The Stowers Foundation
The Stowers Foundation is a private foundation based in Leawood, Kansas. It provides financial support to the Stowers Institute for Medical Research for public outreach, education, and communication programs, and supports other qualified charitable organizations.
The Stowers Foundation at a glance
In short: The Stowers Foundation gave $6.8M across 27 grants in 2025 (avg $253K), mostly in Missouri. 30% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $6,832,873
- +10.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 27
- +22.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $253,069
- -10.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $133,103
- Total assets
- $204,045,463
- +129.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 30% first-time grantees (6 of 20, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Missouri (86% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Stowers Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. It states that contributions are made only to preselected charitable organizations and that programs must be approved in advance by the trustees, in their absolute discretion.
- Contact
Mailing address: 6731 W 121St Ste 206, Leawood, KS 66209
Phone: (913) 312-5667
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Stowers Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was VPKJL Fund ($1.6M across 3 grants). Together the top 10 received $6.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
95 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $250–500K range: 32 grants of 95 (34%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 86% of grant dollars went to recipients in Missouri, 5% to Colorado, 4% to Kansas, and 4% to California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 27 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Stowers Foundation open to new grantees?
30%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 6 of 20 grantees (30%) were first-time recipients. With only 20 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $116K; repeat grants $438K. How we count
Medians: $75K first-time, $213K repeat.
- 65% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 46% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 74% 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $4.6M (2021) to $6.8M (2025). In 2025 it made 27 grants totaling $6.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Stowers Institute for Medical Research Kansas City, MO | To fund communication and outreach activities at the school. | $1,027,770 |
| Operation Breakthrough Kansas City, MO | Gift to endowment in honor of sisters berta and corita | $1,000,000 |
| VPKJL Fund Kansas City, MO | To Fund General Operations | $1,000,000 |
| Children's Mercy Hospital Kansas City, MO | Kids First Pediatric Genomic Project | $500,000 |
| VPKJL Fund Kansas City, MO | To Fund General Operations | $500,000 |
| Gordon Parks Elementary School Kansas City, MO | To Fund Operation of the School. | $450,000 |
| Rose Brooks Kansas City, MO | To Fund General Operations | $300,000 |
| Operation Breakthrough Kansas City, MO | To Fund General Operations | $300,000 |
| Warren Village Denver, CO | To Fund General Operations | $250,000 |
| Scripps Translational Science Institute La Jolla, CA | To Fund Mygene Rank Development | $250,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Stowers Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $204,045,463 | $122,427,069 | $7,640,558 | $6,832,873 | 27 | $6,863,831 | $12,134,572 | $9,281,198 |
| 2024 | $88,857,548 | $6,332,848 | $6,547,724 | $6,211,103 | 22 | $6,231,534 | $6,141,658 | $4,118,277 |
| 2023 | $81,781,932 | $9,290,357 | $5,740,130 | $5,433,003 | 16 | $5,455,103 | $9,139,171 | $3,910,340 |
| 2022 | $87,524,351 | $9,293,676 | $4,927,706 | $4,693,163 | 15 | $4,706,091 | $7,925,967 | $4,434,418 |
| 2021 | $90,279,699 | $5,811,993 | $4,719,969 | $4,564,303 | 15 | — | $5,747,504 | $3,776,909 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Stowers Foundation reported a distributable amount of $9.3M for 2025 — 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’s stated charitable activity is to support public outreach, education, and communication programs at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research, along with other qualified charitable organizations.
Its 2025 grants included support for medical research and children’s health, schools, and community organizations. The Stowers Institute for Medical Research describes its mission as advancing medical research to improve understanding of life and the causes, treatment, and prevention of disease. Operation Breakthrough describes its work as providing a safe, educational environment for children in poverty and empowering their families. Children’s Mercy describes its work as children’s health care, translational research, innovation, and education. Gordon Parks Elementary School states that its mission is to provide exceptional foundations for the future and empower students to achieve excellence.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 27 grants totaling $6,832,873. Grants ranged from $15,000 to $1,027,770, with a median of $133,103. Notable grants included $1,027,770 to the Stowers Institute for Medical Research for communication and outreach activities; $1,000,000 to Operation Breakthrough for an endowment gift; $1,000,000 to VPKJL Fund for general operations; $500,000 to Children’s Mercy Hospital for the Kids First Pediatric Genomic Project; and $450,000 to Gordon Parks Elementary School for school operations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists four trustees: Linda Stowers, Wendy B. Marvin, Kathleen Stowers Potter, and James E. Stowers III.
