Partners People in Progress Inc
Partners People in Progress Inc is a public charity based in Overland Park, Kansas. It operates Blessings Abound, which sells and redistributes donated merchandise to provide aid to people in need in the Kansas City metropolitan area; proceeds also support grants to local nonprofits.
Partners People in Progress Inc at a glance
In short: Partners People in Progress Inc gave $1.9M across 29 grants in 2024 (avg $64K), mostly in Missouri. 66% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,869,883
- -0.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 29
- +7.4% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $64,479
- -7.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $3,825,288
- +5.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 66% first-time grantees (19 of 29, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Missouri (79% 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 Partners People in Progress Inc
- How to Apply
-
The Blessings Abound Fund supports one-time grant requests from nonprofit organizations in the Kansas City area. The available information does not specify application materials or restrictions.
- Contact
Mailing address: 10325 Metcalf Avenue, Overland Park, KS 66212
Phone: (913) 648-0700
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Partners People in Progress Inc
Who Partners People in Progress Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Metropolitan Lutheran Ministries ($695K). Together the top 10 received $1.6M.
Grant Size Distribution
89 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 53 grants of 89 (60%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Blessings Abound Fund describes its scope as the Kansas City metropolitan area. In 2024, 79% of grant dollars went to recipients in Missouri and 21% to recipients in Kansas.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 29 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Partners People in Progress Inc open to new grantees?
66%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 19 of 29 grantees (66%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $55K; repeat grants $82K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $65K repeat.
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 $903K (2020) to $1.9M (2023). In 2024 it made 29 grants totaling $1.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan Lutheran Ministries Kansas City, MO | Help families and individuals break the cycle of poverty to achieve housing and personal stability, food security and self sufficiency | $695,000 |
| Operation Breakthrough Kansas City, MO | Provide a safe, loving and educational environment for children in poverty and empower families through advocacy, emergency aid and education | $300,000 |
| Flourish Furnishings Grandview, MO | Furniture bank partners with social service agencies to empower families to overcome homelessness | $158,923 |
| Lutheran Urban Mission Agency Kansas City, MO | Empower and equip local churches and communities to meet spiritual, social and physical needs | $80,000 |
| HopeBuilders Overland Park, KS | Provide accessibility and home repairs to low income older adults to live safely in their home | $72,000 |
| Petes Garden Kansas City, MO | Collects unserved prepared food from caterers, restaurants and food service operations and re-directs food to families | $69,460 |
| Mission Southside Olathe, KS | Partner with churches, organizations, businesses and individuals to meet the physical and spiritual needs of those in Johnson County, KS | $60,000 |
| Community Services League of Jackson Co Independence, MO | Provide resources to those in need | $50,000 |
| Electro Mundo Technology Services Inc Kansas City, KS | Provide electronic solutions to low income individuals & promote electronic recycling | $50,000 |
| The Hub Argentine Kansas City, KS | Connect people to individuals, neighbors and to vital resources for health and wholeness | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Partners People in Progress Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $3,825,288 | $5,233,041 | $5,053,596 | $1,869,883 | 29 | $134,539 |
| 2023 | $3,628,944 | $4,763,168 | $4,548,280 | $1,886,900 | 27 | $86,785 |
| 2022 | $3,414,514 | $3,839,041 | $3,111,636 | $1,446,000 | 14 | $4,840 |
| 2021 | $2,687,110 | $3,530,841 | $2,378,606 | $1,092,000 | 11 | $2,891 |
| 2020 | $1,627,975 | $2,392,946 | $1,925,442 | $902,985 | 8 | $8,566 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The mission stated in the organization’s 2024 filing is to provide services and funds to people in the Kansas City metropolitan area by selling and redistributing donated merchandise to provide aid to those in need. The filing says thrift-store proceeds cover operating expenses and fund grants to nonprofits that serve people in need.
