E L and Z Irene Hopkins Private logo

E L and Z Irene Hopkins Private

Private foundation · Grantmaker Emporia, KS EIN: 74-2831255 Website

E L and Z Irene Hopkins Private is a private foundation based in Emporia, Kansas. Its website says it was established to improve the quality of life and circumstances of children and the people who serve them, primarily in Lyon, Chase, Morris, and Coffey counties in Kansas.

Key facts about E L and Z Irene Hopkins Private

In short: E L and Z Irene Hopkins Private gave $341K across 26 grants in 2025 (avg $13K), mostly in Kansas. 30% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
74-2831255
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$340,786
Grants made (2025)
26
Average grant
$13,107
Median grant
$5,500
New grantees (estimate)
30% first-time grantees (6 of 20, 2025; small sample)
Total assets
$6,901,507
Primary geography
Kansas (99% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
How to apply
The 2025 filing says applicants should contact Michelle Molinaro and submit the grant application form with proof of 501(c)(3) status, a list of officers and board members with their principal occupations, the most… Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$6.9M

-2.0% YoY

Annual Giving

$341K

+33.3% YoY

Grant Count

26

+0.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$13K

+33.3% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, E L and Z Irene Hopkins Private reported a distributable amount of $514K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Is E L and Z Irene Hopkins Private open to new grantees?

30%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 6 of 20 grantees (30%) were first-time recipients. With only 20 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $8K; repeat grants $19K. How we count

Medians: $5K first-time, $6K repeat.

  • 55% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving grew 238% from 2022 to 2025. Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 113% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation’s website lists community improvement, education, youth programs, and human services as primary areas of interest. It also describes a commitment to teachers and school staff through its “Star Performer” and “WOW” awards.

The 2025 grants illustrate support for varied organizations and projects, including school projects, a pet shelter campaign, camps, scholarships, teacher awards, and family support. Among the recipients, Radical Life Inc describes its work as cultivating strong and healthy families, reducing the number of children entering foster care, and addressing family poverty. SparkWheel Inc says it works to remove barriers and provide people it serves with resources to thrive. The Imaginarium says it brings science, technology, engineering, and math education to area youth.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 26 grants totaling $340,786. Grant amounts ranged from $150 to $150,000, with a median of $5,500.

The largest reported grant was $150,000 to Emporia Community Foundation for “general purposes school projects.” Other notable grants included $25,000 to Emporia Community Foundation for Olpe Fitness Park, $25,000 to Southwick House for its “Next 100 Year Campaign Pet Shelter,” and $17,000 to Radical Life Inc for family and leader support. Camp Wood YMCA received $15,000 for its Tower Project; Camp Chippewa received $12,000 for a three-day Bethlehem event; and USD 253 received $11,374 for teacher awards. Flint Hills Technical College received $10,000 for its Need A Fund and scholarships, while Mission Creek Camp Retreat Center received two $10,000 grants for scholarships and programming enhancements.

The foundation’s website says applicants should first review its mission and grant guidelines, then submit a complete application. A preliminary letter of inquiry is not required; applicants may send one if they have questions about eligibility, with a program summary and description of its potential impact. Selected recipients formalize grant terms in a contract that includes a reporting schedule.

How to Apply

The 2025 filing says applicants should contact Michelle Molinaro and submit the grant application form with proof of 501(c)(3) status, a list of officers and board members with their principal occupations, the most recent financial statement or Form 990, a one-page project budget showing proposed revenues and expenses, and, if applicable, contact information for partnering organizations. Awards are restricted to qualified public charities under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The filing states that applications are accepted at any time.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation’s website identifies Lyon, Chase, Morris, and Coffey counties in Kansas as its primary geographic area. In filing year 2025, 99% of grant dollars went to recipients in Kansas and 1% to recipients in New York.

Grant Distribution by State

3states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 26 itemized grants.

Cities

EmporiaKansas CityHartfordAmericusElmdaleOttawaGreensburgLawrenceTopekaCottonwood FallsMissionWichitaBeltonEllisvilleLampeLeawoodLoch LloydNew YorkOsage CityOverland Park

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$200K$400K$600K33 grants2020 17 grants2021 14 grants2022 20 grants2023 26 grants2024 26 grants2025

From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $101K (2022) to $428K (2020). In 2025 it made 26 grants totaling $341K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Emporia Community Foundation: $175K across 3 grantsEmporia Community Foundation$175K · 3 grantsSouthwick House: $25KSouthwick House$25KFHTC: $20K across 3 grantsFHTC$20K · 3 grantsMission Creek Camp Retreat Ctr: $20K across 2 grantsMission Creek Camp Retreat Ctr$20K · 2 grantsUSD 253: $18K across 2 grantsUSD 253$18K · 2 grantsRadical Life Inc: $17KRadical Life Inc$17KCamp Wood YMCA: $15KCamp Wood YMCA$15KCamp Chippewa: $12KCamp Chippewa$12KSparkwheel Inc: $10KSparkwheel Inc$10KSpecial Olympics: $6KSpecial Olympics$6K

The largest 2025 recipient was Emporia Community Foundation ($175K across 3 grants). Together the top 10 received $319K.

