The Sunflower Foundation
The Sunflower Foundation is a Form 990-PF (a private foundation) based in Lake Quivira, Kansas. It made 24 grants totaling $41,700 in 2024, with awards generally limited to the Kansas City metropolitan area.
The Sunflower Foundation at a glance
In short: The Sunflower Foundation gave $42K across 24 grants in 2024 (avg $2K), top state Missouri. 13% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $41,700
- -0.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 24
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $1,738
- -0.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $522,150
- +6.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 13% first-time grantees (3 of 24, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Missouri (48% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Sunflower Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The filing lists R Alexander Masson as the contact and says to submit a written application with supporting information. Awards are generally limited to the Kansas City metropolitan area.
- Contact
Application contact: R Alexander Masson
Mailing address: 240 Lakeshore Drive West, Lake Quivira, KS 66217-8521
Phone: (913) 268-3551
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Sunflower Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was University Academy ($5K). Together the top 10 received $30K.
Grant Size Distribution
120 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 120 grants of 120 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s filing says awards are generally limited to the Kansas City metropolitan area. In 2024, grant dollars by recipient state were Missouri 48%, Kansas 37%, Pennsylvania 6%, New Mexico 5%, and North Carolina 2%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 24 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Sunflower Foundation open to new grantees?
13%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 3 of 24 grantees (13%) were first-time recipients. With only 24 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $900; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $100 first-time, $1K repeat.
- 88% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+10%). Method
- In 2022 it paid out 182% 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $38K (2021) to $44K (2022). In 2024 it made 24 grants totaling $42K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University Academy Kansas City, MO | Charter school preparatory | $5,000 |
| The Learning Club of Kansas City Kansas City, KS | Assisting children to improve reading and math skills | $5,000 |
| Catholic Charities Kansas City, KS | Services for youth | $5,000 |
| Urban Ranger Corps Kansas City, MO | Teaching young people self-supporting skills | $3,000 |
| Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA | Fulfilling medical needs for children | $2,500 |
| Camps for Kids Kansas City, MO | Summer program for low income urban youth | $2,000 |
| Cross Lines Kansas City, KS | Teaching children self-sufficiency | $2,000 |
| Rose Brooks Center Inc Kansas City, MO | Crisis intervention for women and children | $2,000 |
| Boys and Girls Clubs Kansas City, MO | Structure for young people after school | $2,000 |
| CASA Kansas Overland Park, KS | Advocacy for children | $1,500 |
Ready to take the next step with The Sunflower 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $522,150 | $56,137 | $46,552 | $41,700 | 24 | $41,700 | $16,137 | — |
| 2023 | $490,777 | $13,678 | $49,498 | $42,000 | 24 | $42,000 | $13,678 | — |
| 2022 | $460,778 | $50,926 | $50,926 | $44,000 | 22 | $44,000 | $14,041 | $24,161 |
| 2021 | $526,598 | $68,587 | $38,864 | $37,800 | 25 | $37,800 | $23,587 | $24,875 |
| 2020 | $496,875 | $32,826 | $40,018 | $38,150 | 25 | — | $32,826 | $24,192 |
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 included support for education, children’s services and advocacy, youth development, summer programs, and crisis services for women and children.
Grantees describe their own missions in varied terms. For example, Urban Ranger Corps says it prepares at-risk inner-city youth for responsible and productive futures through disciplined work experience, service, and leadership. Rose Brooks Center says its mission is to break the cycle of domestic violence so individuals and families can live free of abuse. The Children’s Place says it provides mental health services for children under age nine who have experienced abuse, neglect, or other trauma.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 24 grants totaling $41,700. Grants ranged from $100 to $5,000, with a median award of $1,000.
Among the larger 2024 grants were $5,000 each to University Academy for charter school preparation, The Learning Club of Kansas City for children’s reading and math skills, and Catholic Charities for youth services. Other notable awards included $3,000 to Urban Ranger Corps for teaching young people self-supporting skills; $2,500 to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for children’s medical needs; and $2,000 each to Camps for Kids, Cross Lines, Rose Brooks Center, and Boys and Girls Clubs.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists R Alexander Masson as president and treasurer, Susan Masson as secretary, and Christina Masson Waldman as director.
The Sunflower Foundation is led by R Alexander Masson, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
R Alexander Masson
President & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christina Masson Waldman
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susan Masson
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/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.
Frequently asked questions about The Sunflower Foundation
How much does The Sunflower Foundation give each year?
The Sunflower Foundation gave $42K across 24 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $42K across 24 grants.
What is The Sunflower Foundation's typical grant size?
The Sunflower Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $1,000, and its average grant was $1,738, across 24 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Sunflower Foundation that year got $900 on average.
Where does The Sunflower Foundation give grants?
The Sunflower Foundation's top state is Missouri, with 48% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Kansas (37%) and Pennsylvania (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Kansas City, MO (8 grants), Kansas City, KS (4 grants), Overland Park, KS (2 grants) and Lees Summit, MO (2 grants).
Does The Sunflower Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 4% of The Sunflower Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 24) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Sunflower Foundation's largest grantees?
The Sunflower Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include University Academy ($5,000), The Learning Club of Kansas City ($5,000) and Catholic Charities ($5,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 36% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Sunflower Foundation?
The Sunflower Foundation reported $522K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $56K.
What does The Sunflower Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for education, children’s services and advocacy, youth development, summer programs, and crisis services for women and children. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Sunflower Foundation?
The filing lists R Alexander Masson as the contact and says to submit a written application with supporting information. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Sunflower Foundation's EIN?
The Sunflower Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 48-0849275. 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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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 Sunflower 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.
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