Commerce Bancshares Foundation
Commerce Bancshares Foundation is a private foundation based in an individual recipient, Missouri. Its 2024 filing reports grants to nonprofit organizations, including United Ways, the Police Foundation of an individual recipient, and the Urban League of an individual recipient
Commerce Bancshares Foundation at a glance
In short: Commerce Bancshares Foundation gave $2.0M across 645 grants in 2024 (avg $3K), mostly in Missouri. 21% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,034,526
- +6.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 645
- -3.4% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $3,154
- +10.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,500
- Total assets
- $34,951,868
- +15.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 21% first-time grantees (118 of 573, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Missouri (67% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Commerce Bancshares Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Applicants should contact the program director and provide documentation of charitable status under IRC 501(c)(3). The filing lists no restrictions on awards.
- Contact
Application contact: Program Director
Mailing address: 1000 Walnut, Kansas City, MO 64106
Phone: (816) 234-1768
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Commerce Bancshares Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was United Way of Greater St Louis Inc ($242K across 4 grants). Together the top 10 received $661K.
Organizations only. It also paid 6 grants to individuals ($18,950), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
3,598 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 3,576 grants of 3,598 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 67% of grant dollars went to recipients in Missouri, 14% to Kansas, 9% to Illinois, 3% to Oklahoma, and 3% to Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 645 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Commerce Bancshares Foundation open to new grantees?
21%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 118 of 573 grantees (21%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 69% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+8%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 214% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.9M (2021) to $2.3M (2020). In 2024 it made 645 grants totaling $2.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| United Way of Greater St Louis Inc St. Louis, MO | Used at the discretion of the board of directors or trustees as they see fit for operating their organization | $60,500 |
| United Way of Greater St Louis Inc St. Louis, MO | Used at the discretion of the board of directors or trustees as they see fit for operating their organization | $60,500 |
| United Way of Greater St Louis Inc St. Louis, MO | Used at the discretion of the board of directors or trustees as they see fit for operating their organization | $60,500 |
| United Way of Greater St Louis Inc St. Louis, MO | Used at the discretion of the board of directors or trustees as they see fit for operating their organization | $60,500 |
| Police Foundation of Kansas City Kansas City, MO | Peregrine Technology Acquisition | $50,000 |
| United Way of Greater Kansas City Inc Kansas City, MO | Used at the discretion of the board of directors or trustees as they see fit for operating their organization | $42,628 |
| United Way of Greater Kansas City Inc Kansas City, MO | Used at the discretion of the board of directors or trustees as they see fit for operating their organization | $42,628 |
| United Way of Greater Kansas City Inc Kansas City, MO | Used at the discretion of the board of directors or trustees as they see fit for operating their organization | $42,628 |
| United Way of Greater Kansas City Inc Kansas City, MO | Used at the discretion of the board of directors or trustees as they see fit for operating their organization | $42,628 |
| Urban League of Metropolitan St Louis St. Louis, MO | Natural Bridge Renovation | $40,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $34,951,868 | $6,909,452 | $2,269,677 | $2,034,526 | 645 | $3,685,795 | $1,732,157 | $1,720,770 |
| 2023 | $30,301,246 | $1,244,719 | $2,072,905 | $1,909,453 | 668 | $3,203,304 | $1,156,677 | $1,486,045 |
| 2022 | $31,186,838 | $1,288,081 | $2,062,648 | $1,889,813 | 711 | $2,099,416 | $1,176,552 | $1,613,548 |
| 2021 | $31,991,951 | $1,417,732 | $2,160,501 | $1,883,204 | 720 | $2,845,583 | $1,256,904 | $1,857,182 |
| 2020 | $32,597,412 | $784,828 | $2,428,076 | $2,329,620 | 854 | — | $627,928 | $1,726,132 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Commerce Bancshares Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.7M for 2024 — 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. Its listed 2024 grants show support for organizations with varied purposes. For example, United Way of an individual recipient describes its work as mobilizing people, resources, and funding to build strong and equitable communities, with focus areas including essential needs, youth success, health, jobs and financial mobility, and community stability. United Way of an individual recipient says it assembles resources to provide a network of support for people in need. The Police Foundation of an individual recipient says it supports the an individual recipient, Missouri Police Department by providing money, property, and services.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 645 grants totaling $2,034,526. Grants ranged from $200 to $60,500, with a median of $1,500. Among the listed awards were four grants of $60,500 each to United Way of an individual recipient; four grants of $42,628 each to United Way of an individual recipient; $50,000 to the Police Foundation of an individual recipient; $40,000 to the Urban League of an individual recipient for Natural Bridge renovation; and $35,000 to United Way of the Plains.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists the following officers and directors: John W. Kemper, president and director; Charles G. Kim, vice president, treasurer, and director; Charlotte L. Kemper Black, vice president, COO, and director; Kevin Barth, director; and Robert S. Holmes, director. It also lists Daniel J. Adams as assistant secretary and Margaret M. Rowe as secretary.
Commerce Bancshares Foundation is led by John W. Kemper, President & Director since 2022 (on filings since 2020); none of the 7 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
John W. Kemper
President & Director
Director → President & Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Charles G. Kim
Vice President, Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Charlotte L. Kemper Black
Vice President, COO & Director
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Barth
Director
On filings since 2022
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert S. Holmes
Director
On filings since 2022
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Margaret M. Rowe
Secretary
Assistant Secretary → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Daniel J. Adams
Assistant Secretary
New on the 2024 filing
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Thomas J. Noack (2020–2023) — Secretary
- Former: David W. Kemper (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Jonathan M. Kemper (2020–2021) — President & Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Commerce Bancshares Foundation
How much does Commerce Bancshares Foundation give each year?
Commerce Bancshares Foundation gave $2.0M across 645 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.9M across 668 grants.
What is Commerce Bancshares Foundation's typical grant size?
Commerce Bancshares Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $1,500, and its average grant was $3,154, across 645 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Commerce Bancshares Foundation that year got $2K on average.
Where does Commerce Bancshares Foundation give grants?
Commerce Bancshares Foundation gives mostly in Missouri: 67% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Kansas (14%) and Illinois (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were St. Louis, MO (152 grants), Kansas City, MO (44 grants), Springfield, MO (29 grants) and Peoria, IL (22 grants).
Does Commerce Bancshares Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 72% of Commerce Bancshares Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (462 of 645) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Drive up Pups" (11 grants), "Capital Campaign" (5 grants) and "Food Pantry" (4 grants).
Who are Commerce Bancshares Foundation's largest grantees?
Commerce Bancshares Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include United Way of Greater St Louis Inc ($242,000 across 4 grants), United Way of Greater Kansas City Inc ($170,512 across 4 grants) and Police Foundation of Kansas City ($50,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 6 grants to individuals ($18,950), which are not listed by name. Together they received 23% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Commerce Bancshares Foundation?
Commerce Bancshares Foundation reported $35.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.7M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Commerce Bancshares Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its listed 2024 grants show support for organizations with varied purposes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Commerce Bancshares Foundation?
The foundation states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Commerce Bancshares Foundation's EIN?
Commerce Bancshares Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 44-6012453. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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 2020 (received by the IRS November 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 27, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 8, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Commerce Bancshares Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/commerce-bancshares-foundation-morg_43f8188d45bf407f862ed62db5514c37
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_446012453_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Commerce Bancshares Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/commerce-bancshares-foundation-morg_43f8188d45bf407f862ed62db5514c37},
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 Commerce Bancshares 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.
Commerce Bancshares Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?