Les and Sissy Donovan Foundation
The Les and Sissy Donovan Foundation is a private foundation based in Wichita, Kansas. It reported $57,000 in grants to 18 organizations in filing year 2025, supporting organizations whose work includes food assistance, health care, services for families in need, and other charitable purposes.
Les and Sissy Donovan Foundation at a glance
In short: Les and Sissy Donovan Foundation gave $57K across 18 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in Kansas. 6% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $57,000
- +78.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 18
- +80.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $3,167
- -1.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $3,000
- Total assets
- $795,377
- +3.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 6% first-time grantees (1 of 18, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Kansas (82% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Les and Sissy Donovan Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 5800 W Kellogg, Wichita, KS 67209
Phone: (316) 942-1271
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Les and Sissy Donovan Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Catholic Charities ($5K). Together the top 10 received $45K.
Grant Size Distribution
85 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 85 grants of 85 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In filing year 2025, 82% of grant dollars went to recipients in Kansas, 9% to Texas, 5% to Tennessee, 2% to New York, and 2% to Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Les and Sissy Donovan Foundation open to new grantees?
6%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 18 grantees (6%) were first-time recipients. With only 18 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $3K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 50% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 33% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 128% 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $20K (2020) to $57K (2025). In 2025 it made 18 grants totaling $57K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Catholic Charities Wichita, KS | Support for Families in Need | $5,000 |
| Catholic Diocese of Wichita Wichita, KS | General Fund | $5,000 |
| Guadalupe Clinic Inc Wichita, KS | Health Care for the Needy | $5,000 |
| Holy Savior Catholic Church Wichita, KS | General Fund | $5,000 |
| Kansas Food Bank Wichita, KS | Providing Hunger-Relief | $5,000 |
| The Lord's Diner Wichita, KS | Feed the Hungry | $5,000 |
| Children's Advocacy Center of Collin County Plano, TX | Victims of Child Abuse | $5,000 |
| Westside Good Neighbor Center Wichita, KS | Feed the Hungry | $4,000 |
| St Jude Hospital Memphis, TN | Defeating Childhood Cancer | $3,000 |
| Starkey Wichita, KS | Helping People with Disabilities | $3,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Les and Sissy Donovan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $795,377 | $81,451 | $58,625 | $57,000 | 18 | $57,000 | $46,426 | $44,560 |
| 2024 | $772,551 | $149,097 | $32,749 | $32,000 | 10 | $32,000 | $31,664 | $38,609 |
| 2023 | $656,203 | $119,525 | $54,600 | $53,000 | 18 | $53,000 | $22,708 | $30,191 |
| 2022 | $591,278 | $120,233 | $44,052 | $43,000 | 20 | $43,000 | $16,765 | $27,937 |
| 2021 | $515,097 | $185,643 | $34,109 | $33,500 | 19 | $33,500 | $41,667 | $25,016 |
| 2020 | $363,563 | $79,722 | $20,493 | $20,000 | 13 | — | $13,923 | $16,764 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Les and Sissy Donovan Foundation reported a distributable amount of $45K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants include support for hunger relief, health care for people in need, services for families and victims of abuse, and organizations serving people with disabilities.
Among its 2025 grantees, Catholic Charities of Salina describes its work as providing compassionate services to people in need throughout northern Kansas, including financial and housing assistance, basic needs, counseling, pregnancy support, and adoption services. Guadalupe Clinic says it works to provide necessary health care to people in need and advance social justice in health care. Starkey says it nurtures development and promotes independence for people with intellectual disabilities. These are grantees’ descriptions of their own work.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 18 grants totaling $57,000. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $5,000, with a median grant of $3,000.
Among the reported 2025 grants were $5,000 each to Catholic Charities in Wichita for support for families in need, Catholic Diocese of Wichita for its general fund, Guadalupe Clinic for health care for people in need, Holy Savior Catholic Church for its general fund, Kansas Food Bank for hunger relief, The Lord’s Diner to feed the hungry, and Children’s Advocacy Center of Collin County for victims of child abuse. Other grants included $4,000 to Westside Good Neighbor Center to feed the hungry; $3,000 each to St Jude Hospital and Starkey; and $2,000 each to Bishop Carroll Catholic High School and Catholic Charities - Harbor House.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists:
- Leslie D Donovan Sr — Chairman and Director
- Mary D Halfmann — President and Director
- Leslie D Donovan Jr — Vice President and Director
- Robert H Donovan — Secretary/Treasurer and Director
Les and Sissy Donovan Foundation is led by Mary D. Halfmann, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Mary D. Halfmann
President & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Leslie D. Donovan Sr.
