The John W and Effie E Speas Memorial Trust is a private foundation based in Dallas, Texas. Established in 1943, it supports educational, cultural, human services, and health care programming for residents of the Greater Kansas City metropolitan area.
Key facts about John W and Effie E Speas Memorial Trust
In short: John W and Effie E Speas Memorial Trust gave $2.2M across 51 grants in 2025 (avg $43K), mostly in Kansas. 41% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 44-6008249
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,204,855
- Grants made (2025)
- 51
- Average grant
- $43,232
- Median grant
- $25,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 41% first-time grantees (21 of 51, 2025)
- Total assets
- $36,318,244
- Primary geography
- Kansas (53% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The Trust does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- March 31 and August 31.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 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.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$36.3M
+2.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.2M
+8.6% YoY
Grant Count
51
+41.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$43K
-23.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, John W and Effie E Speas Memorial Trust reported a distributable amount of $2.6M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is John W and Effie E Speas Memorial Trust open to new grantees?
41%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 21 of 51 grantees (41%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $43K; repeat grants $43K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 47% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+1%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 92% 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 (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Trust’s stated purpose is to support and promote quality educational, cultural, human services, and health care programming. Its grant program considers general operating and program support; capital support is not considered.
Its grantees include organizations with a range of missions. Donnelly College says it provides education and community services, with particular concern for students who might not otherwise be served. Kansas City Hospice says it provides care, comfort, guidance, and hope to people affected by serious illness or grief. El Centro says it works to strengthen communities and improve the lives of Latinos and others through educational, health, wealth, and advocacy opportunities.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Trust reported 51 grants totaling $2,204,855. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $250,000, with a median of $25,000.
Review Cycle
** March 31 and August 31.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from John W and Effie E Speas Memorial Trust
Ready to take the next step with John W and Effie E Speas Memorial Trust?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Trust’s grant program serves the Greater Kansas City metropolitan area, with qualifying organizations in the Kansas City, Missouri, and Kansas City, Kansas, areas identified in its application information. In 2025, 53% of grant dollars went to recipients in Kansas and 47% to recipients in Missouri.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 51 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
210 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| KANSAS UNIVERSITY ENDOWMENT ASSOCIATION Lawrence, KS | 21ST CENTURY CANCER | $250,000 |
| KANSAS CITY KANSAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE FDN Kansas City, KS | AUTOMATION ENGINEERING | $250,000 |
| TRUMAN MEDICAL CENTER CHARITABLE Kansas City, MO | DELIVERING HOPE: WOMEN & | $200,000 |
| PRO DEO YOUTH CENTER Lees Summit, MO | SUPPORT YOUTH CENTER AT THE | $125,000 |
| SHELTER KC dba KANSAS CITY RESCUE Kansas City, MO | EXPANSION OF KANSAS CITY | $100,000 |
| DONNELLY COLLEGE Kansas City, KS | NURSING NEW LEARNING | $100,000 |
| KANSAS CITY HOSPICE INC Kansas City, MO | SOLACE HOUSE CENTER FOR | $75,000 |
| ARTS COUNCIL OF METRO GREATER KC Kansas, MO | ADVANCE ARTKCS EQUITABLE | $75,000 |
| YOUNG WOMEN ON THE MOVE Kansas City, KS | DISCOVERY CTR FOR STEM, | $75,000 |
| ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF KANSAS CITY Gladstone, MO | SUPPORT "THREADS2THRIVE" | $50,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $36,318,244 | $3,552,957 | $2,684,422 | $2,204,855 |
| 2024 | $35,444,627 | $3,260,799 | $2,471,350 | $2,030,000 |
| 2023 | $34,606,389 | $1,637,443 | $2,434,017 | $2,051,000 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $36,318,244 | $35,444,627 | $34,606,389 |
| Revenue | $3,552,957 | $3,260,799 | $1,637,443 |
| Expenses | $2,684,422 | $2,471,350 | $2,434,017 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,435,166 | $2,241,477 | $2,242,681 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,395,043 | $3,059,147 | $1,384,374 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,649,061 | $2,415,152 | $2,241,622 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS April 9, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 6, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 16, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 24, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 30, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Bank of America is listed as trustee.
John W and Effie E Speas Memorial Trust's only listed officer is Bank Of America, Trustee on every filing since 2021 (compensated).
Officers on the 2025 filing
Bank Of America
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$204K (2021) → $235K (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Bank Of America N A (2019–2020) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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
Contact
Application contact: Tony Twyman - Bank Of America Na
Mailing address: PO Box 219119, Kansas City, MO 64121-9119
Phone: (816) 292-4342
Email: n/a
Frequently asked questions about John W and Effie E Speas Memorial Trust
How much does John W and Effie E Speas Memorial Trust give each year?
John W and Effie E Speas Memorial Trust gave $2.2M across 51 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $2.0M across 36 grants.
What is John W and Effie E Speas Memorial Trust's typical grant size?
John W and Effie E Speas Memorial Trust's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $43,232, across 51 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from John W and Effie E Speas Memorial Trust that year got $43K on average.
Where does John W and Effie E Speas Memorial Trust give grants?
John W and Effie E Speas Memorial Trust gives mostly in Kansas: 53% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Missouri (47%). The most frequent recipient cities were Kansas City, MO (21 grants), Kansas City, KS (12 grants) and Overland Park, KS (7 grants).
Does John W and Effie E Speas Memorial Trust give general operating support?
Yes: 33% of John W and Effie E Speas Memorial Trust's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (17 of 51) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are John W and Effie E Speas Memorial Trust's largest grantees?
John W and Effie E Speas Memorial Trust's largest 2025 grantees include Kansas University Endowment Association ($250,000), Kansas City Kansas Community College Fdn ($250,000) and Truman Medical Center Charitable ($200,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 32% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is John W and Effie E Speas Memorial Trust?
John W and Effie E Speas Memorial Trust reported $36.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.6M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does John W and Effie E Speas Memorial Trust fund?
The Trust’s stated purpose is to support and promote quality educational, cultural, human services, and health care programming. Its grant program considers general operating and program support; capital support is not considered. Its grantees include organizations with a range of missions. Donnelly College says it provides education and community services, with particular concern for students who might not otherwise be served. Kansas City Hospice says it provides care, comfort, guidance, and h…
How do I apply for a grant from John W and Effie E Speas Memorial Trust?
The Trust does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is John W and Effie E Speas Memorial Trust's EIN?
John W and Effie E Speas Memorial Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 44-6008249. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching John W and Effie E Speas Memorial Trust by hand.
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