Community Foundation of Southwest Kansas
The Community Foundation of Southwest Kansas is a public charity based in an individual recipient, Kansas, formed in 1991. It manages charitable funds from individuals, families, businesses, and foundations and makes distributions for community grants and scholarships.
Community Foundation of Southwest Kansas at a glance
In short: Community Foundation of Southwest Kansas gave $1.1M across 125 grants in 2024 (avg $9K), mostly in Kansas. 30% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,140,970
- +0.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 125
- +0.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $9,128
- -0.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $7,000
- Total assets
- $49,208,892
- +4.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 30% first-time grantees (23 of 76, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Kansas (99% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Community Foundation of Southwest Kansas
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests during its annual September 1–October 1 grant period. Nonprofits, schools, and government entities may apply for open grants for charitable organizations in Southwest Kansas; funding is also available for organizations focused specifically on children’s issues. Applications must be complete and unsigned applications are not accepted. Applicants should include a detailed project budget; nonprofit applicants must also provide an IRS determination letter and their most recent financial statement. Past recipients should include press releases or other public announcements of prior awards. Applications must be mailed in photocopy-ready form; email and fax submissions are not accepted. Grantees must submit an annual report by September 1 describing use of funds, statistical information such as people served, and, if possible, project or program outcomes. Photographs are appreciated.
- Review Cycle
- October 1, 2026.
- Deadline
- October 1, 2026.
- Next open deadline
- February 1, 2027 (Community Foundation of Southwest Kansas Scholarship Program)
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 1313, Dodge City, KS 67801
Phone: (620) 225-0959
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Community Foundation of Southwest Kansas
Community Foundation of Southwest Kansas Scholarship Program
Community Foundation of Southwest Kansas
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Expected ~February
Based on past cycles
Juanita Abell Pyle Scholarship (Community Foundation of Southwest Kansas)
Community Foundation of Southwest Kansas
Amount
$3,000 per school year, payable for up to 5 semesters
Deadline
Expected ~June
Based on past cycles
Who Community Foundation of Southwest Kansas funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Dodge City Community College Foundation ($65K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $481K.
Grant Size Distribution
430 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 416 grants of 430 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes its general grants as serving charitable organizations in Southwest Kansas. In 2024, 99% of itemized grant dollars went to recipients in Kansas, 1% to recipients in Florida, and less than 1% to recipients in Iowa.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 125 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Community Foundation of Southwest Kansas open to new grantees?
30%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 23 of 76 grantees (30%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $11K; repeat grants $17K. How we count
Medians: $7K first-time, $12K repeat.
- 62% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+17%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 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 $940K (2020) to $1.2M (2022). In 2024 it made 125 grants totaling $1.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Dodge City Community College Foundation Dodge City, KS | project support | $64,375 |
| Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation Wichita, KS | CFSK Endowment | $50,000 |
| Quivira Council Boy Scouts of America Wichita, KS | open grant | $35,000 |
| Dodge City Family YMCA Dodge City, KS | Operating | $30,000 |
| Manor of the Plains Dodge City, KS | Good Samaritan Fund | $28,000 |
| Arrowhead West Inc Dodge City, KS | Operating support | $27,702 |
| Kansas Food Bank Warehouse Wichita, KS | Garden City warehouse construction | $25,000 |
| Kansas Food Bank Warehouse Wichita, KS | Garden City warehouse Construction Tom & Donna Shirley donor advised funds | $25,000 |
| First United Methodist Church Dodge City, KS | operating support | $20,000 |
| Ford County Humane Society Dodge City, KS | operating support | $20,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Community Foundation of Southwest Kansas?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $49,208,892 | $3,631,414 | $2,071,282 | $1,140,970 | 125 | $2,721,459 |
| 2023 | $47,297,451 | $2,358,585 | $2,370,543 | $1,137,922 | 124 | $1,643,223 |
| 2022 | $43,880,796 | $1,962,840 | $2,311,567 | $1,151,147 | 56 | $1,371,609 |
| 2021 | $50,834,309 | $6,868,951 | $1,994,173 | $973,839 | 68 | $4,312,744 |
| 2020 | $46,337,145 | $2,825,913 | $1,904,173 | $939,760 | 57 | $1,758,039 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to improve quality of life in Southwest Kansas through philanthropic leadership and by maintaining and enhancing the area’s educational, social, cultural, health, and civic resources.
Its general grants support charitable organizations in Southwest Kansas, including organizations focused specifically on children’s issues. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, schools, and government entities. The foundation also runs a scholarship program for students; those awards are made to students attending higher education institutions, with scholarship checks payable to the school.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate a range of services. Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation describes its work as providing customized services, supports, and technologies for people with disabilities, with an emphasis on employment and training. Arrowhead West says it offers community-integrated services to children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Hospice of the Prairie describes itself as providing hospice and other home-care services. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own work.
Grantmaking
Separately, the foundation’s 2024 filing narrative describes awards of 218 grants to area nonprofit organizations; the filing also reports 192 scholarships awarded to students.
