William T Kemper Foundation Commerce Bank of Kansas City N a T
Historical FunderKansas City, Missouri · EIN 43-6345116 · Private foundation
Grants paid (2024)$16.2M
Organizations funded130
Typical grant$50,000
Total assets$383.4M
Half of its grants to organizations were between $20,000 and $108,000.
From the return
How to apply
The foundation filed the following application information (Form 990-PF Part XV, tax year 2024):
| Contact | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WILLIAM T KEMPER |
|---|---|
| Address | COMMERCE BANK TRUSTEE 1000 WALNUT, SUITE 1560, KANSAS CITY MO 64106 |
| Phone | 8162341768 |
| 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. |
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
16% of grants went outside Missouri.
Grants paid in tax year 2024
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nine Network of Public Media Dba Nine Pbs | St Louis, MO | Engage, connect, strengthen campaign over 3 years | $1,800,000 |
| William Jewell College | Liberty, MO | Jewell reimagined initiative | $1,275,000 |
| Forest Park Forever Inc | St Louis, MO | Campaign for the glade over 3 years | $1,000,000 |
| Counterpublic | St Louis, MO | Counterpublic 2026: international institute focus area | $500,000 |
| Kansas University Endowment Assoc - School of Architecture & Design | Lawrence, 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 Foundation | St Louis, MO | Together we will campaign - child life zone | $500,000 |
| The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University | Stanford, CA | The kemper family stanford in oxford teaching fellow fund | $500,000 |
| The Opportunity Trust | St Louis, MO | Expanding quality seats in st. louis over 3 years | $500,000 |
| Nelson Gallery Foundation | Kansas City, MO | Acquisition of "physichromie panam 110" by carlos cruz-diez | $468,242 |
| Children's Mercy Hospital | Kansas City, MO | Capacity building for path clinic as part of illuminate campaign | $400,000 |
| Eisenhower Foundation | Abilene, KS | I like ike capital campaign: education center | $250,000 |
| Kansas City Art Institute | Kansas City, MO | Annual bequest | $250,000 |
| Kansas City Art Institute | Kansas City, MO | Vanderslice roof partial replacement | $250,000 |
| Kansas City Ballet Association | Kansas City, MO | Bolender center masonry, steel, and roof repairs over 2 years | $250,000 |
| Kansas City University | Kansas City, MO | Center for population health and equity facility renovation over 2 years | $250,000 |
| Lindenwood Education System Dba Lindenwood University | St Charles, MO | Butler library renovation | $250,000 |
| Missouri Historical Society Jefferson Memorial Building Dba Missouri Histor | St Louis, MO | Gallery stl exhibit | $250,000 |
| St Louis Art Museum Foundation | St Louis, MO | Anselm kiefer: becoming the ocean exhibit | $250,000 |
| Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral | Kansas City, MO | Annual bequest | $200,000 |
| Kansas City Symphony | Kansas City, MO | 2024/2025 season support | $200,000 |
| Neighborhood Solidarity Fund Dba Invest Stl | St Louis, MO | Northside resilience fund | $200,000 |
| Turner House Clinic Inc Dba Vibrant Health | Kansas City, KS | Establish fund for patient services | $200,000 |
| School Smart Kc Inc | Kansas City, MO | Literacy for all students - crossroads central street campus | $176,936 |
| Liberty Memorial Association Dba National World War I Museum and Memorial | Kansas City, MO | Digitization project | $150,000 |
| Missouri Botanical Garden Board of Trustees | St Louis, MO | President's residence renovation | $150,000 |
| Samuel U Rodgers Health Center Inc | Kansas City, MO | Patient uncompensated care | $150,000 |
| United Way of Greater Kansas City Inc | Kansas City, MO | Eviction prevention initiative | $150,000 |
| Friends of Chamber Music | Kansas City, MO | 2025/2026 season support | $125,000 |
| Greater St Louis Inc Foundation | St Louis, MO | Tower grove connector infrastructure project over 2 years | $120,000 |
| Wellesley College | Wellesley, MA | Teaching greenhouse | $118,000 |
| Umkc Foundation (University of Missouri-Kansas City - School of Humanities | Kansas City, MO | William T. kemper associate professor in digital humanities | $108,000 |
| Boy Scouts of America - Heart of America Council | Kansas City, MO | H. roe bartle scout reservation campsite improvements over 2 years | $100,000 |
| Entrepreneur Startup Business Development Corporation Dba Arch Grants | St Louis, MO | Global startup competition over 2 years | $100,000 |
| Forest Park Forever Inc | St Louis, MO | Tornado recovery fund | $100,000 |
| International Institute of Metropolitan St Louis | St Louis, MO | Emergency assistance | $100,000 |
| Kansas City Rescue Mission Dba Shelter Kc a Kansas City Rescue Mission | Kansas City, MO | Expansion of shelter kc's men's center | $100,000 |
| Mothers Refuge | Independence, MO | Welcome home: transitional living for homeless young moms and children | $100,000 |
| Operation Breakthrough Inc | Kansas City, MO | Capacity building for teen programming over 2 years | $100,000 |
| Public Television 19 Inc Dba Kansas City Pbs | Kansas City, MO | Civic impact journalism | $100,000 |
| Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra | St Louis, MO | Slso playlist: a new audience development initiative | $100,000 |
| School Smart Kc Inc | Kansas City, MO | Literacy for all students - crossroads central street campus | $100,000 |
| Trustees of Princeton University - Art Museum | Princeton, NJ | Support of the curator of teaching and learning | $100,000 |
