Clay Blair Foundation
The Clay Blair Foundation is a private foundation based in Lenexa, Kansas. Its 2025 filing reports 35 grants totaling $852,428. The foundation’s filing describes support for community organizations serving people in need, civic organizations, and educational programs and scholarships, with particular attention to Missouri, Kansas, and the greater Kansas City area.
Clay Blair Foundation at a glance
In short: Clay Blair Foundation gave $852K across 35 grants in 2025 (avg $24K), mostly in Kansas. 37% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $852,428
- +23.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 35
- -7.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $24,355
- +33.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $6,617,773
- +0.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 37% first-time grantees (13 of 35, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Kansas (76% 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 Clay Blair Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Applicants must submit a letter designating their need and intended use of funds, along with available descriptive materials. As applicable, they must also provide a statement of purpose and goals, sources of support, a facility description, financial statements, and a list of board members and staff. The foundation says applicants should demonstrate a sound management team, a clearly defined mission, and a worthy cause. Grants are made in increments of $1,000 or more, depending on the applicant’s demonstrated scope and need.
- Review Cycle
- Applications must be submitted no later than September 15 each year.
- Deadline
- Applications must be submitted no later than September 15 each year.
- Contact
Application contact: Clay Blair Iii
Mailing address: 13626 West 87Th Street Parkway, Lenexa, KS 66215
Phone: (913) 831-3388
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Clay Blair Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was St James Academy ($305K). Together the top 10 received $612K.
Grant Size Distribution
182 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 170 grants of 182 (93%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s application guidance says it selects recipients from Missouri and Kansas, with particular attention to the greater Kansas City area. It also states that contributions may be made to individuals with needs outside the area. In 2025, 76% of grant dollars went to recipients in Kansas, 15% to Missouri, 5% to New Mexico, 3% to Minnesota, and 1% to California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 35 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Clay Blair Foundation open to new grantees?
37%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 13 of 35 grantees (37%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $12K; repeat grants $31K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 49% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 30% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 85% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $472K (2021) to $852K (2025). In 2025 it made 35 grants totaling $852K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| St James Academy Lenexa, KS | Charitable contribution of stock1) date of distribution: august 12, 20252) description of property: 1500 shares of alphabet inc3) book value: $37,627.15 method for determining book value: cost basis4) fair market value: $304,897.50 method for determining fair market value: average of the high and low selling prices | $304,898 |
| Olathe Public Schools Foundation Olathe, KS | Charitable Contribution | $100,000 |
| Kansas State University Foundation Manhattan, KS | Charitable Contribution | $30,000 |
| Blue Valley Education Foundation Overland Park, KS | Charitable Contribution | $27,500 |
| Salvation Army - Eastside Corps Kansas City, MO | Charitable Contribution | $25,000 |
| Donnelly College Kansas City, KS | Charitable Contribution | $25,000 |
| Alphapointe Kansas City, MO | Charitable Contribution | $25,000 |
| JCCC Foundation Overland Park, KS | Charitable Contribution | $25,000 |
| College of the Ozarks Point Lookout, MO | Charitable Contribution | $25,000 |
| Eastern New Mexico University Foundation Portales, NM | Charitable Contribution | $25,000 |
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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 | $6,617,773 | $711,037 | $970,751 | $852,428 | 35 | $901,565 | $209,038 | $1,055,310 |
| 2024 | $6,610,216 | $696,794 | $792,591 | $691,000 | 38 | $736,525 | $581,577 | $896,887 |
| 2023 | $6,693,402 | $212,370 | $933,528 | $808,000 | 45 | $845,800 | $215,042 | $740,050 |
| 2022 | $7,414,560 | $2,408,274 | $706,568 | $657,500 | 35 | $657,500 | $1,534,056 | $794,980 |
| 2021 | $5,763,295 | $439,823 | $529,617 | $471,932 | 29 | — | $168,248 | $656,791 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided in the available information. Its stated application guidance identifies community United Way and other organizations supporting people in need, civic organizations that uplift the community, and educational programs and scholarships as areas of interest.
Examples of supported organizations include the Olathe Public Schools Foundation, whose mission is to connect financial and volunteer resources to Olathe district schools to enhance educational excellence; and Donnelly College, which says it provides education and community services with personal concern for students, especially those who might not otherwise be served. Other 2025 recipients include organizations whose stated missions address university support and scholarships, services for people with vision loss, and health care, education, and research.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 35 grants totaling $852,428. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $304,898, with a median of $20,000. The largest grant was $304,898 to St. James Academy in Lenexa, Kansas, recorded as a charitable contribution of 1,500 shares of Alphabet Inc. stock. Other notable grants included $100,000 to the Olathe Public Schools Foundation; $30,000 to the Kansas State University Foundation; and $27,500 to the Blue Valley Education Foundation. The foundation also awarded $25,000 each to the Salvation Army–Eastside Corps, Donnelly College, Alphapointe, JCCC Foundation, College of the Ozarks, Eastern New Mexico University Foundation, and Mayo Clinic.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation’s 2025 filing lists Clay Blair III and Clay Blair IV as board members; Janet Blair as secretary, treasurer, and board member; Elizabeth Lechner as vice president and board member; Michael Brown as a board member; and Nicholas Platko as president and board member.
Clay Blair Foundation is led by Nicholas Platko, President & Board Member since 2025 (on filings since 2023); 1 of 6 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Nicholas Platko
President & Board Member
Executive Director → President & Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2023
15 hrs/week
$42K (2023) → $54K (2025)
Clay Blair III
Board Member
President → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Clay Blair IV
Board Member
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Lechner
Vice President & Board Member
Board Member → Vice President & Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Janet Blair
Secretary, Treasurer & Board Member
Board Member → Secretary, Treasurer & Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Brown
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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 $54K, to Nicholas Platko (President & Board Member).
Frequently asked questions about Clay Blair Foundation
How much does Clay Blair Foundation give each year?
Clay Blair Foundation gave $852K across 35 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $691K across 38 grants.
What is Clay Blair Foundation's typical grant size?
Clay Blair Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $20,000, and its average grant was $24,355, across 35 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Clay Blair Foundation that year got $12K on average.
Where does Clay Blair Foundation give grants?
Clay Blair Foundation gives mostly in Kansas: 76% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Missouri (15%) and New Mexico (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Overland Park, KS (6 grants), Kansas City, MO (5 grants), Olathe, KS (4 grants) and Kansas City, KS (4 grants).
Who are Clay Blair Foundation's largest grantees?
Clay Blair Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include St James Academy ($304,898), Olathe Public Schools Foundation ($100,000) and Kansas State University Foundation ($30,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 51% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Clay Blair Foundation?
Clay Blair Foundation reported $6.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $902K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.1M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Clay Blair Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided in the available information. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Clay Blair Foundation?
Applicants must submit a letter designating their need and intended use of funds, along with available descriptive materials. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Clay Blair Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/clay-blair-foundation-morg_6410717e196a4d5a83a7e10591daf1fd
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_481041889_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Clay Blair Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/clay-blair-foundation-morg_6410717e196a4d5a83a7e10591daf1fd},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Clay Blair 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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