The Shumaker Family Foundation
The Shumaker Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Prairie Village, Kansas. Founded in 2003 by Dianne Shumaker and the late Paul Shumaker, it supports social justice, environmental justice, and education.
Key facts about The Shumaker Family Foundation
In short: The Shumaker Family Foundation gave $1.0M across 93 grants in 2024 (avg $11K), mostly in Missouri. 31% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 65-6406193
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,032,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 93
- Average grant
- $11,097
- Median grant
- $8,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 31% first-time grantees (28 of 91, 2024)
- Total assets
- $16,002,081
- Primary geography
- Missouri (83% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The Foundation directs applicants to review its grant criteria and apply through its website. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- The website’s stated 2026 Environmental Justice deadlines—February 13 for letters of inquiry and March 15 for…
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; 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 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$16.0M
+2.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.0M
+0.3% YoY
Grant Count
93
+2.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$11K
-1.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Shumaker Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $904K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is The Shumaker Family Foundation open to new grantees?
31%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 28 of 91 grantees (31%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $8K; repeat grants $13K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 62% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+16%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 131% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s stated aim is to help create a more compassionate world in which each person has the opportunity to reach their potential. Its grantmaking supports social justice, environmental justice, and education. It funds organizations with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status or a fiscal agent, and says it supports work that promotes peace and justice and respects human diversity.
Social justice grants seek to advance a more equitable distribution of wealth, privilege, and opportunity. The Foundation identifies domestic violence and child abuse prevention and treatment as continuing priorities, and also seeks to support leadership development among Black, Latino, and women leaders, as well as grassroots organizations led by people from the communities they serve. Environmental grants support conservation, sustainability, animal welfare, and education toward those purposes, including work in communities disproportionately affected by systemic factors. The website describes education as a funding area, though its published 2026 update says the education process will not reopen until 2028.
Grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of work supported. Bridging the Gap says it works to make the greater Kansas City region sustainable by encouraging action from individuals, businesses, institutions, organizations, and governments. Mission Vision Project says it serves students aspiring to healthcare careers and supports evolving workforce needs in the Kansas City metro area. Friends of Yates says it provides services intended to help people of all ages lead safe and productive lives.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the Foundation reported 93 grants totaling $1,032,000. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $37,000, with a median grant of $8,000. Its largest listed grants included $37,000 to MO Coalition for the Environment, $35,000 to Bridging the Gap, and $30,000 each to Learn TechquityWeCode KC, MO Workers Center, and Strategic Workforce Development. The listed grants were identified as operating grants.
The Foundation says it may fund organizational-strengthening work, including capacity building and operating costs, when an organization is prepared to increase its effectiveness. It prefers not to be an organization’s sole or majority funder, while recognizing that smaller organizations may need a funder to help build capacity. It strongly prefers an in-person or virtual site visit before considering an application, considers multi-year grants, and may offer renewals for up to two additional years depending on progress and available funds. After three consecutive years of funding, a grantee may be asked to reapply with a full letter of inquiry or by invitation.
Review Cycle
The website’s stated 2026 Environmental Justice deadlines—February 13 for letters of inquiry and March 15 for requested applications—have passed. Renewal applications were due around March 18. Social Justice letters of inquiry were expected in early to mid-June, which has also passed. The website says the Education process will not reopen until 2028.
How to Apply
The Foundation directs applicants to review its grant criteria and apply through its website. The filing lists Laura Sloan as the contact for applications and says the application form and required information are provided on the Foundation’s website. Applicants must have 501(c)(3) status or a fiscal agent.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from The Shumaker Family Foundation
Environmental Justice Grants
The Shumaker Family Foundation
Amount
US $10,000 - US $30,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Shumaker Family Foundation: Social Justice & Education Grants
The Shumaker Family Foundation
Amount
US $10,000 - US $30,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Ready to take the next step with The Shumaker Family Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s website describes its work as supporting projects in the greater Kansas City region, while noting that it also supports work throughout the country. In 2024, 83% of grant dollars went to Missouri recipients and 14% to Kansas recipients; the remaining listed shares went to California, New York, and Maine.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 93 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 $893K (2021) to $1.1M (2022). In 2024 it made 93 grants totaling $1.0M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Mo Coalition for the Environment ($37K). Together the top 10 received $288K.
