The Sunderland Foundation
The Sunderland Foundation is a private foundation based in Overland Park, Kansas, with over $1 billion in assets. Established in 1945 by Lester T. Sunderland, president of the Ash Grove Cement Company, the foundation has invested in the places and spaces where nonprofits do their work for nearly 80 years. The foundation's assets came primarily from shareholdings contributed by Lester and his sons Paul and Allen B. Sunderland. Following the 2018 acquisition of Ash Grove Cement by CRH plc, the foundation's resources increased significantly. The foundation continues to be led by descendants of Lester T. Sunderland and currently employs 2 staff members.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$177.0M
-18.9% YoY
Grant Count
96
-57.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$1.8M
+92.6% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: The Sunderland Foundation seeks to support those most in need in the Greater Kansas City area.
Core Values:
- Supporting the expertise and on-the-ground experience of organizations
- Empowering efforts that build just and equitable communities
- Examining root causes and the systems that create inequitable outcomes
The foundation has historically concentrated on capital projects for brick-and-mortar construction, including planning, design, construction, renovation, repairs, and restoration. It supports construction and special interest projects that allow nonprofits to fulfill their missions. The foundation has granted more than $1 billion in its lifetime.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$25,000 to $25,000,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's primary focus is the Greater Kansas City area, where it was founded. Historically, it has supported communities across the Midwest and Pacific Northwest where Ash Grove Cement operated, including:
- Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Arkansas, Iowa, Idaho, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, Montana, Oregon, and Washington
- Major cities supported include Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, and Seattle
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $926,086,757 (as of December 2024)
Annual Giving: $218,342,551 (2023)
Total Revenues: $68,424,822 (2024)
Total Expenses: $180,730,647 (2024)
Giving Rate: Approximately 21.5% of assets
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Sunderland Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Kent Sunderland: Chairman
- Randy Vance: President and Chief Operating Officer (compensation: $443,477 as of November 2024)
- Charles Sunderland: Trustee
- William Sunderland: Trustee
The board of trustees is primarily composed of members of the Sunderland family.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KENT SUNDERLAND | CHAIRMAN, TRUSTEE | 1 | $12,000 |
| CHARLES SUNDERLAND | SECRETARY & TREASURER, TRUSTEE | 1 | $12,000 |
| WILLIAM SUNDERLAND | TRUSTEE | 1 | $12,000 |
| THOMAS SUNDERLAND | TRUSTEE | 1 | $12,000 |
| JENNIFER MAYHEW | TRUSTEE | 1 | $12,000 |
| LEIGH FOSTER | TRUSTEE | 1 | $12,000 |
| EMERY GOLSON | TRUSTEE | 1 | $12,000 |
| MICHELLE BUCKNER | TRUSTEE | 1 | $12,000 |
| RANDY VANCE | PRESIDENT, COO | 40 | $461,216 |
| GRANT SUNDERLAND | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has made significant commitments to educational and healthcare institutions in recent years:
Awarded $100 million to the University of Kansas Cancer Center
Sunderland Foundation Awards $100 Million to the U. of Kansas Cancer CenterProvided $1 million gift to Washburn University
Washburn University receives $1 million gift from Sunderland FoundationAwarded $500,000 grant to Cloud County Community College
CCCC receives $500,000 grant from Sunderland FoundationThe foundation is currently in a strategic review process focused on its future direction in Greater Kansas City, where it began operations.
Sunderland Foundation Awards $100 Million to the U. of Kansas Cancer CenterRelated Funders
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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