital campaign | $10,000 |
| Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Inc | Houston, TX | Junior market steer auction | $10,000 |
| Orpheum Performing Arts Centre Ltd | Wichita, KS | Second century campaign | $10,000 |
| Orpheum Performing Arts Centre Ltd | Wichita, KS | Second century campaign | $10,000 |
| Restore Sgf | Springfield, MO | Used at the discretion of the board of directors or trustees as they see fit for operating their organization | $10,000 |
| Saint Francis Medical Center | Peoria, IL | Osf healthcare cancer institute | $10,000 |
| The Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri Inc | Columbia, MO | Food bank market | $10,000 |
| Umkc Foundation | Kansas City, MO | Henry W. bloch school of management | $10,000 |
| University of Missouri - Nextgen Precision Health | Columbia, MO | Capital campaign | $10,000 |
| Handi-Shop Inc | Mexico, MO | Partners for a better tomorrow community campaign | $9,800 |
| Community Development Corporation of the Bloomington-Normal Area | Normal, IL | Used at the discretion of the board of directors or trustees as they see fit for operating their organization | $9,000 |
| Chwc Inc Dba Community Housing of Wyandotte County Inc | Kansas City, KS | Supports the only affordable housing organization in wyco, for homebuyer education/partnership | $8,000 |
| Community Resource Center | Nashville, TN | All in for hygiene | $8,000 |
| Credit & Homeownership Empowerment Services Dba Ches Inc | Kansas City, MO | Support homebuyer education and credit counseling services for lmi clients | $8,000 |
| Family & Children's Service Inc | Tulsa, OK | Used at the discretion of the board of directors or trustees as they see fit for operating their organization | $7,500 |
| Gateway Region Young Mens Christian Association | St Louis, MO | Used at the discretion of the board of directors or trustees as they see fit for operating their organization | $7,500 |
| Pivotal Point Transitional Housing Inc | St Joseph, MO | Youth transitional housing capital campaign | $7,500 |
| Springfield Business Development Corporation | Springfield, MO | Used at the discretion of the board of directors or trustees as they see fit for operating their organization | $7,500 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Bloomington-Normal | Bloomington, IL | Capital campaign support | $6,000 |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield Inc | Springfield, MO | New club unit at williams elementary over 5 years | $6,000 |
| Creative Learning Alliance Inc | Joplin, MO | Creative learning alliance - capital campaign | $6,000 |
| Finney County United Way | Garden City, KS | 2025 annual fund raising campaign | $6,000 |
| Guadalupe Center Inc | Kansas City, MO | Continued support of financial opportunity center work for lmi/latino clients | $6,000 |
| Junior Achievement of Greater St Louis | Chesterfield, MO | Used at the discretion of the board of directors or trustees as they see fit for operating their organization | $6,000 |
| Lebanon Area Foundation | Lebanon, MO | Community cares | $6,000 |
| Fort Hays State University Foundation | Hays, KS | Scholarships | $5,500 |
| Saint Francis Healthcare System | Cape Girardeau, MO | Friends of saint francis golf tournament | $5,250 |
| American Cancer Society Inc (High Plains Division - St Louis Mo Office) | St Louis, MO | Used at the discretion of the board of directors or trustees as they see fit for operating their organization | $5,000 |
| American Heart Association Inc | St Louis, MO | Used at the discretion of the board of directors or trustees as they see fit for operating their organization | $5,000 |
| Arrue Jesuit High School | Denver, CO | Used at the discretion of the board of directors or trustees as they see fit for operating their organization | $5,000 |
| Black Leaders Advancing Community Change | Saint Louis, MO | Used at the discretion of the board of directors or trustees as they see fit for operating their organization | $5,000 |
| Blue Valley Educational Foundation | Overland Park, KS | Teacher grants | $5,000 |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield Inc | Springfield, MO | Capital campaign for teen center | $5,000 |
| Boys and Girls Club of Alton | Alton, IL | Community service award | $5,000 |
| Brent Eley Foundation Dba Brent's Place | Aurora, CO | Used at the discretion of the board of directors or trustees as they see fit for operating their organization | $5,000 |
| Cincinnati State Technical and Community College Foundation | Cincinnati, OH | Cstate accelerate | $5,000 |
Showing the 60 largest of 644 grants to organizations.
The return also lists 1 grant to individuals ($500). We do not publish the names of individual recipients.
Grants approved for future payment
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Umkc Foundation | Kansas City, MO | Henry W. bloch school of management | $40,000 |
| Saint Francis Medical Center | Peoria, IL | Osf healthcare cancer institute | $20,000 |
| University of Missouri - Nextgen Precision Health | Columbia, MO | Capital campaign | $20,000 |
| Hutchinson YMCA New Building Fund | Hutchinson, KS | Construct new building beside existing location in hutchinson | $20,000 |
| Exploration Place Inc | Wichita, KS | Ep2 initiative | $15,000 |
| Heat Up St Louis Inc | St Louis, MO | Used at the discretion of the board of directors or trustees as they see fit for operating their organization | $15,000 |
| Orpheum Performing Arts Centre Ltd | Wichita, KS | Second century campaign | $10,000 |
| Restore Sgf | Springfeild, MO | Used at the discretion of the board of directors or trustees as they see fit for operating their organization | $10,000 |
| The Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri Inc | Columbia, MO | Food bank market | $10,000 |
| Logan University | Chesterfield, MO | Advancing education, transforming lives capital campaign | $5,000 |
| Boy Scouts of America - Great Rivers Council | Columbia, MO | Capital campaign for the new scouting adventure center | $4,000 |
| Thompson Foundation for Autism & Neurodevelopment | Columbia, MO | Thompson foundation for autism & neurodevelopment: expanding the extraordinary campaign | $4,000 |
| Umkc Foundation (University of Missouri-Kansas City - Innovation Center) | Kansas City, MO | Kcsourcelink | $4,000 |
| Joplin Regional Medical School Alliance | Neosho, MO | Kcu-Joplin capital campaign (joplin mkt) | $2,500 |
| Joplin Regional Medical School Alliance | Neosho, MO | Kcu-Joplin capital campaign (springfield mkt) | $2,500 |
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Grant lines |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2,034,526 | 660 |
| 2023 | $1,909,453 | 688 |
Sources
- IRS Form 990-PF, tax year 2024, filed Nov 17, 2025 - IRS e-file batch, object ID 202523219349102642
- IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search for EIN 44-6012453
- Profile updated Nov 4, 2026
Facts on this page come from the foundation's own IRS Form 990-PF filings as published by the IRS. Grantvello does not know whether a foundation is accepting proposals right now: a past grant is not an open opportunity. Always confirm current guidelines with the funder before applying.