Clay Blair Foundation
The Clay Blair Foundation is a private foundation established in 1987 and based in Lenexa, Kansas. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and has been recognized as tax-exempt since February 1989. With one employee, the foundation functions primarily as a grantmaking entity with no direct charitable activities.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$6.6M
+0.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$852K
+23.4% YoY
Grant Count
35
-7.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$24K
+33.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Clay Blair Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation has not provided a formal mission statement. However, its grantmaking focuses on Education, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, and Human Services.
Grantmaking
The Clay Blair Foundation is an active grantmaker with a consistent annual distribution pattern. Recent grantmaking activity includes:
Grant Range
$10,000–$15,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Kansas, Missouri, and New Mexico.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending August 2024:
- Total Assets: $6.61 million
- Total Revenues: $696,794
- Total Expenses: $792,591
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Net Income: -$95
Revenue Breakdown (FY 2024):
- Investment income and dividends: $235,037
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $402,606
- Total grants and contributions received: $59,151
Giving Rate: Approximately 10.5% of assets annually
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $6,617,773 | $6,610,216 | $6,693,402 |
| Revenue | $711,037 | $696,794 | $212,370 |
| Expenses | $970,751 | $792,591 | $933,528 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $901,565 | $736,525 | $845,800 |
| Net Investment Income | $209,038 | $581,577 | $215,042 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,055,310 | $896,887 | $740,050 |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
182 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include St James Academy ($304,898), Olathe Public Schools Foundation ($100,000), Kansas State University Foundation ($30,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| HOLY TRINITY CATHOLIC CHURCH LENEXA, KS | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $1,500 |
| SALVATION ARMY - EASTSIDE CORPS KANSAS CITY, MO | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $25,000 |
| SISTER SERVANTS OF MARY KANSAS CITY, KS | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $3,000 |
| THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF GREATER KC - OLATHE UNIT OLATHE, KS | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $2,500 |
| DONNELLY COLLEGE KANSAS CITY, KS | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $25,000 |
| THE CRAYON INITIATIVE DANVILLE, CA | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $5,000 |
| ALPHAPOINTE KANSAS CITY, MO | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $25,000 |
| BLUE VALLEY EDUCATION FOUNDATION OVERLAND PARK, KS | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $27,500 |
| JCCC FOUNDATION OVERLAND PARK, KS | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $25,000 |
| BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA KANSAS CITY, MO | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Clay Blair III – President
- Clay Blair IV – Board Member
- Janet Blair – Board Member
- Elizabeth Lechner – Board Member
- Nicholas Platko – Executive Director
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLAY BLAIR III | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| CLAY BLAIR IV | BOARD MEMBER | 0.25 | — |
| JANET BLAIR | SECRETARY, TREASURER, & BOARD MEMBER | 0.25 | — |
| ELIZABETH LECHNER | VICE PRESIDENT & BOARD MEMBER | 0.25 | — |
| MICHAEL BROWN | BOARD MEMBER | 0.25 | — |
| NICHOLAS PLATKO | PRESIDENT & BOARD MEMBER | 15 | $54,000 |
Contact Information
Address: 13626 W 87th Street Parkway, Lenexa, KS 66215-4509
Telephone: 913-831-3388
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Clay Blair Foundation fund?
The foundation has not provided a formal mission statement. However, its grantmaking focuses on Education, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, and Human Services.
How do I apply for a grant from Clay Blair Foundation?
The Clay Blair Foundation is an active grantmaker with a consistent annual distribution pattern. Recent grantmaking activity includes: **Grant Activity (Fiscal Year Ending August 2024):** • Total grants distributed: $691,000–$852,428 • Number of grants: 20–38 grants annually • Median grant size: $10,000–$15,000 • Grant range: $1,000–$304,898 **Recent Grantees (2024):** • KU Endowment: $135,000 • St James Academy: $120,000 • MidAmerica Nazarene University Foundation: $35,000 • The Greater Kansas…
Where does Clay Blair Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Kansas, Missouri, and New Mexico.
What size grants does Clay Blair Foundation award?
In 2025, Clay Blair Foundation awarded 35 grants totaling $852K — an average of about $24K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Clay Blair Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Clay Blair Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Clay Blair Foundation's EIN?
Clay Blair Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 48-1041889. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Clay Blair Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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