The Watson Youth Golf Foundation
To assist and support efforts to increase the popularity of and participation by youth in the sport of golf. To advance science and education on issues related to youth activities and sports participation. To heighten public awareness of the benefits of golf and to further the general public's knowledge and history of the game of golf.
The Watson Youth Golf Foundation at a glance
In short: The Watson Youth Golf Foundation gave $375K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $375K), mostly in Kansas. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $375,000
- -2.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- -75.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $375,000
- +290.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $375,000
- Primary geography
- Kansas (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who The Watson Youth Golf Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Watson Links Mentors Foundation ($375K).
Grant Size Distribution
10 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 6 grants of 10 (60%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
Cities
How The Watson Youth Golf Foundation gives
- Giving grew 436% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $60K (2020) to $385K (2024). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $375K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Watson Links Mentors Foundation Overland Park, KS | For General Support | $375,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Watson Youth Golf 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 | — | $367,002 | $381,811 | $375,000 | 1 | $381,661 | — | $344 |
| 2024 | $14,809 | $396,118 | $392,928 | $384,500 | 4 | — | $6 | — |
| 2023 | $11,619 | $193,253 | $181,956 | $176,300 | 3 | — | $1 | — |
| 2022 | $322 | $70,000 | $75,858 | $70,000 | 2 | — | — | — |
| 2021 | $6,180 | $4,600 | $5,613 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2020 | $7,191 | $80,350 | $73,159 | $60,000 | 2 | — | — | — |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Watson Youth Golf Foundation reported a distributable amount of $344 for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
About The Watson Youth Golf Foundation
Based on IRS filings
The Watson Youth Golf Foundation is a private foundation focused on Recreation & Sports, based in Overland Park, KS. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $375K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Watson Youth Golf Foundation is led by Michael R. Thiessen, President since 2023 (on filings since 2020); none of the 9 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Michael R. Thiessen
President
Director → President, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thomas S. Watson
Chairman
Director → Chairman, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Flanders
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Meg Watson Carr
Director
President → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael B. Watson
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Andy Fisher
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gary D. Gilson
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark R. Allen
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Janet Barner
Treasurer
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Frank H. Kirk (2020–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: David C. Wysong (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Watson Youth Golf Foundation
How much does The Watson Youth Golf Foundation give each year?
The Watson Youth Golf Foundation gave $375K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $385K across 4 grants.
What is The Watson Youth Golf Foundation?
The Watson Youth Golf Foundation is a private foundation focused on Recreation & Sports, based in Overland Park, KS.
Where does The Watson Youth Golf Foundation operate?
The Watson Youth Golf Foundation has awarded grants in California, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska.
How much is The Watson Youth Golf Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, The Watson Youth Golf Foundation reported a distributable amount of $344 on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Watson Youth Golf Foundation's EIN?
The Watson Youth Golf Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 85-2444561. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 11, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 9, 2021)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 18, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Watson Youth Golf Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Kansas
The H & R Block Foundation
Kansas City, MO
The H & R Block Foundation funds nonprofits serving underserved people, with priorities including post-secondary education, arts and culture, health and human services, and neighborhood revitalization. Its 2024 filing reported one grant of $3,032,914, so typical grant size is unclear; it focuses on greater Kansas City, covering five counties in Missouri and Kansas. It accepts funding inquiries from eligible organizations located in greater Kansas City through an online questionnaire.
Assets
$68.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$3.0M
Midwest Section PGA Foundation
Blue Springs, MO
To provide financial assistance and/or resources for qualified charitable organizations and educational purposes. The midwest foundation will create and establish activity-based and educational golf programs which convey the social and life values of the game regardless of health conditions, gender, age, socioeconomic background, or playing ability.
Assets
$615K
Grants
3
Total Given
$36K
Thomas Martin Foundation
Kansas City, MO
The Thomas Martin Foundation supports arts and cultural organizations, education, religious groups, and other charitable causes, with 2025 grants ranging from $100 to $25,000 and a median of $1,250. Based in Kansas City, it gave most of its 2025 grant dollars to organizations in Washington, DC and Missouri, with additional grants in Kansas, Ohio, and Florida. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$455K
Grants
12
Total Given
$39K
Rensenhouse Charitable Foundation Inc of Missouri
Kansas City, MO
The foundation supports theatre, education, services for people experiencing poverty, public radio, film, and historical preservation, with most 2024 funding going to Missouri and Colorado organizations. Its 23 grants in 2024 totaled $29,600, typically $500–$3,600, with a median of $1,000. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$580K
Grants
23
Total Given
$30K
Lynne and Owen Buckley Foundation
Kansas City, MO
The Lynne and Owen Buckley Foundation supports organizations in education, health care, animal care, arts and culture, community improvement, and social services. In 2025, grants ranged from $500 to $200,000, with a median of $5,000; most funding went to Missouri and Kansas, with some grants elsewhere. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$7.9M
Grants
24
Total Given
$395K
Seaboard Foundation
Merriam, KS
Seaboard Foundation funds education, food security, animal welfare, health, nutrition, sustainable agriculture, and local community programs in areas where Seaboard operates, with recent giving concentrated in Missouri, Oklahoma, and Kansas. In 2025, grants ranged from $25 to $135,000, with a median of $1,000. It states that it does not accept unsolicited requests and considers applications only from preselected charitable organizations.
Assets
$431K
Grants
111
Total Given
$615K
More similar funders
More Funders in Kansas
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from The Watson Youth Golf 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 Watson Youth Golf Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?