Edward & Kathryn Mader Foundation
The Edward G. and Kathryn E. Mader Foundation is a private foundation based in Overland Park, Kansas, that funds programs supporting children in Greater Kansas City. The family foundation was established in 2000 by Kathryn in memory of her husband, Edward, and is committed to children’s health, education, and welfare.
Edward & Kathryn Mader Foundation at a glance
In short: Edward & Kathryn Mader Foundation gave $596K across 36 grants in 2024 (avg $17K), mostly in Missouri. 33% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $596,204
- -13.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 36
- -2.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $16,561
- -11.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $12,125,985
- +1.5% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 33% first-time grantees (12 of 36, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Missouri (75% 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 Edward & Kathryn Mader Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Submit the foundation’s application form and budget form. The foundation’s website provides application materials and guidelines. Previous-cycle reports are due March 1; applications are reviewed May 1–July 31, with site visits or meetings at the grant committee’s discretion. Final decisions are made August 1–September 1, and the grant committee holds its selection meeting in September. All awarded funds must be spent by June 30 to qualify for the next funding cycle.
- Review Cycle
- March 1–May 1.
- Deadline
- March 1–May 1.
- Contact
Application contact: Mader Foundation
Mailing address: 5901 College Blvd Suite 100, Overland Park, KS 66211-1503
Phone: (913) 319-0300
Website: https://maderfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Edward & Kathryn Mader Foundation
Who Edward & Kathryn Mader Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Girl Scouts of NE Kansas & NW Missouri ($39K). Together the top 10 received $288K.
Grant Size Distribution
173 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 167 grants of 173 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes its focus as Greater Kansas City. In 2024, 75% of grant dollars went to recipients in Missouri, 23% to recipients in Kansas, and 1% to recipients in Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 36 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Edward & Kathryn Mader Foundation open to new grantees?
33%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 12 of 36 grantees (33%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $15K; repeat grants $17K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $16K repeat.
- 47% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 36% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 93% 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 (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 $501K (2020) to $925K (2021). In 2024 it made 36 grants totaling $596K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Girl Scouts of NE Kansas & NW Missouri Overland Park, KS | Donation | $38,500 |
| Special Olympics Kansas Mission, KS | Unified Champion Schools | $34,900 |
| Love Fund for Children Kansas City, MO | Donation | $30,000 |
| Lee's Summit Social Services Lees Summit, MO | Back to School Clothes & | $30,000 |
| Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care Kansas City, MO | Grant for Carousel | $30,000 |
| Lifeflight Eagle Air Ambulance Kansas City, MO | Donation | $27,520 |
| Operation Breakthrough Kansas City, MO | Donation | $25,000 |
| Children's Mercy Northland Kansas City, MO | Donation | $25,000 |
| Rebuilding Together Kansas City Inc Liberty, MO | Grant for Safe at Home | $25,000 |
| Community Services League Independance, MO | Donation | $22,075 |
Ready to take the next step with Edward & Kathryn Mader Foundation?
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 | $12,125,985 | $1,178,934 | $1,002,559 | $596,204 | 36 | $861,915 | $1,047,557 | $923,174 |
| 2023 | $11,946,463 | $515,485 | $1,047,661 | $690,732 | 37 | $935,202 | $404,070 | $825,219 |
| 2022 | $12,457,498 | $590,464 | $1,152,087 | $775,839 | 33 | $1,011,453 | $474,950 | $835,724 |
| 2021 | $12,964,393 | $1,852,513 | $1,270,266 | $925,149 | 41 | $1,157,926 | $1,749,858 | $932,966 |
| 2020 | $12,445,266 | $628,543 | $768,141 | $500,879 | 26 | — | $531,861 | $806,910 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Edward & Kathryn Mader Foundation reported a distributable amount of $923K 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
The foundation identifies arts, education, health, and welfare as its funding areas. Applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations with financial records available for the prior two years, and the proposed program must directly benefit children in grades K–12 in Greater Kansas City. A completed budget form is also required.
