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Golden Belt Community Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker Great Bend, KS EIN: 74-2804940 Website

Golden Belt Community Foundation (GBCF) is a community foundation based in Great Bend, Kansas, established in 1996. As a 501(c)(3) public charity, the foundation operates as a permanent source of support for nonprofit organizations in central Kansas and serves as a vehicle for charitable giving by donors.

Key facts about Golden Belt Community Foundation

In short: Golden Belt Community Foundation gave $1.7M across 54 grants in 2025 (avg $31K), mostly in Kansas. 26% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

EIN
74-2804940
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$1,700,643
Grants made (2025)
54
Average grant
$31,493
Median grant
$13,796
New grantees (estimate)
26% first-time grantees (14 of 54, 2025)
Total assets
$41,428,205
Primary geography
Kansas (88% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
How to apply
Most grants are awarded through an open and non-discriminatory competitive application process and are reviewed by a committee of volunteers before approval by the board of directors. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 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.

Quick answers about Golden Belt Community Foundation

How much does Golden Belt Community Foundation give each year?

Golden Belt Community Foundation gave $1.7M across 54 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $986K across 42 grants.

What is Golden Belt Community Foundation's typical grant size?

Golden Belt Community Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $13,796, and its average grant was $31,493, across 54 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Golden Belt Community Foundation that year got $22K on average.

Where does Golden Belt Community Foundation give grants?

Golden Belt Community Foundation gives mostly in Kansas: 88% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was California (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Great Bend, KS (32 grants), Larned, KS (5 grants), Hoisington, KS (3 grants) and Ellinwood, KS (2 grants).

Does Golden Belt Community Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 35% of Golden Belt Community Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (19 of 54) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990. Recurring purposes include "Educational" (9 grants), "Human Services" (6 grants) and "Environment, Public Space" (5 grants).

Who are Golden Belt Community Foundation's largest grantees?

Golden Belt Community Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Great Bend Recreation Commission Foundation ($296,762), University of Southern California Sol Price School of Public Policy ($129,600) and Great Bend Alive Inc ($127,362), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 33% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

Is Golden Belt Community Foundation open to new grantees?

26%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 14 of 54 grantees (26%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $22K; repeat grants $35K. How we count

Medians: $12K first-time, $18K repeat.

  • 67% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+4%). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 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.

Next steps with Golden Belt Community Foundation

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing

Total Assets

$41.4M

+14.6% YoY

Annual Giving

$1.7M

+72.5% YoY

Grant Count

54

+28.6% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$31K

+34.2% YoY

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

Mission & Focus Areas

Mission: The Foundation's mission is to bring extraordinary people together to plan for a vibrant future with our family, friends, and neighbors creating remarkable legacies.

Primary Focus Areas:

  • Education
  • Health and well-being of children and youth
  • Services for the indigent
  • Recreation and play space
  • Arts and culture
  • Community development
  • Animals and animal welfare
  • Human services
  • Hunger and food insecurity
  • Faith-based initiatives

Grantmaking

Grant Range

$5,000–$148,000

How to Apply

**

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Golden Belt Community Foundation primarily serves the counties of Barton, Pawnee, Rush, and Stafford in central Kansas. The foundation also makes grants in Ohio and Illinois, with significant grantmaking activity in Great Bend, Kansas.

Grant Distribution by State

5states

Share of all 54 itemized 2025 grant dollars.

Cities

Great BendLarnedHoisingtonWichitaColumbusEllinwoodHoffman EstatesManhattanKansas CityLos AngelesSt JohnHaysIukaLawrenceLaCrossePawnee RockBerkeleyBostonBurdettCambridge

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Assets & Revenue (2024):

  • Total assets: $36.2 million
  • Total revenue: $3.12 million
  • Total expenses: $1.77 million
  • Total liabilities: $2.48 million
  • Giving rate: 2.7% of assets

Historical Trends:

  • 2023: $32.9M assets, $1.2M giving, 44 grants
  • 2022: $29.4M assets, $1.6M giving, 45 grants

Donor-Advised Funds: The foundation operates a donor-advised fund through which donors can direct the distribution or investment of funds.