The Stowers Foundation's 2025 filing lists 4 officers; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
James E. Stowers III
Trustee
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kathleen Stowers Potter
Trustee
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Linda Stowers
Trustee
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Wendy B. Marvin
Trustee
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: virginia g stowers (2021) — Trustee
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.
Frequently asked questions about The Stowers Foundation
How much does The Stowers Foundation give each year?
The Stowers Foundation gave $6.8M across 27 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $6.2M across 22 grants.
What is The Stowers Foundation's typical grant size?
The Stowers Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $133,103, and its average grant was $253,069, across 27 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Stowers Foundation that year got $116K on average.
Where does The Stowers Foundation give grants?
The Stowers Foundation gives mostly in Missouri: 86% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Colorado (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Kansas City, MO (19 grants) and Denver, CO (4 grants).
Does The Stowers Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 48% of The Stowers Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (13 of 27) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Stowers Foundation's largest grantees?
The Stowers Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include VPKJL Fund ($1,650,000 across 3 grants), Operation Breakthrough ($1,433,103 across 3 grants) and Stowers Institute for Medical Research ($1,084,770 across 3 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 61% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Stowers Foundation?
The Stowers Foundation reported $204.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $6.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $9.3M (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 Stowers Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated charitable activity is to support public outreach, education, and communication programs at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research, along with other qualified charitable organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Stowers Foundation?
The foundation 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 Stowers Foundation's EIN?
The Stowers Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 32-6176805. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Does The Stowers Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
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 2021–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Stowers Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
Kansas City, MO
The foundation funds college access and completion, workforce and career development, entrepreneurship, and related efforts to improve economic mobility, with a primary focus on Kansas City and support for regional and national work. Its 2024 grants had a median of $75,000; it accepts requests through its online portal and says it does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$2.5B
Grants
364
Total Given
$95.0M
Health Forward Foundation
Kansas City, MO
Health Forward Foundation funds health equity and community-led work in health care, housing, digital access, civic engagement, and racial and economic inclusion in the Kansas City region. Its 2024 grants ranged from $10,000 to $800,000, with a median of $100,000; it offers open application opportunities, while some funding is invitation-based, and welcomes conversations about aligned ideas for possible responsive funding.
Assets
$944.7M
Grants
169
Total Given
$26.4M
The Sosland Foundation
Kansas City, MO
The Sosland Foundation supports social welfare, poverty relief, self-reliance, and related Jewish, health, education, and arts causes, with a preference for organizations in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Its 2024 grants ranged from $100 to $1,051,626, with a median of $5,000; it accepts written requests, with no stated deadline.
Assets
$53.9M
Grants
131
Total Given
$4.3M
G Kenneth and Ann Baum Philanthropic
Stilwell, KS
This foundation funds organizations in arts and culture, health care, education, human services, food access, and other areas, with most 2024 grants going to Missouri, Minnesota, and Kansas. Its 97 grants totaled about $2.07 million; the median grant was $5,500, with awards ranging from $65 to $261,915. It gives only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$24.1M
Grants
97
Total Given
$2.1M
The Baum Family Foundation
Kansas City, MO
The Baum Family Foundation funds social-benefit, education, and medical work, primarily in Missouri and Kansas, with most 2024 grant dollars going to Missouri. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,000 to $284,000, with a median of $75,000. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$28.5M
Grants
30
Total Given
$2.8M
R C Kemper Charitable Trust
Kansas City, MO
The trust funds community services, health care, conservation, education, and the arts, with 2024 grants primarily supporting organizations in Missouri and Colorado, followed by Kansas and California. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $500,000, with a median of $20,000. It funds only preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$10.2M
Grants
27
Total Given
$1.4M
More similar funders
More Funders in Kansas
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Stowers Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-stowers-foundation-morg_2463525c0e62433d8e6b564631f51f97
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_326176805_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Stowers Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-stowers-foundation-morg_2463525c0e62433d8e6b564631f51f97},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 The Stowers 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 Stowers Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?