Foundations that fund organizations in Lawrence, Kansas
Worked out from where the grants went, not where the foundations sit.
Funding landscape for Lawrence nonprofits
363 private foundations gave $57M to Lawrence organizations in their latest filings; 36 of the 100 that say either way accept applications.
593 grants in total, with a typical foundation's median grant to Lawrence around $66K. 30 of these funders are based in Kansas; the rest give here from elsewhere.
- Foundations giving here
- 363
- Accept applications
- 36
- of 100 that state a policy
- Dollars to Lawrence
- $57M
- latest filings
- Grants
- 593
- Typical median grant
- $66K
- Based in KS
- 30%
- of funders listed
Funders, by dollars given to Lawrence organizations
| Foundation | Based in | Grants here | Dollars here | Median | Accepts applications | Typical purposes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Sunderland Foundation | Overland Park, KS | 2 | $27M | $14M | Yes | 2025 donation |
| Horejsi Charitable Foundation Inc | Salina, KS | 2 | $3.5M | $1.8M | Preselected only | Gateway and stadium project; Educational services and schools - other |
| Gates Foundation | Seattle, WA | 1 | $3.3M | $3.3M | Yes | Vaccine development |
| David & Janis Larson Foundation C/O FIRST Trust Company LLC | Minneapolis, MN | 3 | $1.7M | $350K | Preselected only | Larsons scholars fund; Ku leads fund; Jayhawk achievement fund |
| Wellcome Leap Inc | San Diego, CA | 2 | $1.6M | $784K | Preselected only | Global health research |
| The Andrew W Mellon Foundation | New York, NY | 3 | $1.3M | $185K | Yes | To support the indigenous nations and american indian studi…; To support a project to deepen the ongoing conversation in…; To support production and dissemination of a documentary fi… |
| Ruth H Bohan Foundation 10014100 | Kansas City, MO | 1 | $1.0M | $1.0M | Preselected only | General operating for the |
| The Walter R Garrison Foundation | Philadelphia, PA | 1 | $1.0M | $1.0M | Preselected only | Unrestricted |
| Kendrick B Melrose Family Foundation | Plymouth, MN | 1 | $1.0M | $1.0M | Preselected only | To support and strengthen advocacy, education, and research… |
| Ethel & Raymond F Rice Foundation | Lawrence, KS | 24 | $904K | $25K | Yes | For Braille & large print program guides, headsets, microph…; Toward services at Mt Hope Family Shelter by setting housin…; To maintain collections and public research at the museum a… |
| Alfred P Sloan Foundation | New York, NY | 2 | $675K | $338K | Yes | To compile and collect high quality data about the u.s. car…; To study the trade-off between hiring staff scientists or p… |
| William T Kemper Foundation Commerce Bank Trustee | Kansas City, MO | 4 | $576K | $30K | Yes | William t. kemper fellowship for teaching excellence; William t. kemper artist-in-residence renewal over 2 years; 2025 ai & digital literacy institute teacher stipends |
| 15th Street Foundation | Dallas, TX | 1 | $550K | $550K | Yes | Scholarship fund contribution |
| Dwane L and Velma Lunt Wallace Charitable Foundation | Wichita, KS | 1 | $500K | $500K | Yes | Education programs, per grant agreement |
| The Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation | Omaha, NE | 1 | $401K | $401K | Preselected only | General operating support |
| Harry F Lose Testamentary Trust | Dallas, TX | 1 | $399K | $399K | Preselected only | Scholarships to school of |
| The Heising-Simons Foundation | Los Altos, CA | 2 | $395K | $198K | Preselected only | To engineer and deploy a second fully-autonomous, ground-ba…; To collect measurements of ice-shelf rivers and estuaries a… |
| The Spencer Foundation | Chicago, IL | 1 | $383K | $383K | Yes | The tribal education department capacity building project |
| Itcoa Fbo John & Mona Power Fdn 26191229 | Sandy, UT | 1 | $322K | $322K | Preselected only | General operating funds |
| Willard J & Mary G Breidenthal Foundation | Leawood, KS | 2 | $301K | $151K | Yes | Education |
