Richard J Stern Foundation for the Arts Commerce Bank Trustee
The Richard J Stern Foundation for the Arts is a private foundation based in an individual recipient, Missouri. It supports qualifying charitable organizations engaged in supporting the arts in the an individual recipient area.
Key facts about Richard J Stern Foundation for the Arts Commerce Bank Trustee
In short: Richard J Stern Foundation for the Arts Commerce Bank Trustee gave $2.7M across 75 grants in 2025 (avg $36K), mostly in Missouri. 9% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 43-6313811
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,732,077
- Grants made (2025)
- 75
- Average grant
- $36,428
- Median grant
- $15,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 9% first-time grantees (5 of 55, 2025)
- Total assets
- $52,457,691
- Primary geography
- Missouri (99% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Applications must be submitted through an online portal. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 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
$52.5M
+7.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.7M
+6.1% YoY
Grant Count
75
+7.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$36K
-1.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Richard J Stern Foundation for the Arts Commerce Bank Trustee reported a distributable amount of $3.1M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Richard J Stern Foundation for the Arts Commerce Bank Trustee open to new grantees?
9%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 55 grantees (9%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $9K; repeat grants $54K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $18K repeat.
- 85% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−1%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 94% 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 (2021–2025). 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its stated award restrictions specify support for qualifying charitable organizations that are not private foundations and are engaged in supporting the arts in the an individual recipient area.
Its 2025 grants included season support and project funding for arts organizations. For example, the an individual recipient Symphony describes its mission as performing great performances for greater audiences, while Lyric Opera of an individual recipient says it aims to serve the public through transformational opera experiences and broad community service. The an individual recipient Art Institute describes its mission as educating artists and designers; the an individual recipient Ballet Association says its mission is to inspire and engage through dance.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 75 grants totaling $2,732,077. Grant amounts ranged from $1,500 to $300,000, with a median of $15,000. Recent annual grant totals were $3,078,844 across 81 grants in 2023 and $2,575,740 across 70 grants in 2024.
Among the largest 2025 awards were $300,000 to the an individual recipient Symphony for season support; three separate $200,000 grants to Lyric Opera of an individual recipient for season support; $178,677 to the Performing Arts Foundation of an individual recipient, doing business as Folly Theater, for a sound system upgrade; and $125,000 to the an individual recipient Art Institute for a landscape plan over two years. Other listed awards included $100,000 to the Nelson Gallery Foundation for acquisition support and $80,000 to the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts to replace a stage.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted through an online portal. The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Awards are restricted to qualifying charitable organizations that are not private foundations and support the arts in the an individual recipient area. The filing lists Commerce Bank as the application contact.
Ready to take the next step with Richard J Stern Foundation for the Arts Commerce Bank Trustee?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated restriction is support for qualifying arts organizations in the an individual recipient area. In 2025, 99% of grant dollars went to recipients in Missouri and 1% to recipients in Kansas.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 75 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $2.6M (2021) to $3.1M (2023). In 2025 it made 75 grants totaling $2.7M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Lyric Opera of Kansas City Inc ($650K across 4 grants). Together the top 10 received $1.9M.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($120,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
381 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 300 grants of 381 (79%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas City Symphony Kansas City, MO | 2024/2024 Season Support | $300,000 |
| Lyric Opera of Kansas City Inc Kansas City, MO | 2024/2025 Season Support | $200,000 |
| Lyric Opera of Kansas City Inc Kansas City, MO | 2024/2025 Season Support | $200,000 |
| Lyric Opera of Kansas City Inc Kansas City, MO | 2024/2025 Season Support | $200,000 |
| Performing Arts Foundation of Kansas City DBA Folly Theater Kansas City, MO | Sound System Upgrade | $178,677 |
| Kansas City Art Institute Kansas City, MO | Michael Vergason Landscape Plan Over 2 Years | $125,000 |
| Nelson Gallery Foundation Kansas City, MO | Upexplored Resonance Acquisition Support | $100,000 |
| 2 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $120,000 |
| Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts Kansas City, MO | Replace harlequin liberty latchloc stage in muriel kauffman theater | $80,000 |
| Kansas City Art Institute Kansas City, MO | Ceramics Program | $65,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Grants reported | Grant count |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,732,077 | 75 |
| 2024 | $2,575,740 | 70 |
| 2023 | $3,078,844 | 81 |
EIN: 43-6313811.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $52,457,691 | $49,013,178 | $49,459,573 |
| Revenue | $6,690,480 | $2,591,265 | $2,666,614 |
| Expenses | $4,145,167 | $2,402,591 | $3,366,298 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,926,914 | $2,758,403 | $3,246,572 |
| Net Investment Income | $6,449,557 | $2,337,628 | $2,465,635 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,121,269 | $2,915,647 | $2,785,974 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS January 26, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 3, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 31, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 12, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS November 13, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Commerce BankINV Mgmt, Commerce BankCharity Office, and Commerce BankCharity Mgmt as corporate trustees.