Examples of grantees include Love Fund for Children, which says it bridges gaps in youth services by helping meet children’s unmet needs across Kansas City, and Operation Breakthrough, which says it provides a safe, loving, educational environment for children in poverty and supports their families. Special Olympics Kansas describes its work as empowering people with intellectual disabilities through sports, health and nutrition programs, and leadership development.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 36 grants totaling $596,204. Grant amounts ranged from $3,800 to $38,500, with a median grant of $15,000. The foundation’s application page lists an average gift size of $25,000 and an average of 35–40 grants filled yearly.
Among its 2024 grants were $38,500 to Girl Scouts of NE Kansas & NW Missouri; $34,900 to Special Olympics Kansas for Unified Champion Schools; $30,000 each to Love Fund for Children and Lee’s Summit Social Services; and $30,000 to Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care for the Carousel. Other awards included $25,000 each to Operation Breakthrough and Rebuilding Together Kansas City, and $21,600 to Food Equality Initiative for Food Is Medicine.
The foundation’s website says applications are accepted annually and describes a March 1–May 1 application period. The application page lists the 2026 application period as March 1 through May 1. Applicants may submit only one application per organization per grant season. The foundation states that awards will not fund wages or salaries, operating or indirect expenses, fundraising activities, or pass-through funding. Its eligibility information also disqualifies organizations with restricted membership.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Midwest Trust Company as trustee. Melissa D. Mader-Schaefer and Kathryn D. Schaefer are listed on the grant committee.
Edward & Kathryn Mader Foundation's 2024 filing lists 3 officers; all 3 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Midwest Trust Company
Trustee
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
$54K (2023) → $60K (2024)
Kathryn D. Schaefer
Grant Committee
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $71K (2024)
Melissa D. Mader-Schaefer
Grant Committee
On filings since 2020
30 hrs/week
$110K (2020) → $156K (2024)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Danielle Schaefer (2020) — Grant Committee
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 $156K, to Melissa D Mader-Schaefer (Grant Committee). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Edward & Kathryn Mader Foundation
How much does Edward & Kathryn Mader Foundation give each year?
Edward & Kathryn Mader Foundation gave $596K across 36 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $691K across 37 grants.
What is Edward & Kathryn Mader Foundation's typical grant size?
Edward & Kathryn Mader Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $15,000, and its average grant was $16,561, across 36 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Edward & Kathryn Mader Foundation that year got $15K on average.
Where does Edward & Kathryn Mader Foundation give grants?
Edward & Kathryn Mader Foundation gives mostly in Missouri: 75% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Kansas (23%). The most frequent recipient cities were Kansas City, MO (23 grants) and Kansas City, KS (3 grants).
Does Edward & Kathryn Mader Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 36 grants with a stated purpose on Edward & Kathryn Mader Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Donation" (19 grants).
Who are Edward & Kathryn Mader Foundation's largest grantees?
Edward & Kathryn Mader Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Girl Scouts of NE Kansas & NW Missouri ($38,500), Special Olympics Kansas ($34,900) and Love Fund for Children ($30,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 17% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Edward & Kathryn Mader Foundation?
Edward & Kathryn Mader Foundation reported $12.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $862K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $923K (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 Edward & Kathryn Mader Foundation fund?
The foundation identifies arts, education, health, and welfare as its funding areas. Applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations with financial records available for the prior two years, and the proposed program must directly benefit children in grades K–12 in Greater Kansas City. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Edward & Kathryn Mader Foundation?
Submit the foundation’s application form and budget form. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Edward & Kathryn Mader Foundation's EIN?
Edward & Kathryn Mader Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-6728720. 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Edward & Kathryn Mader Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Edward & Kathryn Mader Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Edward & Kathryn Mader Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/edward-and-kathryn-mader-foundation-morg_e444eb1c0cef4359ac2354f1d095d1c2
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_206728720_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Edward \& Kathryn Mader Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/edward-and-kathryn-mader-foundation-morg_e444eb1c0cef4359ac2354f1d095d1c2},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. 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 Edward & Kathryn Mader 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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