| Kriz Charitable Fund Inc | Lawrence, KS | 4 | $301K | $70K | Yes | Plumbing for new temporary family shelter for six families.; Grant repurposed - (prior purpose appliance repair/training…; Purchasing and installing tops for 121 dog kennels. |
| The Tudor Foundation Co Roger Rieger | Seattle, WA | 1 | $300K | $300K | Preselected only | Education |
| Cinelli Family Foundation | Lawrence, KS | 3 | $272K | $11K | Preselected only | Seed funding for three school distri; General operating support; Funding to support individuals going |
| Harry J Diffenbaugh for Kansas University | Dallas, TX | 1 | $252K | $252K | Preselected only | Support for diffenbaugh |
| Moreno Family Foundation | Phoenix, AZ | 1 | $250K | $250K | Preselected only | Education |
| 1440 Ventures Foundation Inc | Wichita, KS | 1 | $250K | $250K | Yes | Charitable support |
| Centene Foundation | St Louis, MO | 1 | $250K | $250K | Preselected only | Kansas nursing workforce center |
| Victor E & Caroline E Schutte Foundation | Dallas, TX | 1 | $250K | $250K | Yes | Unrestricted general |
| John W and Effie E Speas Memorial Trust | Dallas, TX | 1 | $250K | $250K | Yes | 21st century cancer |
| Elizabeth M Watkins Trust Fbo Watkins Hall & | Dallas, TX | 1 | $234K | $234K | Preselected only | Unrestricted general |
| The Dehaemers Family Charitable Trust | Overland Park, KS | 4 | $220K | $28K | Preselected only | Unrestricted; Capital CampaignGeneral operating support; Community support |
| Ws & Ec Jones Testamentary Trust | Dallas, TX | 1 | $200K | $200K | Yes | Community room addition, |
| The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation | Princeton, NJ | 1 | $189K | $189K | Yes | 81678 examining the economic-security and health-equity imp… |
| Kao Family Foundation | Olathe, KS | 1 | $170K | $170K | Preselected only | Organization's general charitable purposes |
| Dane G Hansen Foundation | Logan, KS | 3 | $165K | $50K | Yes | Replenish the nursing scholarship program; Funds for the 12th year of professor of medicine for salina…; Funds for the 8th year of faculty support for wichita campus |
| Renee C Cromwell Trust Fbo Charitie | Dallas, TX | 1 | $156K | $156K | Preselected only | Unrestricted general |
| Debby Durham Family Foundation C/O Hancock & Dana Pc | Omaha, NE | 12 | $155K | $7,500 | Preselected only | General operating funds |
| Dusty and Katherine Loo Foundation Dba Bloom Foundation | Colorado Springs, CO | 1 | $150K | $150K | Preselected only | Loo Family Internships at the Spencer Museum of Art |
| The Stolzer Family Foundation | Manhattan, KS | 1 | $139K | $139K | Preselected only | Charity |
| Patti Johnson Wilson Foundation | Tulsa, OK | 1 | $136K | $136K | Yes | College scholarship |
| Elizabeth M Watkins Trust for Lawrence | Dallas, TX | 1 | $133K | $133K | Preselected only | Unrestricted general |
| Elizabeth M Watkins Trust Fbo Watkins | Dallas, TX | 1 | $127K | $127K | Preselected only | Unrestricted general |
| Perrin Foundation Inc | Montclair, NJ | 1 | $123K | $123K | Yes | General charitable |
| The Patterson Family Foundation | Kansas City, MO | 1 | $122K | $122K | Preselected only | Hc/prg - rdev2 program grant |
| A W Wallace Charitable Tr | St Louis, MO | 1 | $103K | $103K | Preselected only | General operating |
| The Francis Family Foundation | Kansas City, MO | 2 | $101K | $51K | Yes | Fellowship; General operating support |
| Bryan Lynch Family Foundation | Clayton, MO | 4 | $101K | $16K | Yes | General fund; Fund a need and general support; Alumni association unrestricted |
| The Jager Family Foundation C/O Alison Bartlett Jager | Mission Woods, KS | 1 | $100K | $100K | Preselected only | General Operations and Support |
| The Freeman Foundation | New York, NY | 1 | $100K | $100K | Yes | General support |
| Philip J and Laura C Knight | Wichita, KS | 1 | $100K | $100K | Preselected only | Charitable contribution to ku endowm |