Chairman & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Leslie D. Donovan Jr.
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert H. Donovan
Secretary, Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about Les and Sissy Donovan Foundation
How much does Les and Sissy Donovan Foundation give each year?
Les and Sissy Donovan Foundation gave $57K across 18 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $32K across 10 grants.
What is Les and Sissy Donovan Foundation's typical grant size?
Les and Sissy Donovan Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $3,000, and its average grant was $3,167, across 18 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Les and Sissy Donovan Foundation that year got $1K on average.
Where does Les and Sissy Donovan Foundation give grants?
Les and Sissy Donovan Foundation gives mostly in Kansas: 82% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Texas (9%) and Tennessee (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Wichita, KS (14 grants).
Does Les and Sissy Donovan Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 17% of Les and Sissy Donovan Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (3 of 18) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Les and Sissy Donovan Foundation's largest grantees?
Les and Sissy Donovan Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Catholic Charities ($5,000), Catholic Diocese of Wichita ($5,000) and Guadalupe Clinic Inc ($5,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 26% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Les and Sissy Donovan Foundation?
Les and Sissy Donovan Foundation reported $795K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $57K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $45K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Les and Sissy Donovan Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants include support for hunger relief, health care for people in need, services for families and victims of abuse, and organizations serving people with disabilities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Les and Sissy Donovan Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Les and Sissy Donovan Foundation's EIN?
Les and Sissy Donovan Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-4996741. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Les and Sissy Donovan Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 24, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Les and Sissy Donovan Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Les and Sissy Donovan Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Ima Foundation
Wichita, KS
Assets
$11.4M
Grants
602
Total Given
$831K
Wichita Foundation
Wichita, KS
The Wichita Foundation funds nonprofits and charitable projects, primarily benefiting Wichita and southcentral Kansas, with current priorities including journalism, upward mobility, and nonprofit capacity. Its 2025 grants ranged from $5,100 to $661,181, with a median of $20,000. It accepts applications for specific opportunities, including rolling emergency grants; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests generally.
Assets
$112.2M
Grants
151
Total Given
$6.8M
United Way of the Plains Inc
Wichita, KS
United Way of the Plains funds nonprofit programs addressing health, youth opportunity, financial security, education, and basic needs in south-central Kansas, including Sedgwick and surrounding counties. Its 2024 grants ranged from $5,261 to $441,490, with a median of $25,442; applications are accepted through specific program cycles, not described as unsolicited requests.
Assets
$23.4M
Grants
129
Total Given
$8.4M
Dwane L and Velma Lunt Wallace
Wichita, KS
The foundation funds 501(c)(3) organizations working in arts and culture, education, community development, social services, and quality of life, primarily in Wichita and secondarily elsewhere in Kansas. In 2024, grants ranged from $5,000 to $500,000, with a median of $35,000. It accepts online applications; requests submitted by March 14 are considered in May, and those submitted March 15 through September 14 are considered in November.
Assets
$55.7M
Grants
59
Total Given
$3.8M
Berry Foundation Inc
Wichita, KS
Berry Foundation Inc funds 501(c)(3) organizations serving communities where Berry Companies operates, with priorities including education, enrichment, and the wellbeing of under-resourced and vulnerable people. In 2025, grants ranged from $500 to $250,000, with a median of $5,000; most funding went to Kansas. Its website says it is not accepting requests at this time.
Assets
$2.5M
Grants
74
Total Given
$1.8M
The Toon Family Charitable
Wichita, KS
The Toon Family Charitable supports charitable, religious, scientific, literary, and educational work, as well as prevention of cruelty to animals; recent grants have included churches, ministries, and community service organizations. In 2025 it made 16 grants totaling $210,775, with a median grant of $5,000, mostly to Kansas organizations, particularly in Wichita. Its 2024 filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations and requires no form; no deadline is listed.
Assets
$2.9M
Grants
16
Total Given
$211K
More similar funders
More Funders in Kansas
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Les and Sissy Donovan Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/les-and-sissy-donovan-foundation-morg_9468e2ba267c4dc5acd056a46e8d1342
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_814996741_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Les and Sissy Donovan Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/les-and-sissy-donovan-foundation-morg_9468e2ba267c4dc5acd056a46e8d1342},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Les and Sissy Donovan 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.
Les and Sissy Donovan Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?