Bruce V Drowns Educational Foundation
The Bruce V Drowns Educational Foundation is a private foundation based in St. Joseph, Missouri. Its 2025 filing reports grants for scholarships, including awards to universities and colleges; the foundation’s filing states that its awards are restricted to Benton High School students and graduates who show need.
Bruce V Drowns Educational Foundation at a glance
In short: Bruce V Drowns Educational Foundation gave $80K across 16 grants in 2025 (avg $5K), mostly in Missouri. 38% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $80,000
- -14.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 16
- -11.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $5,000
- -3.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Total assets
- $1,180,821
- +5.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 38% first-time grantees (5 of 13, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Missouri (81% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Bruce V Drowns Educational Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The filing states that the foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. It directs applicants to contact Benton High School and use the Bruce Drowns Educational Foundation Application Form; awards are restricted to Benton High School students and graduates who show need.
- Review Cycle
- April 1. This deadline is listed on the 2024 filing and is a past cycle.
- Deadline
- April 1.
- Contact
Application contact: Benton High School
Mailing address: 5655 S 4Th Street, St Joseph, MO 64505
Phone: (816) 671-4030
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Bruce V Drowns Educational Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Missouri State University ($12K). Together the top 10 received $34K.
Organizations only. It also paid 4 individual scholarships ($44,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
89 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 89 grants of 89 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2025 grant dollars went primarily to recipients in Missouri (81%). The remaining shares went to Arizona (6%), Nebraska (5%), Kansas (4%), and Illinois (2%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Bruce V Drowns Educational Foundation open to new grantees?
38%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 13 grantees (38%) were first-time recipients. With only 13 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $9K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 62% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 50% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 131% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $42K (2021) to $93K (2024). In 2025 it made 16 grants totaling $80K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 4 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $44,000 |
| Missouri State University Springfield, MO | Scholarships | $12,000 |
| University of Missouri - KC Kansas City, MO | Scholarships | $4,000 |
| Prestcott College Prescott, AZ | Scholarships | $4,000 |
| University of Missouri - Columbia Columbia, MO | Scholarships | $3,000 |
| Metropolitan Community College Omaha, NE | Scholarships | $3,000 |
| Loyola Univeristy - Chicago Chicago, IL | Scholarships | $2,000 |
| Missouri Valley College Marshall, MO | Scholarships | $2,000 |
| Wichita State University Wichita, KS | Scholarships | $2,000 |
| University of Nebraska - Lincoln Lincoln, NE | Scholarships | $1,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,180,821 | $155,356 | $95,903 | $80,000 | 16 | $87,782 | $33,462 | $67,065 |
| 2024 | $1,116,147 | $82,019 | $110,294 | $93,000 | 18 | $101,861 | $26,310 | $64,181 |
| 2023 | $1,142,158 | $13,385 | $78,589 | $62,666 | 18 | $70,681 | $21,311 | $60,430 |
| 2022 | $1,202,500 | $70,575 | $74,088 | $53,500 | 21 | $62,414 | $62,005 | $69,667 |
| 2021 | $1,204,332 | $136,541 | $59,181 | $41,700 | 16 | — | $128,549 | $66,877 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bruce V Drowns Educational Foundation reported a distributable amount of $67K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The available filing does not state a separate mission for the foundation. Its 2025 grants were designated for scholarships. Among the organizations it supported, an individual recipient State University’s foundation says it supports the university’s mission by receiving and administering contributed resources; the University of Missouri–Columbia Medical Alliance says it works to improve access to health care services throughout Missouri; and Missouri Valley College says it guides students through personal instruction and intellectual inquiry.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation gave $80,000 through 16 grants. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $20,000, with a median of $2,500. Its largest grants included $20,000 to an individual recipient State University, $15,000 to an individual recipient State University, $12,000 to Missouri State University, and $8,000 to an individual recipient Missouri College. Each was designated for scholarships.
The foundation states on its 2024 filing that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. The filing describes an application process through Benton High School using the Bruce Drowns Educational Foundation Application Form. Awards are restricted to Benton High School students and graduates who show need.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Sara Nicholson, Shawna Gilliland, and Jason Lenz as co-trustees.
Bruce V Drowns Educational Foundation's 2025 filing lists 4 officers; 1 of 4 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Commerce Trust
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2024
$2K (2024) → $14K (2025)
Sara Nicholson
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Jason Lenz
Co-Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Shawna Gilliland
Co-Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Former officers (6)
- Former: UMB Bank (2021–2024) — Co-Trustee
- Former: Abbee Cruz Mirabal (2024) — Co-Trustee
- Former: Kati Reid (2024) — Co-Trustee
- Former: Beery Johnson (2021–2023) — Co-Trustee
- Former: Joseph Hendrix (2021–2023) — Co-Trustee
- Former: Lynn Laipple (2021–2022) — Co-Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $14K, to Commerce Trust (Co-Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about Bruce V Drowns Educational Foundation
How much does Bruce V Drowns Educational Foundation give each year?
Bruce V Drowns Educational Foundation gave $80K across 16 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $93K across 18 grants.
What is Bruce V Drowns Educational Foundation's typical grant size?
Bruce V Drowns Educational Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,500, and its average grant was $5,000, across 16 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Bruce V Drowns Educational Foundation that year got $2K on average.
Where does Bruce V Drowns Educational Foundation give grants?
Bruce V Drowns Educational Foundation gives mostly in Missouri: 81% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Arizona (6%) and Nebraska (5%).
Does Bruce V Drowns Educational Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 16 grants with a stated purpose on Bruce V Drowns Educational Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Scholarships" (16 grants).
Who are Bruce V Drowns Educational Foundation's largest grantees?
Bruce V Drowns Educational Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Missouri State University ($12,000), University of Missouri - KC ($4,000) and Prestcott College ($4,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 4 individual scholarships ($44,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 25% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Bruce V Drowns Educational Foundation?
Bruce V Drowns Educational Foundation reported $1.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $88K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $67K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Bruce V Drowns Educational Foundation fund?
The available filing does not state a separate mission for the foundation. Its 2025 grants were designated for scholarships. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Bruce V Drowns Educational Foundation?
The filing states that the foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Bruce V Drowns Educational Foundation's EIN?
Bruce V Drowns Educational Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 43-6371635. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Does Bruce V Drowns Educational Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 8, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS January 28, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS November 11, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Bruce V Drowns Educational Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/bruce-v-drowns-educational-foundation-morg_aad6d02844e1458797818010b376ec46
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_436371635_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Bruce V Drowns Educational Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/bruce-v-drowns-educational-foundation-morg_aad6d02844e1458797818010b376ec46},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Bruce V Drowns Educational Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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