Grant Size Distribution
441 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 440 grants of 441 (100%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Mo Coalition for the Environment Kansas City, MO | Operating Grant | $37,000 |
| Bridging the Gap Kansas City, MO | Operating Grant | $35,000 |
| Learn Techquitywecode KC Kansas City, MO | Operating Grant | $30,000 |
| Mo Workers Center Saint Louis, MO | Operating Grant | $30,000 |
| Strategic Workforce Development Kansas City, MO | Operating Grant | $30,000 |
| KC Can Compost Kansas City, MO | Operating Grant | $25,000 |
| KC Pet Project Kansas City, MO | Operating Grant | $25,000 |
| Be Great Together KC Kansas City, MO | Operating Grant | $25,000 |
| Early Atartuics Kansas City, MO | Operating Grant | $25,000 |
| Entitled Learning Kansas City, MO | Operating Grant | $25,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $16,002,081 | $1,642,482 | $1,331,842 | $1,032,000 | 93 |
| 2023 | $15,672,026 | $758,728 | $1,274,379 | $1,029,400 | 91 |
| 2022 | $16,205,677 | $765,299 | $1,320,903 | $1,053,500 | 89 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $16,002,081 | $15,672,026 | $16,205,677 |
| Revenue | $1,642,482 | $758,728 | $765,299 |
| Expenses | $1,331,842 | $1,274,379 | $1,320,903 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,188,124 | $1,175,760 | $1,205,652 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,554,452 | $669,413 | $659,733 |
| Distributable Amount | $904,283 | $863,603 | $928,020 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Megan Shumaker as board chair; Eric Shumaker, Bonny Wheeler, Dan Cranshaw, and Tracey Lewis as trustees; and Laura Sloan as executive director.
The Shumaker Family Foundation is led by Laura Sloan, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; all 6 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Laura Sloan
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
$84K (2020) → $99K (2024)
Megan I. Shumaker
Board Chair
Trustee → Board Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$5K (2020) → $5K (2024)
Bonny Jo Wheeler
Trustee
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$5K (2020) → $5K (2024)
Dan Cranshaw
Trustee
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$5K (2020) → $5K (2024)
Eric A. Shumaker
Trustee
Board Chair → Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$5K (2020) → $5K (2024)
Tracey Lewis
Trustee
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$5K (2020) → $5K (2024)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Dianne C. Shumaker (2020–2023) — Ex-Officio
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 $99K, to Laura Sloan (Executive Director). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Application contact: Laura Sloan
Mailing address: 7301 Mission Road Suite 144, Prairie Village, KS 66208
Phone: (913) 432-1772
Website: https://shumakerfamilyfoundation.org
Frequently asked questions about The Shumaker Family Foundation
How much does The Shumaker Family Foundation give each year?
The Shumaker Family Foundation gave $1.0M across 93 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.0M across 91 grants.
What is The Shumaker Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Shumaker Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $8,000, and its average grant was $11,097, across 93 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Shumaker Family Foundation that year got $8K on average.
Where does The Shumaker Family Foundation give grants?
The Shumaker Family Foundation gives mostly in Missouri: 83% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Kansas (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Kansas City, MO (54 grants), Saint Joseph, MO (9 grants), Lawrence, KS (8 grants) and Kansas City, KS (7 grants).
Does The Shumaker Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Shumaker Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (93 of 93) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Shumaker Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Shumaker Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Mo Coalition for the Environment ($37,000), Bridging the Gap ($35,000) and Learn Techquitywecode KC ($30,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 10% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Shumaker Family Foundation?
The Shumaker Family Foundation reported $16.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $904K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Shumaker Family Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s stated aim is to help create a more compassionate world in which each person has the opportunity to reach their potential. Its grantmaking supports social justice, environmental justice, and education. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Shumaker Family Foundation?
The Foundation directs applicants to review its grant criteria and apply through its website. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Shumaker Family Foundation's EIN?
The Shumaker Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 65-6406193. 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 October 2026.
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