Richard J Stern Foundation for the Arts Commerce Bank Trustee's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; all 2 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Commerce Bankcharity Mgmt
Corporate Trustee
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$235K (2022) → $240K (2025)
Commerce Bankcharity Office
Corporate Trustee
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$132K (2022) → $167K (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $240K, to Commerce Bankinv Mgmt (Corporate Trustee). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Application contact: Commerce Bank
Mailing address: 1000 Walnut Ste 1560, Kansas City, MO 64106
Phone: (816) 234-1768
Email: commercebankfoundationoffice@commercebank.com
Frequently asked questions about Richard J Stern Foundation for the Arts Commerce Bank Trustee
How much does Richard J Stern Foundation for the Arts Commerce Bank Trustee give each year?
Richard J Stern Foundation for the Arts Commerce Bank Trustee gave $2.7M across 75 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $2.6M across 70 grants.
What is Richard J Stern Foundation for the Arts Commerce Bank Trustee's typical grant size?
Richard J Stern Foundation for the Arts Commerce Bank Trustee's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $36,428, across 75 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Richard J Stern Foundation for the Arts Commerce Bank Trustee that year got $9K on average.
Where does Richard J Stern Foundation for the Arts Commerce Bank Trustee give grants?
Richard J Stern Foundation for the Arts Commerce Bank Trustee gives mostly in Missouri: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Kansas City, MO (67 grants) and Overland Park, KS (3 grants).
Does Richard J Stern Foundation for the Arts Commerce Bank Trustee give general operating support?
Occasionally: 5% of Richard J Stern Foundation for the Arts Commerce Bank Trustee's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (4 of 75) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "2024/2025 Season Support" (8 grants), "Season Support" (6 grants) and "2025/2026 Season Support" (5 grants).
Who are Richard J Stern Foundation for the Arts Commerce Bank Trustee's largest grantees?
Richard J Stern Foundation for the Arts Commerce Bank Trustee's largest 2025 grantees include Lyric Opera of Kansas City Inc ($650,000 across 4 grants), Kansas City Symphony ($335,000 across 2 grants) and Kansas City Art Institute ($190,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($120,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 43% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Richard J Stern Foundation for the Arts Commerce Bank Trustee?
Richard J Stern Foundation for the Arts Commerce Bank Trustee reported $52.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3.1M (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 Richard J Stern Foundation for the Arts Commerce Bank Trustee fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its stated award restrictions specify support for qualifying charitable organizations that are not private foundations and are engaged in supporting the arts in the an individual recipient area. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Richard J Stern Foundation for the Arts Commerce Bank Trustee?
Applications must be submitted through an online portal. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Richard J Stern Foundation for the Arts Commerce Bank Trustee's EIN?
Richard J Stern Foundation for the Arts Commerce Bank Trustee's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 43-6313811. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching Richard J Stern Foundation for the Arts Commerce Bank Trustee by hand.
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