| The Eric and Wendy Schmidt Fund for Strategic Innovation | Palo Alto, CA | 1 | $97K | $97K | Preselected only | Support for exoplanet tools for space mission concepts |
| Rjs Family Foundation | Prairie Village, KS | 3 | $95K | $35K | Preselected only | Support to dr. al-rajabi's pancreatic research; Scholarships; General support of ku athletics |
| Smith Virginia Fam Char Trust | Chicago, IL | 1 | $90K | $90K | Yes | Program support |
| Dahl Family Foundation Inc | Ponte Vedra Beach, FL | 1 | $83K | $83K | Preselected only | Charity |
| Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation | Kansas City, MO | 2 | $82K | $41K | Yes | Support for research exploring the experiences of child car…; Support of for the love of books 2024 in kansas city, mo on… |
| Solon E Summerfield Foundation Inc C/O Intentional Philanthropy | Bethesda, MD | 2 | $82K | $41K | Preselected only | Endowment/general operating support |
| Trowbridge Scholarship Fund 10373400 | Kansas City, MO | 1 | $81K | $81K | Preselected only | Harry & georgie trowbridge |
| E Eugene Carter Foundation | Arlington, MA | 1 | $80K | $80K | Preselected only | To provide scholarships |
| Elizabeth M Watkins Trust for Kansas Univ | Dallas, TX | 1 | $72K | $72K | Preselected only | Unrestricted general |
| The Helstrom Foundation | Surprise, AZ | 1 | $67K | $67K | Preselected only | Religious |
| Windgate Charitable Foundation Inc | Little Rock, AR | 1 | $66K | $66K | Preselected only | Art & culture |
| Lewis Humphreys Charitable Trust | Dallas, TX | 3 | $65K | $25K | Yes | Unrestricted general; Integrated supports - |
| The Quinn Foundation | Leawood, KS | 3 | $61K | $10K | Preselected only | General operating support |
| Wmr Family Foundation 045351-000 Co Wilmington Trust Company | Wilmington, DE | 2 | $61K | $30K | Yes | General operating support |
| Benjamin & Margaret Hall Foundation | Seattle, WA | 1 | $60K | $60K | Preselected only | Charitable grant |
| The Henry Luce Foundation Inc | New York, NY | 3 | $57K | $5,000 | Yes | General Operating Support; Support for public education |
| Tuw Agnes Lauretta McClair Test | Dallas, TX | 1 | $54K | $54K | Preselected only | Unrestricted general |
| R M Gouldner Memorial Medical Foundation | Dallas, TX | 1 | $52K | $52K | Preselected only | Scholarships |
| Alan B Slifka Foundation | New York, NY | 1 | $50K | $50K | Preselected only | An unrestricted grant to further the donee's exempt purpose. |
| Lindy and Brad Berkley Family Foundation | Addison, TX | 1 | $50K | $50K | Preselected only | Operating |
| Charles Stewart Mott Foundation | Flint, MI | 1 | $50K | $50K | Preselected only | To support a statewide afterschool network to ensure the av… |
| Ewert Family Foundation | Mc Louth, KS | 1 | $50K | $50K | Preselected only | General use |
| Lynne and Owen Buckley Foundation U/A Dtd 12/13/2021 | Kansas City, MO | 1 | $50K | $50K | Preselected only | Athlectic facilities |
| K S Adams Foundation Co-Trust | Dewey, OK | 1 | $50K | $50K | Yes | Program support |
| Dave G Ruf Jr Family Foundation | Overland Park, KS | 3 | $46K | $20K | Preselected only | Charitable - supporting education; Charitable - supporting education concessionaire services |
| Ella Frances Brisley & Noma Brisley Phillips - American Nat'l Bank of Texas | Richardson, TX | 1 | $43K | $43K | Yes | Scholarships |
| John T Hocker Charitable Foun | Jacksonville, FL | 1 | $42K | $42K | Preselected only | Charity |
| Elizabeth M Watkins for FIRST Presbyterian | Dallas, TX | 1 | $41K | $41K | Preselected only | Unrestricted general |
| Stanley M Reinhaus Family Foundation | Tucson, AZ | 1 | $40K | $40K | Yes | Scholarship |
| Elmer C Rhoden Charitable Foundation Co | Kansas City, MO | 1 | $40K | $40K | Preselected only | Scholarships for minorities |