| Washington University Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum | Clayton, MO | Mildred lane kemper art museum exhibition support | $100,000 |
| Uncover Kc | Kansas 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 Daniels | Kansas City, KS | Boston daniels monument commissioning | $80,000 |
| Americans for Oxford Inc | New York, NY | Worcester lake restoration | $75,000 |
| Greater Kansas City Community Foundation | Kansas City, MO | Fund contribution | $75,000 |
| St Louis Center for International Relations Dba World Trade Center St Lou | St Louis, MO | International mentoring st. louis expansion | $75,000 |
| Opera Theatre of Saint Louis | St Louis, MO | Spring operas | $65,000 |
| University of Missouri-Columbia - Missouri School of Journalism | Columbia, MO | Watchdog writers group william T. kemper foundation fellowship and scholarship | $65,000 |
| Kansas State University Foundation | Manhattan, KS | Excellence in teaching awards | $60,000 |
| Ad Hoc Group Against Crime | Kansas City, MO | Adhoc center for healing and justice | $50,000 |
| Beacon Media Inc | Kansas City, MO | Local government accountability reporting | $50,000 |
| Cardinal Ritter College Prep | St Louis, MO | Tuition assistance program | $50,000 |
| Friends of Chamber Music | Kansas City, MO | 50Th anniversary campaign | $50,000 |
| Jewish Vocational Service Bureau of Kansas City | Kansas City, MO | Refugee funding emergency assistance | $50,000 |
| Nelson Gallery Foundation | Kansas City, MO | Annual bequest | $50,000 |
Showing the 60 largest of 130 grants to organizations.
Grants approved for future payment
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Missouri-Kansas City - Kcur Radio | Kansas City, MO | A new home for kcur | $2,000,000 |
| Kansas University Endowment Assoc - School of Architecture & Design | Lawrence, KS | Design for next phase 1: construction of kube signature over 2 years | $500,000 |
| Northeast Community Center | Kansas City, MO | Crescendo: increasing capacity for harmony project kc | $500,000 |
| The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University | Stanford, CA | The kemper family stanford in oxford teaching fellow fund | $500,000 |
| School Smart Kc Inc | Kansas City, MO | Literacy for all students - crossroads central street campus | $377,048 |
| Trustees of Princeton University - Art Museum | Princeton, NJ | Support of the curator of teaching and learning | $310,500 |
| National World War I Museum | Kansas City, MO | Digitization project | $300,000 |
| School Smart Kc Inc | Kansas City, MO | Literacy for all students - crossroads central street campus | $280,000 |
| Eisenhower Foundation | Abilene, KS | I like ike capital campaign: education center | $250,000 |
| Kansas City Art Institute | Kansas City, MO | Vanderslice roof partial replacement | $250,000 |
| Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra | St Louis, MO | Slso playlist: a new audience development initiative | $200,000 |
| Kansas City Ballet Association | Kansas City, MO | Bolender center masonry, steel, and roof repairs over 2 years | $150,000 |
| Opera Theatre of Saint Louis | St Louis, MO | Spring operas | $130,000 |
| Wellesley College | Wellesley, MA | Teaching greenhouse | $118,000 |
| University Academy | Kansas City, MO | College incentive program match | $104,000 |
| Boy Scouts of America - Heart of America Council | Kansas City, MO | H. roe bartle scout reservation campsite improvements over 2 years | $100,000 |
| Children's Mercy Hospital | Kansas City, MO | Capacity building for path clinic as part of illuminate campaign | $100,000 |
| Community Services League of Jackson County | Independence, MO | Bridges to career opportunities expanded capacity over 3 years | $100,000 |
| Entrepreneur Startup Business Development Corporation Dba Arch Grants | St Louis, MO | Global startup competition over 2 years | $100,000 |
| Public Television 19 Inc Dba Kansas City Pbs | Kansas City, MO | Civic impact journalism | $100,000 |
| Washington University Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum | Clayton, 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 Daniels | Kansas City, KS | Boston daniels monument commissioning | $75,000 |
| St Louis Center for International Relations Dba World Trade Center St Lou | St Louis, MO | International mentoring st. louis expansion | $75,000 |
| University of Missouri-Columbia - Missouri School of Journalism | Columbia, MO | Watchdog writers group william T. kemper foundation fellowship and scholarship | $65,000 |
| Harry S Truman Library Institute | Kansas City, MO | Preservation and digital access to archival collections | $50,000 |
| Mid-America Regional Council | Kansas City, MO | Double up heartland | $30,000 |
| President and Fellows of Harvard College | Cambridge, MA | Villa i tatti digital humanities program | $25,000 |
| University of Missouri-Columbia - Office of the Chancellor | Columbia, MO | William T. kemper fellowships for teaching excellence | $25,000 |
| Forest Park Forever Inc | St 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 Inc | Kansas City, MO | Capacity building over 2 years | $10,000 |
| Harvard-Radcliffe Club of Kansas City | Kansas City, MO | Summer community service fellowship program challenge match | $5,000 |
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Grant lines |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $16,204,153 | 162 |
| 2023 | $15,488,378 | 171 |
| 2022 | $16,297,117 | 164 |
Sources
- IRS Form 990-PF, tax year 2024, filed Sep 11, 2026 - IRS e-file batch, object ID 202602549349100710
- IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search for EIN 43-6345116
- 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.