Muriel McBrien Kauffman Family Foundation
The Muriel McBrien Kauffman Family is a private foundation based in Kansas City, Missouri. It supports arts organizations and programs, with its grantmaking concentrated in the greater Kansas City area.
Key facts about Muriel McBrien Kauffman Family Foundation
In short: Muriel McBrien Kauffman Family Foundation gave $12.2M across 189 grants in 2024 (avg $65K), mostly in Missouri. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 43-1460787
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $12,224,728
- Grants made (2024)
- 189
- Average grant
- $64,681
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $277,811,556
- Primary geography
- Missouri (94% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The foundation accepts proposals and does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$277.8M
+2.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$12.2M
+20.8% YoY
Grant Count
189
+9.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$65K
+10.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Muriel McBrien Kauffman Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $16.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
How Muriel McBrien Kauffman Family Foundation gives
- 68% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 42% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 81% 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 (2024). 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 foundation’s stated mission is to support organizations and programs that enhance the quality and accessibility of the arts. Its grant program describes support for performing and visual arts and for community growth.
Among the performing arts grantees, Lyric Opera of Kansas City says its mission is to provide transformational opera experiences and broad service to its communities. The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts says it seeks to enrich community life through diverse performing arts experiences, programs, customer service, and education. The Kansas City Symphony describes its mission as performing great performances for greater audiences, while Kansas City Repertory Theatre says it aims to inspire, entertain, and open minds through theatre.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation awarded 189 grants totaling $12,224,728. Grants ranged from $105 to $3,333,333, with a median of $10,000.
Review Cycle
None.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Muriel McBrien Kauffman Family Foundation
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grant dollars were concentrated in Missouri: 94% went to recipients in Missouri, 3% to New York, and 2% to Kansas. California and New Jersey each accounted for 0% as reported in the filing.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 189 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $8.6M (2021) to $12.2M (2024). In 2024 it made 189 grants totaling $12.2M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was St Luke's Mid America Heart Institutemuriel I Kauffman Women's Heart Ctr ($3.5M across 4 grants). Together the top 10 received $10.0M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($5,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
697 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 525 grants of 697 (75%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| St Luke's Mid America Heart Institutemuriel I Kauffman Women's Heart Ctr Kansas City, MO | Institute for Women's Cardiovascular Research | $3,333,333 |
| Kansas City Ballet Kansas City, MO | Moving into the Future Endowment Campaign Additional Support | $1,000,000 |
| Kansas City Ballet Kansas City, MO | General Operating Support for 2024-2025 Season | $750,000 |
| Lyric Opera of Kansas City Kansas City, MO | General Operating Support | $550,000 |
| Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts Kansas City, MO | General Operating Support for 2024-2025 Season | $500,000 |
| Artskc Regional Arts Council Kansas City, MO | General Operation Support for 2024-2025 Fiscal Year | $350,000 |
| Kansas City Symphony Kansas City, MO | General operating support for the Kansas city symphony 2024-2025 season | $300,000 |
| Kansas City Repertory Theatre Inc Kansas City, MO | KCREPS 2024-2025 Season of Operations | $255,000 |
| William Jewell College Harriman-Jewell Series Liberty, MO | General Operating Support | $210,000 |
| Umkc Conservatory Kansas City, MO | Operating/Program Support 2024-2025 | $170,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Grant total | Grant count |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $12,224,728 | 189 |
| 2023 | $10,119,072 | 173 |
| 2022 | $9,511,926 | 168 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $277,811,556 | $270,886,855 | $259,878,452 |
| Revenue | $22,748,672 | $24,450,047 | $11,537,485 |
| Expenses | $15,823,971 | $13,441,644 | $12,956,144 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $13,546,407 | $11,573,082 | $10,862,162 |
| Net Investment Income | $29,101,682 | $22,680,256 | $17,845,268 |
| Distributable Amount | $16,698,946 | $15,290,127 | $15,275,143 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Julia Irene Kauffman as Chairman/CEO and Amy Clark as COO. Other listed officers and directors are Alexandra E Moore, Cara Z Newell, David Lady, George P Jandl, Julia Power Weld, Lauren MM LaPointe, Peter W Brown, and Sharon Blickensderfer.
Muriel McBrien Kauffman Family Foundation is led by Julia Irene Kauffman, Chairman & CEO since 2022 (on filings since 2021); all 10 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Julia Irene Kauffman
Chairman & CEO
Chairman CEO → Chairman & CEO, 2022
On filings since 2021
30 hrs/week
$425K (2021) → $463K (2024)
Alexandra E. Moore
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$5K (2021) → $5K (2024)
Cara Z. Newell
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$5K (2021) → $5K (2024)
David Lady
CIO & Director
President Director → CIO Director, 2022
CIO Director → CIO & Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
32 hrs/week
$250K (2021) → $272K (2024)
George P. Jandl
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$5K (2021) → $5K (2024)
Julia Power Weld
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$5K (2021) → $5K (2024)
Lauren Mm Lapointe
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$5K (2021) → $5K (2024)
Peter W. Brown
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$5K (2021) → $5K (2024)
Amy Clark
COO
Vice President Administrator & Grants → COO, 2022
On filings since 2021
32 hrs/week
$165K (2021) → $240K (2024)
Sharon Blickensderfer
CFO & Treasurer
On filings since 2021
25 hrs/week
$163K (2021) → $179K (2024)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Statement 4 (2020) — Officer, Director & Other
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 $463K, to Julia Irene Kauffman (Chairman/CEO). 10 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Application contact: Julia I Kauffman
Mailing address: 4801 Rockhill Road, Kansas City, MO 64110
Phone: (816) 932-1219
Website: https://www.mmkf.org
Frequently asked questions about Muriel McBrien Kauffman Family Foundation
How much does Muriel McBrien Kauffman Family Foundation give each year?
Muriel McBrien Kauffman Family Foundation gave $12.2M across 189 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $10.1M across 173 grants.
What is Muriel McBrien Kauffman Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Muriel McBrien Kauffman Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $64,681, across 189 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Muriel McBrien Kauffman Family Foundation give grants?
Muriel McBrien Kauffman Family Foundation gives mostly in Missouri: 94% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Kansas City, MO (122 grants), New York, NY (8 grants), Overland Park, KS (8 grants) and Lawrence, KS (5 grants).
Does Muriel McBrien Kauffman Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 26% of Muriel McBrien Kauffman Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (50 of 189) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Matching Gift" (41 grants) and "Series 2015 Bond Interest" (13 grants).
Who are Muriel McBrien Kauffman Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Muriel McBrien Kauffman Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include St Luke's Mid America Heart Institutemuriel I Kauffman Women's Heart Ctr ($3,509,912 across 4 grants), Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts ($2,229,071 across 19 grants) and Kansas City Ballet ($1,915,000 across 5 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($5,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 63% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Muriel McBrien Kauffman Family Foundation?
Muriel McBrien Kauffman Family Foundation reported $277.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $13.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $16.7M (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 Muriel McBrien Kauffman Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to support organizations and programs that enhance the quality and accessibility of the arts. Its grant program describes support for performing and visual arts and for community growth. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Muriel McBrien Kauffman Family Foundation?
The foundation accepts proposals and 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 Muriel McBrien Kauffman Family Foundation's EIN?
Muriel McBrien Kauffman Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 43-1460787. 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.
Here's the math on researching Muriel McBrien Kauffman Family Foundation by hand.
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