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$2M$4M$6M$8M202020212022202320242025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$41,428,205$36,153,053$32,933,291
Revenue$7,093,202$3,123,731$2,660,784
Expenses$6,340,092$1,769,938$1,954,222
Qualifying Distributions———
Net Investment Income$1,705,550$1,316,536$746,831
Distributable Amount———

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 10, 2021)
  2. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$500K$1M$1.5M$2M49 grants20200 grants202150 grants202244 grants202342 grants202454 grants2025

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Great Bend Recreation Commission Foundation: $297KGreat Bend RecreationCommission Foundation$297KUniversity of Southern California Sol Price School of Public Policy: $130KUniversity of SouthernCalifornia Sol Price School…$130KGreat Bend Alive Inc: $127KGreat Bend Alive Inc$127KBarton Community College: $114KBarton Community College$114KGolden Belt Humane & Animal Welfare Society Inc: $102KGolden Belt Humane & AnimalWelfare Society Inc$102KFirst Christian Church: $75KFirst Christian Church$75KBarton County Historical Society: $72KBarton County HistoricalSociety$72KUniversity of Kansas Hospital Authority: $50KUniversity of Kansas HospitalAuthority$50KGreat Bend Zoological Society Inc: $50KGreat Bend Zoological SocietyInc$50KPrince of Peace Catholic Church: $37KPrince of Peace CatholicChurch$37K

Grant Size Distribution

190 grants across all recorded years

167<$50K12$50–100K7$100–250K3$250–500K1$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Open Grants

3 open opportunities from Golden Belt Community Foundation

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Great Bend Recreation Commission Foundation Great Bend, KSOperating Support$296,762
University of Southern California Sol Price School of Public Policy Los Angeles, CAOperating Support$129,600
Great Bend Alive Inc Great Bend, KSCommunity Devel$127,362
Barton Community College Great Bend, KSEducational$113,870
Golden Belt Humane & Animal Welfare Society Inc Great Bend, KSAnimal-Related$101,929
First Christian Church Great Bend, KSOperating Support$74,905
Barton County Historical Society Great Bend, KSEquipment$71,949
University of Kansas Hospital Authority Kansas City, KSOperating Support$50,182
Great Bend Zoological Society Inc Great Bend, KSEnvironment, Public Space$49,611
Prince of Peace Catholic Church Great Bend, KSHuman Services$37,209

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Staff:

  • Jason Murray
  • Linda Chisholm
  • Teresa Powelson
  • Mackenzie Mitchell
  • Principal Officer: Ms. Christy L. Tustin

Contact:

Golden Belt Community Foundation is led by Jason Murray, Executive Director on every filing since 2024; 1 of 13 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Jason Murray

    Executive Director

    On filings since 2024

    40 hrs/week

    $86K (2024) → $110K (2025)

  • Chelsea Steffen

    President

    Treasurer → Vice President, 2023

    Vice President → President, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Baudilio Hernandez

    Board Member

    Director → Board Member, 2022

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jim White

    Board Member

    Director → Board Member, 2022

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Cora Anderson

    Board Member

    Director → Board Member, 2022

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Janell Foote

    Treasurer

    Director → Board Member, 2022

    Board Member → Treasurer, 2024

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Amber Littler

    Secretary

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Joyce Miller

    Board Member

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Mel Waite

    Vice President

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Zach Stejskal

    Board Member

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Don Hardin

    Board Member

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kimbra Galliart

    Board Member

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Michelle Beran

    Board Member

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (16)
  • Former: Mike Cargill (2023–2024) — Board Member
  • Former: Katie Hammeke (2024) — Board Member
  • Former: Kayla Johnson (2024) — Board Member
  • Former: Christy L Tustin (2020–2023) — Executive Director
  • Former: Kara Jecha (2020–2023) — President
  • Former: Kim Guesnier (2020–2023) — Secretary
  • Former: Laura Luft (2020–2023) — Treasurer
  • Former: Kathleen Foster (2021–2023) — Board Member
  • Former: Joan Panning (2020–2022) — Secretary
  • Former: Leonard Bunselmeyer (2020–2022) — Board Member
  • Former: Sheryl Schamaun (2020–2022) — President
  • Former: Alan Hoffman January to June (2022) — Board Member
  • Former: Alan Hoffman (2020–2021) — Director
  • Former: Kelby Adams (2020–2021) — Director
  • Former: Scott Higgason (2020) — Director
  • Former: Tyler Alpers (2020) — Director

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

Jason Murray — Executive Director: $110KJason MurrayExecutive Director$110K

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

2024

Golden Belt Community Foundation's Giving Tuesday campaign raised $300,000. The foundation announced grant cycles and 2024 youth grant opportunities. The foundation received the Chamber's Legacy Award, recognizing its contributions to the community.

Golden Belt Community Foundation announces grant cycles

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Golden Belt Community Foundation fund?

**Mission:** The Foundation's mission is to bring extraordinary people together to plan for a vibrant future with our family, friends, and neighbors creating remarkable legacies. **Primary Focus Areas:** • Education • Health and well-being of children and youth • Services for the indigent • Recreation and play space • Arts and culture • Community development • Animals and animal welfare • Human services • Hunger and food insecurity • Faith-based initiatives

How do I apply for a grant from Golden Belt Community Foundation?

Most grants are awarded through an open and non-discriminatory competitive application process and are reviewed by a committee of volunteers before approval by the board of directors. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Golden Belt Community Foundation's EIN?

Golden Belt Community Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-2804940. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in Golden Belt Community Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database

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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

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