The Vess Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Wichita, Kansas, established in 2013. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization that provides grants to IRC section 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$615K
+43.5% YoY
Grant Count
23
+27.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$27K
+12.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding priorities include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
Grantmaking
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Kansas
- Texas
- Tennessee
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 31, 2023:
- Total Assets: $13,378,444
- Total Revenues: $477,266
- Total Expenses: $566,023
- Number of Employees: 0
As of Most Recent Filing (2024):
- Total Assets: $13,388,023
- Total Giving: $614,500
| 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
96 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include True the Vote ($310,000), Share the Season ($50,000), Wichita Children's Home ($30,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Bike Walk Wichita Wichita, KS | Unrestricted general fund | $2,500 |
| Cambodian Children's Fund Santa Monica, CA | Unrestricted general fund | $20,000 |
| Catholic Charities Inc Wichita, KS | Anthony Family Shelter, Harbor House | $20,000 |
| Center of Hope Inc Wichita, KS | Unrestricted general fund | $20,000 |
| Childrens First CEO Kansas Inc Wichita, KS | Unrestricted general fund | $10,000 |
| Guadalupe Clinic Wichita, KS | Unrestricted general fund | $15,000 |
| Helping a Hero Houston, TX | Unrestricted general fund | $10,000 |
| HumanKind Ministries Wichita, KS | Unrestricted general fund | $7,500 |
| ICT Food Rescue Wichita, KS | Unrestricted general fund | $8,000 |
| Kansans for Life Wichita, KS | Unrestricted general fund | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Lacey N Vess – Executive Director (compensation: $40,000 as of 2022)
- J Michael Vess – Treasurer (as of 2023)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhonda R Vess | President | 2 | — |
| J Michael Vess | Treasurer | 2 | — |
| Lacey N Vess | Executive Director | 20 | $40,000 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Vess Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary funding priorities include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services
How do I apply for a grant from Vess Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • The foundation made 18 grants in 2023 • Typical award range: $250,000–$310,000 • Total giving in 2023: $614,500 **Recent Grants (2023):** • True the Vote: $100,000 (Education and Training) • Center for Combating Human Trafficking: $40,000 (Unrestricted General Fund) • The Wichita Children's Home: $30,000 (Unrestricted General Fund)
Where does Vess Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Kansas • Texas • Tennessee
What size grants does Vess Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Vess Family Foundation awarded 23 grants totaling $615K — an average of about $27K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Vess Family Foundation's EIN?
Vess Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-3974304. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Vess Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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