Grantees’ missions show the range of work supported. Metropolitan Lutheran Ministry describes its work as helping families and individuals break the cycle of poverty through housing and personal stability, food security, and self-sufficiency. Operation Breakthrough says it provides a safe, loving, and educational environment for children in poverty and supports their families through advocacy, emergency aid, and education. Flourish Furnishings says it provides essential home furnishings to people seeking housing stability. HopeBuilders describes its work as providing accessibility and home repair for older adults and people living with disabilities. Pete’s Garden says it recovers surplus food and distributes free meals to food-insecure families.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the filing data lists 29 grants totaling $1,869,883. The median grant was $20,000, with awards ranging from $6,000 to $695,000. The largest awards were $695,000 to Metropolitan Lutheran Ministry, $300,000 to Operation Breakthrough, and $158,923 to Flourish Furnishings. Other notable grants included $80,000 to Lutheran Urban Mission Agency, $72,000 to HopeBuilders, $69,460 to Pete’s Garden, and $60,000 to an individual recipient
The Blessings Abound Fund is described as supporting one-time grant requests to Kansas City-area nonprofits, and the fund’s website says it has provided grants to 33 different local nonprofit organizations. The filing says applications go to a grants committee, which reviews them and recommends awards to the board. The board approves quarterly grant requests, and recipient organizations are required to report how funds were used.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists James Michael Thomas as Chief Executive Officer and Tony Whitter as Chief Ministry Officer. Stan Sword is listed as Board Chair. Other listed officers and directors are Tresia Franklin, Vice President; Thomas Cook, Secretary; Ann Robertson, Treasurer; and board members Steve Foerster, Rick Hadel, Jim Liberda, and Penny Lindemann-Smith.
Partners People in Progress Inc is led by James Michael Thomas, Chief Executive Officer on every filing since 2023; 2 of 14 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
James Michael Thomas
Chief Executive Officer
On filings since 2023
50 hrs/week
$57K (2023) → $117K (2024)
Stan Sword
Board Chair
Director → Board Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
15 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tony Whitter
Chief Ministry Officer
Executive Director → Chief Ministry Officer, 2024
On filings since 2020
50 hrs/week
$85K (2020) → $116K (2024)
Athena Shouse
Board Member
Vice President → President, 2021
President → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jim Liberda
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matt Sayers
Board Member
Secretary → Vice President, 2021
Vice President → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rick Hadel
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tresia Franklin
Vice President
Director → Secretary, 2021
Secretary → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ann Robertson
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2021
24 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Doug Waltman
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steve Foerster
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thomas Cook
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Penny Lindemann-Smith
Board Member
Treasurer → Director, 2023
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jim Wilkinson
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (10)
- Former: Jeremy Snider (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Bradley Johnson (2020–2021) — Operations Manager
- Former: Findley Grace (2020–2021) — Furnitureministry Coordinator
- Former: Penny Lindeman Smith (2020–2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Ryan Fritz (2020–2021) — Operations Coordinator
- Former: Ryan Wisdom (2020–2021) — Pricing Supervisor
- Former: Bill Goetzke (2020) — Director
- Former: Kathy Cooley (2020) — Director
- Former: Thomas Fogt (2020) — Treasurer
- Former: Tim Vorndran (2020) — Director
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 $117K, to James Michael Thomas (Chief Executive Officer). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Partners People in Progress Inc
How much does Partners People in Progress Inc give each year?
Partners People in Progress Inc gave $1.9M across 29 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $1.9M across 27 grants.
What is Partners People in Progress Inc's typical grant size?
Partners People in Progress Inc's median grant in 2024 was $20,000, and its average grant was $64,479, across 29 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Partners People in Progress Inc that year got $55K on average.
Where does Partners People in Progress Inc give grants?
Partners People in Progress Inc gives mostly in Missouri: 79% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was Kansas (21%). The most frequent recipient cities were Kansas City, MO (12 grants), Olathe, KS (6 grants), Kansas City, KS (3 grants) and Overland Park, KS (2 grants).
Does Partners People in Progress Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 29 grants with a stated purpose on Partners People in Progress Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are Partners People in Progress Inc's largest grantees?
Partners People in Progress Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Metropolitan Lutheran Ministries ($695,000), Operation Breakthrough ($300,000) and Flourish Furnishings ($158,923), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 62% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Partners People in Progress Inc?
Partners People in Progress Inc reported $3.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $5.2M.
What does Partners People in Progress Inc fund?
The mission stated in the organization’s 2024 filing is to provide services and funds to people in the Kansas City metropolitan area by selling and redistributing donated merchandise to provide aid to those in need. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Partners People in Progress Inc?
The Blessings Abound Fund supports one-time grant requests from nonprofit organizations in the Kansas City area. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Partners People in Progress Inc's EIN?
Partners People in Progress Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 43-1282336. 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 April 20, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 25, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 31, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 8, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 11, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Partners People in Progress Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/partners-people-in-progress-inc-morg_13a20ac0daa84a449f189b15930035d9
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_431282336_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Partners People in Progress Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/partners-people-in-progress-inc-morg_13a20ac0daa84a449f189b15930035d9},
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 Partners People in Progress Inc'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.
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