The MakeSense Foundation
The MakeSense Foundation is a private foundation based in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, that supports women and children in need through grants to nonprofit organizations and in-kind gifts. Its latest IRS filing on record is for 2022, with no filings since; the foundation therefore appears to have wound down or stopped grantmaking. Its website nevertheless lists grants awarded in 2025.
The MakeSense Foundation at a glance
In short: The MakeSense Foundation gave $124K across 24 grants in 2022 (avg $5K), top state Missouri. 95% of 2022 grantees were new. Source: 2022 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2022)
- $124,000
- -63.7% vs 2021
- Grants made (2022)
- 24
- -77.8% vs 2021
- Average grant
- $5,167
- +63.2% vs 2021
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $5,583,611
- -5.0% vs 2021
- New grantees (estimate)
- 95% first-time grantees (18 of 19, 2022; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Missouri (14% of itemized 2022 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2022 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2022; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The MakeSense Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The website describes an application process for nonprofit organizations, and the 2022 filing says giving is not restricted to preselected organizations. The website says applications are reviewed within 5–10 business days and that the Board reviews and votes on submissions quarterly. The 2022 filing lists electronic application materials including the agency’s name, mission, contact information, requested grant amount and type, project details, financial statements, budget, board roster, and tax status. It states there are no deadlines and that awards are restricted to women and children in need; other county agencies must apply online and sign an international grant agreement if approved. These instructions are not presented as current because the latest filing is for 2022 and the foundation appears to have wound down or stopped grantmaking.
- Contact
Application contact: Kendra Mccolloch
Mailing address: 320 South Main Street, Sapulpa, OK 74066
Phone: (918) 991-4342
Email: mfscholarship@makesensefoundation.org
Website: https://makesensefoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The MakeSense Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2022
The largest 2022 recipient was Child Protection Center ($15K). Together the top 10 received $75K.
Organizations only. It also paid 5 grants to individuals ($20,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
217 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 215 grants of 217 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Sapulpa, Oklahoma. Its 2022 grants went to recipients in multiple states; the largest shares of grant dollars went to Missouri (14%), Oklahoma (13%), North Carolina (8%), Virginia (8%), and Ohio (8%). The website’s 2024 Gloss That Gives rules specified that the selected charity had to be in the United States or Canada and meet the foundation’s designated parameters.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2022 grant dollars across all 24 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The MakeSense Foundation open to new grantees?
95%
first-time grantees, 2022
In 2022, 18 of 19 grantees (95%) were first-time recipients. With only 19 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $6K; repeat grants $5K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 5% of 2022 grantees were also funded in 2021. Method
- In 2022 it paid out 91% 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 (2020–2022). 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 2022, annual grant giving ranged from $124K (2022) to $521K (2020). In 2022 it made 24 grants totaling $124K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Child Protection Center Kansas City, MO | Charitable | $15,000 |
| RMHC Piedmont Winston-Salem, NC | Charitable | $10,000 |
| RMHC Central Ohio Columbus, OH | Charitable | $10,000 |
| Breast Cancer Coalition Washington, DC | Charitable | $10,000 |
| 5 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $20,000 |
| Embrace Grace Hurst, TX | Charitable | $5,000 |
| Girls Inc of Orange County Santa Ana, CA | Charitable | $5,000 |
| Arkansas Crisis Center Rogers, AR | Charitable | $5,000 |
| Doorways for Women Familes Arlington, VA | Charitable | $5,000 |
| Blackburn Center Greensburg, PA | Charitable | $5,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $5,583,611 | $185,619 | $464,299 | $124,000 | 24 | $253,347 | $279,480 |
| 2021 | $5,880,221 | $331,169 | $583,199 | $341,949 | 108 | $472,880 | $300,388 |
| 2020 | $6,161,751 | $3,804,004 | $1,351,379 | $520,950 | 85 | — | $145,047 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The MakeSense Foundation reported a distributable amount of $279K for 2022 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation states that its mission is to support women and children in need. It says it provides grants to nonprofit organizations with similar missions or programs, as well as in-kind gifts such as SeneGence products and volunteerism. Its stated areas of support include domestic violence, human trafficking, homelessness, poverty, continued education, at-risk youth, and health and wellness for cancer research organizations.
