Western Kansas Community Foundation
The Western Kansas Community Foundation (WKCF) is a public charity and community foundation established in 1996, headquartered in Garden City, Kansas. The organization connects donors with charitable programs and nonprofits across southwest Kansas, serving 15 counties in the region. WKCF is governed by a volunteer board of directors and operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$50.7M
+4.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.2M
+115.7% YoY
Grant Count
60
+15.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$54K
+87.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: Enriching western Kansas life through philanthropy, collaboration and leadership.
The Foundation supports a broad range of focus areas including:
- Education
- Arts and Culture
- Children and Youth
- Community Development
- Health and Well-Being
- Human Services
- Animals
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Foundation participated in MatchDay, raising over $950,000 from 816 donors making 1,874 donations that benefitted 50 charitable organizations. Notable 2024 grants included $1,534,909 to Wichita County Community Foundation, $162,712 to Garden City Community College Endowment Association, and $107,642 to Emmaus House.
Grant Range
$5,125–$1,534,909
Average Grant
amount: $54,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation primarily serves 15 counties in southwest Kansas. Grant distribution shows concentration in:
- Garden City, KS (37 grants)
- Cimarron, KS (5 grants)
- Scott City, KS (3 grants)
- Lakin, KS (2 grants)
- Leoti, KS (2 grants)
- Liberal, KS (2 grants)
- Wichita, KS (2 grants)
- Additional grants to Hugoton, Johnson, and Kansas City, KS
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Financial Position (as of December 31, 2024):
- Total Assets: $50,699,375
- Cash & Cash Equivalents: $1,509,742
- Investments: $48,057,755
- Insurance Policies: $15,457
- Total Liabilities: $1,655,198
- Net Assets Without Donor Restrictions: $788,521
- Net Assets With Donor Restrictions: $47,139,235
Annual Activity (2024):
- Total Revenues: $3,393,665
- Total Expenses: $4,348,616
- Total Giving: $3,701,968
Investment Management: Funds are invested with Commerce Trust Company and governed by the Foundation's Finance Committee. The Foundation maintains a balanced portfolio invested for long-term growth. Financial statements are audited annually by Kientz & Penick, CPAs (Manhattan, KS).
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $50,699,375 | $48,523,139 | $44,041,851 |
| Revenue | $3,393,665 | $2,664,401 | $4,230,103 |
| Expenses | $4,348,616 | $2,412,458 | $2,676,705 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $804,385 | $771,116 | $546,783 |
| 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
198 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
5 open opportunities from Western Kansas Community Foundation
General Grant Program
Western Kansas Community Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Scholarships
Western Kansas Community Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
WKCF: Community Grant ( previously Operating Grant and Core Grant)
Western Kansas Community Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Garden City Community College Endowment Association ($162,712), Emmaus House ($107,642), University of Kansas Endowment Association ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Bernadine Sitts Intermediate Center Garden City, KS | Educational | $10,000 |
| Benincasa Garden City, KS | Health, General | $21,765 |
| ABC Pregnancy Care Center Garden City, KS | Youth Development | $6,045 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of Finney & Kearny Counties Garden City, KS | Youth Development | $49,304 |
| CES BEST Cimarron, KS | Youth Development | $10,000 |
| Great Plains MakerSpace Inc Garden City, KS | Youth Development | $10,060 |
| Grow & Learn Childcare Center Inc Leoti, KS | Youth Development | $12,500 |
| Noah's Ark Preschool Johnson, KS | Youth Development | $5,700 |
| Sublette Rotary Foundation Sublette, KS | Youth Development | $10,000 |
| Western Kansas Child Advocacy Center Scott City, KS | Youth Development | $10,755 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Executive Director: Conny Bogaard
The Foundation is governed by a volunteer board of directors and staffed by 6 employees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linda Lobmeyer | Chair | 1 | — |
| Marvin Graber | Vice-Chair | 1 | — |
| Dick Monical | Treasurer | 1 | — |
| Benjamin Fuentes | Assistant Treasurer | 1 | — |
| Paula M Rowden | Secretary | 1 | — |
| Yazmin Moreno | Assistant Secretary | 1 | — |
| Pat Sanders | Past Chair | 1 | — |
| Lisa Axman | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Jim Coast | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Kathy Graff | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Michelle Komlofske | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Katrina Lowry | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Kimberly Shaddix | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Conny Bogaard PhD | Executive Director | 40 | $98,371 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Foundation has announced multiple rounds of grant awards in recent periods, including grants to 28 area nonprofits totaling $67,242 and special "Our Community, Our Future" grants of $60,000. The organization was recognized as Non-Profit of the Year in 2016 by the Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce.
Western Kansas Community Foundation Announces Grant RecipientsSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Western Kansas Community Foundation fund?
**Mission:** Enriching western Kansas life through philanthropy, collaboration and leadership. The Foundation supports a broad range of focus areas including: • Education • Arts and Culture • Children and Youth • Community Development • Health and Well-Being • Human Services • Animals
How do I apply for a grant from Western Kansas Community Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total grants given: $3.7 million (most recent reporting period) • Number of grants: 178 • Average grant amount: $54,000 • Typical grant range: $5,125–$1,534,909 **Active Grant Programs:** • WKCF: Community Grant (previously Operating Grant and Core Grant) • WKCF: Urgent Needs Fund Grants • WKCF: Women of Purpose Grant **Recent Grantmaking:** In 2024, the Foundation participated in MatchDay, raising over $950,000 from 816 donors making 1,874 donations that benefitted 50 cha…
Where does Western Kansas Community Foundation make grants?
The Foundation primarily serves 15 counties in southwest Kansas. Grant distribution shows concentration in: • Garden City, KS (37 grants) • Cimarron, KS (5 grants) • Scott City, KS (3 grants) • Lakin, KS (2 grants) • Leoti, KS (2 grants) • Liberal, KS (2 grants) • Wichita, KS (2 grants) • Additional grants to Hugoton, Johnson, and Kansas City, KS
What size grants does Western Kansas Community Foundation award?
In 2024, Western Kansas Community Foundation awarded 60 grants totaling $3.2M — an average of about $54K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Western Kansas Community Foundation's EIN?
Western Kansas Community Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 48-1184667. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Western Kansas Community 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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