The Don & Jean Wagner Charitable

Private foundation · Grantmaker Kansas City, MO EIN: 26-6125236

The Don & Jean Wagner Charitable is a private foundation based in Kansas City, Missouri. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, including organizations working in arts and culture, education, public safety, health, animal welfare, and community services.

Key facts about The Don & Jean Wagner Charitable

In short: The Don & Jean Wagner Charitable gave $216K across 28 grants in 2024 (avg $8K), mostly in Missouri. 25% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
26-6125236
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$215,745
Grants made (2024)
28
Average grant
$7,705
Median grant
$4,830
New grantees (estimate)
25% first-time grantees (7 of 28, 2024)
Total assets
$5,492,542
Primary geography
Missouri (84% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to apply
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; 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 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$5.5M

+6.0% YoY

Annual Giving

$216K

-11.0% YoY

Grant Count

28

+12.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$8K

-20.5% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Don & Jean Wagner Charitable reported a distributable amount of $240K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Is The Don & Jean Wagner Charitable open to new grantees?

25%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 7 of 28 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $6K; repeat grants $8K. How we count

Medians: $5K first-time, $5K repeat.

  • 61% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+15%). Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 93% 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 (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants include support for educational institutions, a theater, a zoo, a police foundation, health organizations, and social-service organizations.

Grantees describe their work in a range of ways. The Police Foundation of Kansas City says it supports the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department by providing money, property, and services. Power for Parkinson’s says it provides free fitness classes, social opportunities, education, and support groups for people with Parkinson’s and their care partners. Wayside Waifs describes its work as caring for pets, supporting the community, and advocating for the benefits of pets. The UMKC Foundation says it supports academic programs and educational opportunities at the University of Missouri–Kansas City. Operation Breakthrough describes its work as providing a safe, loving, educational environment for children in poverty and empowering their families.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation reported 28 grants totaling $215,745. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $54,250, with a median of $4,830. The largest grants included $54,250 to The Kansas City Zoo, $34,500 to the Police Foundation of Kansas City, $22,600 to Starlight Theater, $13,500 to the ALS Association, and $10,000 to Pembroke Hill. The foundation also gave $9,985 to the Truman Library Institute, $7,850 to Royals Charities, and $6,200 to Power for Parkinson’s.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The 2024 filing shows that 84% of grant dollars went to recipients in Missouri, 6% to Minnesota, 5% to Kansas, 4% to Texas, and 0% to Florida. Kansas City-area recipients include The Kansas City Zoo, the Police Foundation of Kansas City, and Starlight Theater.

Grant Distribution by State

6states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 28 itemized grants.

Cities

Kansas CityMissionIndependenceMiamiOverland ParkHoustonPrairie VillageBostonLibertyNorth Kansas CityAlbert LeaAustinSt. LouisStonehamWestwood

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$100K$200K$300K16 grants2020 22 grants2021 22 grants2022 25 grants2023 28 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $183K (2020) to $242K (2023). In 2024 it made 28 grants totaling $216K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

The Kansas City Zoo: $54KThe Kansas City Zoo$54KPolice Foundation of Kansas City: $35KPolice Foundation of KansasCity$35KStarlight Theater: $23KStarlight Theater$23KALS Association: $14KALS Association$14KPembroke Hill: $10KPembroke Hill$10KTruman Library Institute: $10KTruman Library Institute$10KRoyals Charities: $8KRoyals Charities$8KPower for Parkinson's: $6KPower for Parkinson's$6KBotar: $5KBotar$5KSt Ann Catholic School: $5KSt Ann Catholic School$5K

The largest 2024 recipient was The Kansas City Zoo ($54K). Together the top 10 received $169K.

Grant Size Distribution

113 grants across all recorded years

108<$50K4$50–100K1$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 108 grants of 113 (96%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
The Kansas City Zoo Kansas City, MOCharitable Donation$54,250
Police Foundation of Kansas City Kansas City, MOCharitable Donation$34,500
Starlight Theater Kansas City, MOCharitable Donation$22,600
ALS Association Albert Lea, MNCharitable Donation$13,500
Pembroke Hill Kansas City, MOCharitable Donation$10,000
Truman Library Institute Independence, MOCharitable Donation$9,985
Royals Charities Kansas City, MOCharitable Donation$7,850
Power for Parkinson's Austin, TXCharitable Donation$6,200
Botar Mission, KSCharitable Donation$5,000
St Ann Catholic School Prairie Village, KSCharitable Donation$5,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants
2024 $5,492,542 $543,872 $235,333 $215,745
2023 $5,184,003 $450,661 $267,967 $242,319
2022 $5,003,030 $366,050 $264,627 $234,189
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$250K$500K$750K$1M2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$5,492,542$5,184,003$5,003,030
Revenue$543,872$450,661$366,050
Expenses$235,333$267,967$264,627
Qualifying Distributions$223,025$242,319$238,554
Net Investment Income$538,804$427,281$343,385
Distributable Amount$239,966$232,967$278,388

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Jean D. Wagner and William D. Wagner as trustees.

The Don & Jean Wagner Charitable's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Jean D. Wagner

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • William D. Wagner

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

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.

Contact

Mailing address: 1050 W 54Th Street, Kansas City, MO 64112
Phone: (816) 994-8600

Frequently asked questions about The Don & Jean Wagner Charitable

How much does The Don & Jean Wagner Charitable give each year?

The Don & Jean Wagner Charitable gave $216K across 28 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $242K across 25 grants.

What is The Don & Jean Wagner Charitable's typical grant size?

The Don & Jean Wagner Charitable's median grant in 2024 was $4,830, and its average grant was $7,705, across 28 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Don & Jean Wagner Charitable that year got $6K on average.

Where does The Don & Jean Wagner Charitable give grants?

The Don & Jean Wagner Charitable gives mostly in Missouri: 84% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Minnesota (6%) and Kansas (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Kansas City, MO (18 grants).

Does The Don & Jean Wagner Charitable give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 28 grants with a stated purpose on The Don & Jean Wagner Charitable's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable Donation" (28 grants).

Who are The Don & Jean Wagner Charitable's largest grantees?

The Don & Jean Wagner Charitable's largest 2024 grantees include The Kansas City Zoo ($54,250), Police Foundation of Kansas City ($34,500) and Starlight Theater ($22,600), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 52% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is The Don & Jean Wagner Charitable?

The Don & Jean Wagner Charitable reported $5.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $223K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $240K (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 The Don & Jean Wagner Charitable fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants include support for educational institutions, a theater, a zoo, a police foundation, health organizations, and social-service organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from The Don & Jean Wagner Charitable?

The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is The Don & Jean Wagner Charitable's EIN?

The Don & Jean Wagner Charitable's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-6125236. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Does The Don & Jean Wagner Charitable accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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