The 2022 grantees illustrate the range of organizations supported. Child Protection Center described its work as providing forensic interviews for children alleged to have been abused and support, education, and mental health services to their caretakers. Embrace Grace described its mission as equipping churches to support single and pregnant girls. Blackburn Center said it advocates against domestic and sexual violence and other forms of violence while supporting survivors. The Women’s Center described its work as improving community mental health and well-being through counseling, education, and support. The Spring Shelter said it provides advocacy, safe escape, and ongoing care for victims of domestic violence, sexual violence, and human sex trafficking.
Grantmaking
The 2022 filing reports 24 grants totaling $124,000. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $15,000, with a median of $5,000. The largest listed award was $15,000 to Child Protection Center in Kansas City, Missouri. Other notable awards included $10,000 each to RMHC Piedmont in Winston-Salem, North Carolina; RMHC Central Ohio in Columbus, Ohio; and Breast Cancer Coalition in Washington, DC. The filing also reports scholarships to individual recipients: one $7,500 scholarship, one $5,000 scholarship, and three $2,500 scholarships.
The foundation’s website describes additional grant activity in 2025, including awards of $3,000 to Kingdom Causes, Inc.; $1,050 to Reclaiming Hope; $10,000 to Ronald McDonald House Orange County; $5,000 to Ronald McDonald House of Tulsa; and $10,000 to the Women Veterans Network. These website-reported awards are separate from the 2022 filing figures.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2022 filing lists Joni Rogers-Kante as chairwoman; Kendra Mccolloch as executive director; Clay Chaberlain as secretary; and Kristen Aguilar, Leslie-Boyd Bradley, Carmen Holladay, Linda Bailey, Jenna Clark, Ben Kante, and Alan Kante as directors. The foundation’s website identifies Joni Rogers-Kante as its founder, CEO, and chairwoman.
The MakeSense Foundation is led by Kendra Mccolloch, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 11 officers listed in 2022 is compensated.
Officers on the 2022 filing
Kendra Mccolloch
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$55K (2020) → $60K (2022)
Joni Rogers-Kante
Chairwoman
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alan Kante
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ben Kante
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carmen Holladay
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jenna Clark
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Leslie-Boyd Bradley
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Linda Bailey
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kristen Aguilar
Director
New on the 2022 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Clay Chaberlain
Secretary
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jerome Kaiser
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Kirsten Aguilar (2020–2021) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2022. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2022 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2022 filing was $60K, to Kendra Mccolloch (Executive Dir.).
Frequently asked questions about The MakeSense Foundation
How much does The MakeSense Foundation give each year?
The MakeSense Foundation gave $124K across 24 grants in 2022, according to its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2021 it gave $342K across 108 grants.
What is The MakeSense Foundation's typical grant size?
The MakeSense Foundation's median grant in 2022 was $5,000, and its average grant was $5,167, across 24 grants on its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The MakeSense Foundation that year got $6K on average.
Where does The MakeSense Foundation give grants?
The MakeSense Foundation's top state is Missouri, with 14% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Oklahoma (13%) and North Carolina (8%).
Does The MakeSense Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2022: none of the 24 grants with a stated purpose on The MakeSense Foundation's 2022 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (24 grants).
Who are The MakeSense Foundation's largest grantees?
The MakeSense Foundation's largest 2022 grantees include Child Protection Center ($15,000), RMHC Piedmont ($10,000) and RMHC Central Ohio ($10,000), according to its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 5 grants to individuals ($20,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 28% of its itemized 2022 grant dollars.
How large is The MakeSense Foundation?
The MakeSense Foundation reported $5.6M in total assets on its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $253K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $279K (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 MakeSense Foundation fund?
The foundation states that its mission is to support women and children in need. It says it provides grants to nonprofit organizations with similar missions or programs, as well as in-kind gifts such as SeneGence products and volunteerism. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The MakeSense Foundation?
The website describes an application process for nonprofit organizations, and the 2022 filing says giving is not restricted to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The MakeSense Foundation's EIN?
The MakeSense Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 33-0994350. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2022.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2022
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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from The MakeSense 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.
The MakeSense Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?