Among the largest itemized 2024 grants were $64,375 to an individual recipient Community College Foundation for project support; $50,000 to Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation for the CFSK Endowment; $35,000 to Quivira Council Boy Scouts of America for an open grant; and $30,000 to Dodge City Family YMCA for operating support. Other listed awards included $28,000 to Manor of the Plains for its Good Samaritan Fund, $27,702 to Arrowhead West for operating support, and $25,000 each to Kansas Food Bank Warehouse for an individual recipient warehouse construction, including one award identified with the Tom & Donna Shirley donor-advised funds.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Craig Mock as chairman; Lu Ann Wetmore as treasurer; and Robert Neidhart, Darin Golliher, Carol Sibley, Daniel Love, Mike Hitz, Kerri Baker, Michael Mariche, and Dana Waters as directors.
The foundation’s website identifies Ryan Ausmus as executive director, Aaron Barnes as program director, and Margaret Hamilton as development director.
Community Foundation of Southwest Kansas is led by Ryan Ausmus, Executive Director since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 2 of 13 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Ryan Ausmus
Executive Director
Director → Assistant Executive Director, 2022
Assistant Executive Director → Executive Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$111K (2022) → $114K (2024)
Craig Mock
Chairman
Director → Chairman, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dana Waters
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Darin Golliher
Director
Chairman → Chair, 2023
Chair → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert Neidhart
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carol Sibley
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Daniel Love
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mike Hitz
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kerri Baker
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Mariche
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lori Bone
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Patric Hamit
Former Executive Director
Executive Director → Former Executive Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$95K (2020) → $114K (2024)
Lu Ann Wetmore
Treasurer
Secretary → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (8)
- Former: Dan Harris (2020–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Jacque Kemmerer (2020–2022) — Chair
- Former: Mindy Burkhart (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Ernestor De La Rosa (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Kenny Snook (2022) — Director
- Former: Ken Snook (2021) — Director
- Former: Julie Pinkerton (2020) — Director
- Former: Rebecca Barnhardt (2020) — 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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $114K, to Ryan Ausmus (Executive director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Community Foundation of Southwest Kansas
How much does Community Foundation of Southwest Kansas give each year?
Community Foundation of Southwest Kansas gave $1.1M across 125 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $1.1M across 124 grants.
What is Community Foundation of Southwest Kansas's typical grant size?
Community Foundation of Southwest Kansas's median grant in 2024 was $7,000, and its average grant was $9,128, across 125 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Community Foundation of Southwest Kansas that year got $11K on average.
Where does Community Foundation of Southwest Kansas give grants?
Community Foundation of Southwest Kansas gives mostly in Kansas: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Dodge City, KS (85 grants), Wichita, KS (11 grants), Spearville, KS (4 grants) and Bucklin, KS (4 grants).
Does Community Foundation of Southwest Kansas give general operating support?
Yes: 26% of Community Foundation of Southwest Kansas's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (33 of 125) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990. Recurring purposes include "Open Grant" (41 grants), "Project Support" (10 grants) and "Organizational support" (3 grants).
Who are Community Foundation of Southwest Kansas's largest grantees?
Community Foundation of Southwest Kansas's largest 2024 grantees include Dodge City Community College Foundation ($64,875 across 2 grants), Kansas Food Bank Warehouse ($60,000 across 3 grants) and Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation ($55,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 16% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Community Foundation of Southwest Kansas?
Community Foundation of Southwest Kansas reported $49.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.6M.
What does Community Foundation of Southwest Kansas fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to improve quality of life in Southwest Kansas through philanthropic leadership and by maintaining and enhancing the area’s educational, social, cultural, health, and civic resources. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Community Foundation of Southwest Kansas?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests during its annual September 1–October 1 grant period. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Community Foundation of Southwest Kansas's EIN?
Community Foundation of Southwest Kansas's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 48-1117413. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Community Foundation of Southwest Kansas accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 19, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS September 8, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS September 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 23, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Community Foundation of Southwest Kansas's focus areas in our free grants database
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The Mariah Fund supported western Kansas heritage preservation and local and regional tourism projects, including museums, arts, rodeos, and community redevelopment, within 22 counties in Southwest Kansas. Its reported grants included several awards of $11,250, but filings say it completed a voluntary termination and ceased operations, so it is no longer an active funding prospect. It previously required applications on its forms; current unsolicited requests are not accepted or invited.
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—
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Kansas Health Foundation
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The Kansas Health Foundation funds efforts to improve health and reduce health disparities, including community-led work, food security, policy and systems change, and stronger organizations. Its 2024 grants had a median of $5,000, with awards ranging from $5,000 to $6 million; its work is focused on Kansas, where 91% of 2024 grant dollars went. It lists sponsorship requests and applications for specific programs, but does not state whether it accepts unsolicited general requests.
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Community Foundation of Southwest Kansas funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/community-foundation-of-southwest-kansas-morg_65755d8e15464e758efef573e3117172
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_481117413_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Community Foundation of Southwest Kansas funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/community-foundation-of-southwest-kansas-morg_65755d8e15464e758efef573e3117172},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-05. 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 Community Foundation of Southwest Kansas'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.
Community Foundation of Southwest Kansas down — hundreds of funders to go?