Barry L and Paula M Downing
The Barry L and Paula M Downing Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1993 and based in Wichita, Kansas. Located at 1625 North Waterfront Parkway, Suite 100, the foundation operates as a grantmaking organization focused on improving quality of life in communities through strategic philanthropic support.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.1M
-20.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$382K
-5.0% YoY
Grant Count
14
-36.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$27K
+49.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports initiatives that impact the quality of life for a community or for a significant number of members of a community on a lasting basis, focusing specifically on projects that lead to self-sufficiency and future success.
Primary funding interests include:
- The arts
- Children's causes
- Community development and enrichment
- Early education
- Service to the underprivileged
Grantmaking
The foundation maintains active grantmaking operations with recent grant activity including:
Ready to take the next step with Barry L and Paula M Downing?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports initiatives across multiple geographic areas including:
- Primary focus: Wichita, Kansas area
- Additional funding locations: Berkeley, Irving, Kansas City, Leawood, Maize, Memphis, New York, Portsmouth, Topeka, Towson, Washington
- States served: California, District of Columbia, Kansas, Maryland, New Hampshire, New York, Tennessee, and Texas
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2023)
- Total Assets: $2,613,437
- Total Expenses: $532,636
- Total Revenues: -$466,648 (negative)
- Investment Income and Dividends: $35,541
The foundation operates as a private non-operating foundation with unconditional tax-exempt status.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,077,171 | $2,613,437 | $5,710,990 |
| Revenue | $63,536 | $-466,648 | $188,429 |
| Expenses | $486,902 | $532,636 | $664,765 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $382,450 | $402,650 | $405,789 |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | $124,912 | $133,298 | $241,385 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
86 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is managed by co-trustees:
- Barry L. Downing (Trustee)
- Paula M. Downing (Co-trustee)
- Lisa Wright (Co-trustee)
All trustees serve voluntarily without compensation. Lisa Jackson is listed as the in-care-of contact for the organization.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BARRY DOWNING | CO-TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| PAULA DOWNING | CO-TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| LISA WRIGHT | CO-TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Robert J and Gloria Wilson
ELLIS, KS
Assets
$6.6M
Grants
1
Total Given
$204K
North Central Kansas Coordinated Transit Council Inc
MINNEAPOLIS, KS
Assets
$5K
Grants
7
Total Given
$3.6M
New Jersey Area Homesteading
OVERLAND PARK, KS
Assets
$353
Grants
0
Total Given
—
Anderson Family Foundation
WICHITA, KS
Assets
$689K
Grants
4
Total Given
$34K
Virginia H Farah Foundation
WICHITA, KS
Assets
$5K
Grants
3
Total Given
$207K
Atchison United Way Board
ATCHISON, KS
Assets
$696K
Grants
8
Total Given
$102K
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Barry L and Paula M Downing on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities