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
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Barry L and Paula M Downing reported a distributable amount of $125K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Wichita Art Museum ($200,000), Bps Foundation ($94,000), Telluride Film Association ($17,450).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCATION WICHITA, KS | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| BPS FOUNDATION LAS VEGAS, NV | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $94,000 |
| CEREBRAL PALSY RESERACH FOUNDATION WICHITA, KS | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $7,500 |
| FUNDAMENTAL LEARNING CENTER WICHITA, KS | PROGRAM EXPENSES | $5,000 |
| HEROES ACADEMY WICHITA, KS | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| ORPHEUM THEATRE WICHITA, KS | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| TELLURIDE FILM ASSOCIATION BERKELEY, CA | CONTRIBUTION TO OPERATION | $17,450 |
| THE FIRST TEE OF GREATER WICHITA WICHITA, KS | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| THE GRUMPY OLD MEN WICHITA, KS | COMMUNITY SUPPORT DONATION | $3,000 |
| THE LORDS DINER WICHITA, KS | OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
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 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Barry L and Paula M Downing fund?
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
How do I apply for a grant from Barry L and Paula M Downing?
The foundation maintains active grantmaking operations with recent grant activity including: • **2023 Total Giving**: $402,650 • **Recent Notable Grants**: • Wichita Art Museum: $200,000 (Contributions to Operations) • Kansas Action For Children: $28,000 (Program Support) • Puppies Behind Bars: $11,000 (Donation) The foundation accepts grant applications and welcomes organizations to determine eligibility through their website at www.downingfoundation.org.
Where does Barry L and Paula M Downing make 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
What size grants does Barry L and Paula M Downing award?
In 2024, Barry L and Paula M Downing awarded 14 grants totaling $382K — an average of about $27K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Barry L and Paula M Downing required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Barry L and Paula M Downing reported a distributable amount of $125K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Barry L and Paula M Downing's EIN?
Barry L and Paula M Downing's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 48-1134459. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Barry L and Paula M Downing's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
National Philanthropic Trust
JENKINTOWN, PA
Assets
$42.2B
Grants
18,583
Total Given
$5.1B
Ima Foundation
WICHITA, KS
Assets
$10.4M
Grants
661
Total Given
$2.0M
Kansas Health Foundation
WICHITA, KS
Assets
$432.0M
Grants
167
Total Given
$15.7M
Wichita Foundation
WICHITA, KS
Assets
$106.2M
Grants
167
Total Given
$7.6M
Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program
SOUTHEASTERN, PA
Assets
$22.2B
Grants
24,269
Total Given
$3.0B
Berry Foundation Inc
WICHITA, KS
Assets
$29K
Grants
67
Total Given
$1.4M
United Way of the Plains Inc
WICHITA, KS
Assets
$23.4M
Grants
82
Total Given
$5.8M
Textron Charitable Trust Dtd 122353
PROVIDENCE, RI
Assets
$9.5M
Grants
1,199
Total Given
$4.2M
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
SAINT LOUIS, MO
Assets
—
Grants
9,499
Total Given
$73.1M
The Blackbaud Giving Fund
CHARLESTON SC, SC
Assets
$52.7M
Grants
1,860
Total Given
$41.4M
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA
Assets
$12.3B
Grants
3,576
Total Given
$3.2B
Natl Christian Charitable Fdn Inc
ALPHARETTA, GA
Assets
$6.1B
Grants
16,327
Total Given
$2.6B
More Funders in Kansas
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.