Grant Size Distribution

103 grants across all recorded years

101<$50K$50–100K2$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 101 grants of 103 (98%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Emporia Community Foundation Emporia, KSGeneral Purposes School Projects$150,000
Emporia Community Foundation Emporia, KSOlpe Fitness Park$25,000
Southwick House Emporia, KSNext 100 Year Campaign Pet Shelter$25,000
Radical Life Inc Emporia, KSFamily & Hope Support of Leaders$17,000
Camp Wood YMCA Elmdale, KSTower Project$15,000
Camp Chippewa Ottawa, KS3 Day Bethlehem Event$12,000
USD 253 Emporia, KSTeacher Awards$11,374
FHTC Emporia, KSNeed a Fund & Scholarships$10,000
Mission Creek Camp Retreat Ctr Topeka, KSScholarships$10,000
Mission Creek Camp Retreat Ctr Topeka, KSProgramming Enhancements$10,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants
2025 $6,901,507 $500,328 $637,632 $340,786
2024 $7,038,811 $627,849 $539,932 $255,671
2023 $6,950,898 $445,358 $477,140 $197,842
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$250K$500K$750K$1M2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$6,901,507$7,038,811$6,950,898
Revenue$500,328$627,849$445,358
Expenses$637,632$539,932$477,140
Qualifying Distributions$580,271$484,954$431,952
Net Investment Income$294,330$259,014$210,563
Distributable Amount$514,365$489,132$438,263

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
  2. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Kenneth L. Hopkins as president; Michelle R. Molinaro as secretary-treasurer; and Tom Krueger, Sharon Tidwell, and Jessica Hopkins as directors.

E L and Z Irene Hopkins Private is led by Kenneth L. Hopkins, President on every filing since 2020; 3 of 5 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Kenneth L. Hopkins

    President

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Sharon Tidwell

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    $1K (2020) → $400 (2025)

  • Tom Krueger

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    $5K (2020) → $0 (2025)

  • Jessica Hopkins

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    0.5 hrs/week

    $200 (2025)

  • Michelle R. Molinaro

    Secretary - Treasurer

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $113K (2020) → $130K (2025)

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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

Michelle R Molinaro — Sec - Treas: $130KMichelle R MolinaroSec - Treas$130KSharon Tidwell — Director: $400Sharon TidwellDirector$400Jessica Hopkins — Director: $200Jessica HopkinsDirector$200

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $130K, to Michelle R Molinaro (Sec - Treas). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Contact

Application contact: Michelle Molinaro
Mailing address: 4820 W 143Rd Terrace, Leawood, KS 66224
Phone: (913) 269-6428
Website: https://thehopkinsfoundation.org

Frequently asked questions about E L and Z Irene Hopkins Private

How much does E L and Z Irene Hopkins Private give each year?

E L and Z Irene Hopkins Private gave $341K across 26 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $256K across 26 grants.

What is E L and Z Irene Hopkins Private's typical grant size?

E L and Z Irene Hopkins Private's median grant in 2025 was $5,500, and its average grant was $13,107, across 26 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from E L and Z Irene Hopkins Private that year got $8K on average.

Where does E L and Z Irene Hopkins Private give grants?

E L and Z Irene Hopkins Private gives mostly in Kansas: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Emporia, KS (16 grants) and Topeka, KS (2 grants).

Does E L and Z Irene Hopkins Private give general operating support?

Occasionally: 4% of E L and Z Irene Hopkins Private's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 26) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Teacher Awards" (5 grants).

Who are E L and Z Irene Hopkins Private's largest grantees?

E L and Z Irene Hopkins Private's largest 2025 grantees include Emporia Community Foundation ($175,150 across 3 grants), Southwick House ($25,000) and FHTC ($20,000 across 3 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 65% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is E L and Z Irene Hopkins Private?

E L and Z Irene Hopkins Private reported $6.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $580K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $514K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does E L and Z Irene Hopkins Private fund?

The foundation’s website lists community improvement, education, youth programs, and human services as primary areas of interest. It also describes a commitment to teachers and school staff through its “Star Performer” and “WOW” awards. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from E L and Z Irene Hopkins Private?

The 2025 filing says applicants should contact Michelle Molinaro and submit the grant application form with proof of 501(c)(3) status, a list of officers and board members with their principal occupations, the most… Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is E L and Z Irene Hopkins Private's EIN?

E L and Z Irene Hopkins Private's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-2831255. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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