Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City
The Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City is a public charity based in Overland Park, Kansas. Founded in 1959, it serves as a resource and advocate for planned giving and charitable funds in the Kansas City Jewish community, and its funds make grants to organizations.
Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City at a glance
In short: Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City gave $15.4M across 559 grants in 2024 (avg $28K), mostly in Kansas. 25% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $15,419,823
- +2.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 559
- +5.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $27,585
- -2.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $11,000
- Total assets
- $318,349,058
- +13.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 25% first-time grantees (38 of 155, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Kansas (50% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation’s website directs organizations interested in grants to contact Beatrice Fine before applying. J-LEAD applicants are strongly encouraged to do so. Applications are made through the Foundation’s grant process; the website says applications generally become available one month before the deadline.
- Review Cycle
- The website lists March 1 for J-LEAD applications; the opportunity information lists March 1, 2027, as its next deadline. The Community Legacy Fund page lists April 1 for innovative/emergency applications and June 15 for core applications. Those 2026 cycles have passed; the next cycle dates are not specified here. The Jewish Art Fund page lists February 28, and the Flo Harris Foundation page lists September 1; those 2026 dates have also passed.
- Deadline
- The website lists March 1 for J-LEAD applications; the opportunity information lists March 1, 2027, as its next…
- Contact
Mailing address: 5801 West 115Th Street 104, Overland Park, KS 66211
Phone: (913) 327-8245
Website: https://jcfkc.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
6 open opportunities from Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City
JCFKC: Community Legacy Fund Grant- Core Support
Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
JCFKC: Earl J. and Leona K. Tranin Special Fund Grant
Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
JCFKC: J-LEAD Grants
Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City
Amount
Up to US $5,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City ($2.8M across 97 grants). Together the top 10 received $9.9M.
Grant Size Distribution
1,977 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1,700 grants of 1,977 (86%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s website says that, with the exception of the Frank Friedberg Fund, applications are restricted to the Greater Kansas City area. Community Legacy Fund support includes Kansas City and neighboring Jewish communities extending to Manhattan, Kansas; St. Joseph, Missouri; Columbia, Missouri; and Joplin, Missouri. The Swinken Supporting Foundation grants outside Kansas City by invitation only.
In 2024, 50% of grant dollars went to recipients in Kansas and 39% to recipients in Missouri. Smaller shares went to New York (3%), Washington, D.C. (2%), and Illinois (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 559 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City open to new grantees?
25%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 38 of 155 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $14K; repeat grants $127K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 64% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−2%). 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 $13.2M (2020) to $15.7M (2021). In 2024 it made 559 grants totaling $15.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas City Zoo Foundation Kansas City, MO | General Support | $2,500,000 |
| Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City Overland Park, KS | General Support | $350,000 |
| Greater Kansas City Community Foundation Kansas City, MO | General Support | $250,000 |
| Harry S Truman Library Institute Kansas City, MO | General Support | $200,000 |
| Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City Overland Park, KS | General Support | $200,000 |
| Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City Overland Park, KS | General Support | $200,000 |
| Kansas City Symphony Kansas City, MO | General Support | $200,000 |
| Kansas City Symphony Kansas City, MO | General Support | $200,000 |
| Village Shalom Inc Overland Park, KS | General Support | $200,000 |
| The Ellis Foundation Fort Scott, KS | General Support | $190,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The Foundation’s filing type is Form 990 (a public charity).
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $318,349,058 | $34,327,486 | $22,679,190 | $15,419,823 | 559 | $1,162,369 |
| 2023 | $280,909,584 | $19,961,664 | $21,115,371 | $15,054,692 | 532 | $-2,279,855 |
| 2022 | $255,316,241 | $16,068,129 | $21,255,193 | $15,290,878 | 465 | $1,653,463 |
| 2021 | $291,884,746 | $15,071,209 | $18,766,419 | $15,697,961 | 206 | $763,849 |
| 2020 | $270,403,479 | $5,261,604 | $15,259,787 | $13,150,549 | 215 | $-4,154,121 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s mission is to promote tzedakah (charity) and tikkun olam (repairing the world) by serving as an advocate for planned giving and a central resource for charitable funds in the Kansas City Jewish community. Its stated vision is to sustain a strong and vibrant Jewish community for today and future generations.