| Stewart Charitable Trust Linda B Stewart Co-Trustee | Wellington, KS | 12 | $38K | $1,250 | Preselected only | General fund; Hall center for humanities; Greater univ fund |
| Alfred Bromelsick Trust | Lawrence, KS | 2 | $37K | $19K | Preselected only | Operating funds |
| Kansas Alpha of Phi Delta Theta Educational Foundation | Leawood, KS | 2 | $37K | $18K | Preselected only | Scholarship dinners & awards to various recipients; Educational expenses exclusively associated with building c… |
| William T & Frances D Grant Charitable Trust and Foundation | Overland Park, KS | 1 | $36K | $36K | Preselected only | Education |
| I a O'Shaughnessy Foundation | Bloomington, MN | 2 | $35K | $18K | Preselected only | To continue to fund the i.a.oshaughnessy scholarship for wo…; To support dual language learners enrolled in project eagle… |
| Six Pillar Foundation Inc | Melbourne, FL | 1 | $35K | $35K | Preselected only | Uganda schools and economic development |
| Miller-Mellor Association | Prairie Village, KS | 2 | $32K | $16K | Yes | Educational, cultural & other organizations (see attached s… |
| Jeff and Polly Gentry Charitable Family Foundation | Leawood, KS | 1 | $32K | $32K | Preselected only | Further the charitable purpose of the organization |
| Baughman Foundation | Liberal, KS | 1 | $30K | $30K | Yes | Endowment |
| Annie E Casey Foundation Inc | Baltimore, MD | 1 | $30K | $30K | Preselected only | Support Implementation of SOUL Family |
| Richard H and Charlotte G Orear Charitable Foundation | Milwaukee, WI | 1 | $30K | $30K | Preselected only | For the marillac center |
| Helen Gough Fdn Trust | Eagan, MN | 2 | $30K | $15K | Yes | Scholarships |
| Cloud L Cray Foundation C/O Thomas M Cray | Prairie Village, KS | 1 | $30K | $30K | Preselected only | For the exempt purposes of this organization |
| The Shumaker Family Foundation | Prairie Village, KS | 8 | $30K | $3,750 | Yes | Operating Grant |
| Anthony a Schmidt Family Foundation | Lawrence, KS | 11 | $30K | $1,500 | Preselected only | Gift to support the organization's endeavors.; Broad ranging human services in our county of residence.; Year 4 of 5 commitment ($100,000) to the new Teen Center ad… |
| Mabel & Joseph Friedman Foundation | Dallas, TX | 1 | $28K | $28K | Yes | Drug therapy delivery for |
| Beach-Edwards Family Foundation | Mission, KS | 3 | $27K | $1,000 | Yes | Program support; General support |
| Thompson Family Foundation | Shawnee, KS | 2 | $26K | $13K | Preselected only | Unrestricted |
| Wayne L Laufer Charitable Foundation Inc C/O Cummings & Lockwood LLC | Bonita Springs, FL | 1 | $26K | $26K | Preselected only | Educational assistance grants |
| The Merops Foundation 6178-01-16 | Philadelphia, PA | 1 | $26K | $26K | Preselected only | Temple of aphrodite project |
Source: IRS Form 990-PF Part XV, latest electronic return per foundation (2026-10-28). "Accepts applications" reflects the foundation's own checkbox on Part XV line 2. Grants to individuals excluded.
Common questions
Which foundations give to nonprofits in Lawrence, Kansas?
The Sunderland Foundation, Horejsi Charitable Foundation Inc, Gates Foundation, David & Janis Larson Foundation C/O FIRST Trust Company LLC, Wellcome Leap Inc and 95 others reported grants to Lawrence organizations on their latest Form 990-PF.
How do I approach a foundation that doesn't accept applications?
A foundation that checks "contributes only to preselected organizations" on its 990-PF won't review a cold proposal. Look at who it funds, find a shared board member, grantee or advisor, and ask for an introduction. Foundations that accept applications usually list a contact and deadlines in Part XV; we show that text on each foundation's page.
Is this list complete?
No. It covers private foundations (Form 990-PF filers) whose latest electronic return lists at least one grant to an organization in Lawrence. Community foundations and corporate giving programs file different forms and are not included yet.