Grant programs address areas including Jewish communal life, safety-net services, Jewish education, community relations, cultural arts, and special-needs programming. The Community Legacy Fund offers core support and innovative or emergency grants for programs and agencies that enhance Jewish life in Greater Kansas City. Its stated objectives include supporting seed programs that meet identified community needs and purchasing equipment that enhances organizations’ operations or programs. It does not fund general fundraising campaigns or certain dinners, annual meetings, and special events.
Other programs have narrower purposes. J-LEAD supports Jewish programs and innovative, collaborative projects with a positive impact on the Jewish community. The Jewish Art Fund supports Jewish art and arts education in the Kansas City area. The Menorah Women’s Foundation currently prioritizes health and wellness programs for adolescents and seniors in Greater Kansas City. The Flo Harris Foundation accepts general community grant applications benefiting children and safety-net programs. The Frank Friedberg Fund is for aid to people disabled in military conflicts in Israel and their families.
Among the 2024 recipients, the Kansas City Zoo Foundation’s stated mission concerns zoological education and cultural programs, facilities, and animal care in the Kansas City, Missouri area. The Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City describes its mission as sustaining and enhancing Jewish life at home and around the world. Village Shalom describes its mission as nurturing the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual well-being of people it serves as a Jewish-sponsored continuing-care retirement community. These are the grantees’ stated missions.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the Foundation reported 559 grants totaling $15,419,823. Grants ranged from $5,100 to $2,500,000, with a median grant of $11,000. Its largest reported grant was $2,500,000 to Kansas City Zoo Foundation for general support. Other large grants included $350,000 and multiple grants of $200,000 to the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City, $250,000 to Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, $200,000 to Harry S Truman Library Institute, $200,000 to Kansas City Symphony, and $200,000 to Village Shalom. The filing also lists a $190,000 general-support grant to The Ellis Foundation.
For the Community Legacy Fund, eligible applicants must self-identify as a Jewish communal organization, serve the Jewish community, meet the stated tax-exempt requirements, and have a mission compatible with the Foundation. Houses of worship are excluded unless they provide a unique, essential service not otherwise available in the Jewish community. The Foundation’s website says applicants should contact Beatrice Fine before applying. Applications are processed through a shared grant portal; applicants are advised to select the correct Foundation grant. J-LEAD finalists may be invited to present to its membership, and recipients must use funds for the purposes in their proposals and submit semi-annual expenditure and progress reports. J-LEAD may also request site visits.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Frank Lipsman as president; Joseph Hiersteiner as first vice president; Martha Gershun, David Goodman, Linda Lyon, and Brian Scharf as vice presidents; Robert Palan as treasurer; Alice Jacks Achtenberg as immediate past president; Jay Lewis as assistant secretary; and Ace Allen as trustee.
Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City is led by Joshua Stein, President, CEO & Secretary since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 3 of 47 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Joshua Stein
President, CEO & Secretary
Director of Philanthropy → Executive Director & Secretary, 2023
Executive Director & Secretary → President, CEO & Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$105K (2020) → $186K (2024)
Lauren Mattleman Hoopes
Executive Director
Executive Director & Secretary → Executive Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$208K (2020) → $21K (2024)
Frank Lipsman
President
Vice President → President, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rita Cortes
Executive Director-Menorah Heritage Foundation
Mhf Executive Director → Executive Director-Menorah Heritage Foundation, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alana Muller
Trustee
Vice President → Board Member, 2022
Board Member → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Annie Wishna
Trustee
Board Member → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Catherine Singer
Trustee
Board Member → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Sosland
Trustee
Board Member → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Edward Goldstein
Trustee
Vice President → Board Member, 2023
Board Member → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Fay Balk
Trustee
Board Member → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gary Weinberg
Trustee
Board Member → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James M Klein
Trustee
Vice President → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey Mallin
Trustee
Board Member → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Karen Pack
Life Trustee
Board Member → Life Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
L. Josh Sosland
Life Trustee
Board Member → Life Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lara Krigel Pabst
Trustee
Board Member → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Merilyn Berenbom
Life Trustee
Board Member → Life Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Liss
Trustee
Board Member → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Schultz
Life Trustee
Board Member → Life Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Pamela Kanter
Trustee
Board Member → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paul Greenwood
Trustee
Board Member → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sandi Fried
Trustee
Board Member → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Scott B. Picker
Trustee
Board Member → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stanford Zeldin
Life Trustee
Board Member → Life Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stanley Bushman
Life Trustee
Board Member → Life Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susan Himmelstein
Trustee
Board Member → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ward Katz
Life Trustee
Board Member → Life Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ace Allen
Trustee
Board Member → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carol Barnett
Trustee
Board Member → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michelle Goldsmith
Trustee
Board Member → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rosanne Rosen
Trustee
Board Member → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joshua Hoffman
Trustee
Board Member → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marcia Soltz
Trustee
Board Member → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ryan Zeldin
Trustee
Board Member → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Taly Friedman
Trustee
Board Member → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Beth Liss
Trustee
Board Member → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brian Block
Trustee
Board Member → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Irv Belzer
Life Trustee
Board Member → Life Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Taylor
Chief Financial Officer
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$125K (2020) → $120K (2024)
Alice Jacks Achtenberg
Immediate Past President
President → Immediate Past President, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brian M Scharf
Vice President
Board Member → Vice President, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David R Goodman
Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joseph Hiersteiner
First Vice President
Board Member → Vice President, 2022
Vice President → First Vice President, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Linda Lyon
Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Martha Gershun
Vice President
Board Member → Vice President, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert Palan
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jay Lewis
Assistant Secretary
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (18)
- Former: William Lowenstein (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Louis Cohn (2021–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Jeff Mallin (2023) — Board Member
- Former: Pam Kanter (2023) — Board Member
- Former: Irvin Belzer (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Stewart Koesten (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Amanda Morgan (2021–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Helen Lotman (2020–2021) — Assistant Secretary
- Former: Karen Loggia (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Lon Lowenstein (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Pete Levi (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Carol Porter (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Jeffrey Alpert (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Lynn Intrater (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Michael Abrams (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Ronald Goldsmith (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Stephanie Kavanaugh (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Victor Bergman (2020) — Board Member
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 $186K, to Joshua Stein (President & CEO/Secretary). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City
How much does Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City give each year?
Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City gave $15.4M across 559 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $15.1M across 532 grants.
What is Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City's typical grant size?
Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City's median grant in 2024 was $11,000, and its average grant was $27,585, across 559 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City that year got $14K on average.
Where does Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City give grants?
Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City gives mostly in Kansas: 50% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was Missouri (39%). The most frequent recipient cities were Overland Park, KS (319 grants), Kansas City, MO (113 grants), New York, NY (22 grants) and Lawrence, KS (19 grants).
Does Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (559 of 559) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Who are Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City's largest grantees?
Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City's largest 2024 grantees include Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City ($2,786,420 across 97 grants), Kansas City Zoo Foundation ($2,500,000) and Jewish Community Center ($753,655 across 36 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 39% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City?
Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City reported $318.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $34.3M.
What does Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City fund?
The Foundation’s mission is to promote tzedakah (charity) and tikkun olam (repairing the world) by serving as an advocate for planned giving and a central resource for charitable funds in the Kansas City Jewish community. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City?
The Foundation’s website directs organizations interested in grants to contact Beatrice Fine before applying. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City's EIN?
Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 43-6049281. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 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 August 31, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 8, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 6, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/jewish-community-foundation-of-greater-kansas-city-morg_afd99f9b8e14421589446898371734f1
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_436049281_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/jewish-community-foundation-of-greater-kansas-city-morg_afd99f9b8e14421589446898371734f1},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-06. 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 Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City'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.
Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City down — hundreds of funders to go?