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Kirk Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Kirk Foundation

Its FY2025 filing reports that it accepted unsolicited grant applications.

$723k
Granted FY2024still arriving
43
Grants FY2024still arriving
5
States reached
$80k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02Its granteesRead
03Its fieldRead
04Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
0196% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2025.

Human Services$1.0MEducation$727kArts & Culture$398kHealth$292kYouth Development$195kRecreation & Sports$150kReligion$85kFood & Nutrition$53kOther$0
02FY2024 · 43 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

How this is measured
The 43 grants below total $525,000, the rows itemized in this filing. The $722,500 headline is the total grant expense on the return; the other $197,500 is giving the schedule does not break out (grants under the $5,000 itemization floor, grants to individuals, grants on other schedules). Every figure below describes the itemized rows only.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k18 grants · $90k
  • $10k–50k24 grants · $355k
  • $50k–250k1 grant · $80k
$10,000
Median grant
5
States reached
$15M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
YMCA OF GREATER KANSAS CITY$80,000
KITE FOUNDATION AT 1433$30,000
JOHNSON COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE$25,000
RECONCILIATION SERVICES$25,000
SYNERGY SERVICES$25,000
WELCOME HOUSE$25,000
MINDDRIVE INC$25,000
ROTARY YOUTH CAMP$25,000
CROSSROADS ACADEMY$15,000
ARTS ENGAGEMENT FOUNDATION OF KANSAS CITY$10,000
UMKC FOUNDATION UMKC SCHOOL OF EDUCATION$10,000
PARKINSONS FOUNDATION$10,000
HARRIS PARK MIDTOWN SPORTS AND AQUATIC CENTER$10,000
PERFORMING ARTS FOUNDATION FOLLY THEATER$10,000
PARKINSONS FOUNDATION OF THE HEARTLAND$10,000
02Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

88%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$2.7M · 45 repeat orgs$355k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +40% since the first grant, against +36% for those funded once.

45 repeat relationships: 36 still active in FY2024, 9 since wound down; 7 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

45
18

Total granted

$2.7M
$285k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+40%
+36%

Still filing today

56%
44%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 87% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $70k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’17’21’22’23’24
Human ServicesEducationHealthArts & CultureHousing & ShelterPhilanthropyOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • WH
    Welcome House Inc
    4× · 2021–2024 · $150k · revenue +45%
  • TK
    The Kansas University Endowment Association
    5× · 2017–2024 · $110k · revenue +93%
  • DK
    DOWNTOWN KANSAS CITY CIVIC VENTURES
    4× · 2017–2023 · $100k · revenue +65%

Funded once

  • YA
    YOUNG AUDIENCES KANSAS CITY CHAPTER
    one grant, 2017 · $100k
  • MC
    MID CONTINENT LIBRARY
    one grant, 2021 · $50k
  • KA
    KANSAS ALPHA OF PHI DELTA THETA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
    one grant, 2017 · $27k · revenue -93%
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

03Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Catholic Charities of Kansas City - St Joseph Inc

Helping people move to a better life through hope-filled care, services, and advocacy; calling all those of goodwill to join us

Human Services
2
Cultivate Kansas City Inc

Grow food, farms and community in support of a sustainable, healthy and local food system.

Food & Nutrition
3
North Central Kansas Housing Opportunities Inc
Community Improvement
4
Bike Share Kc

Bike share kc provides the greater kansas city area with a bike share system designed for transportation, recreation, and exercise.

Human Services
5
Kanza Mental Health and Guidance Center Inc

Offer hope to build a better tomorrow through mental health services.

Health
6
Kansas Healthcare Collaborative Inc

Engaging and aligning providers and stakeholders to establish Kansas as a role model for health care quality and a top performer in health care outcomes.

Health
7
Kansas Legal Services Inc

Kansas legal services is devoted to helping low income kansans meet their basic needs through the provision of important legal and mediation services.

—
8
Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City

Leading the way to the best kc region by convening innovative leaders, collaborating with like-minded organizations, advocating for positive change, and helping small businesses grow.

—
9
Kansas City Christian School Association

To bring glory to god by providing children with an excellent christ- centered education rooted in the word of god.

—
10
Kansas City Community Land Trust

Acquire and develop real estate to provide safe, decent, and affordable housing to low-income homeowners while working to ensure a culturally, ethnically, and economically diverse and stable community where generations can thrive in place.

Housing & Shelter
11
Kansas Association of Community Action Programs Inc

Kacap supports community action agencies and other human services organizations in thier local, state and national efforts to end poverty.

Public Benefit
12
Chain of Hope Kc

Outreach to help animals suffering in the urban core of kansas city.

Animals
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Downtown Kansas City Civic Ventures; the most unlike its peers is Kansas Alpha of Phi Delta Theta Educational Foundation. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
03the grantee network

39 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 39 of the 70 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
8
Early backer (in before they grew)
38/39
Grantees still filing
29/39
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

JOHNSON COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE: $125,000 · OtherJOHNSON COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGEYOUNG AUDIENCES KANSAS CITY CHAPTER: $100,000 · OtherYOUNG AUDIENCES KANSAS CITY CHAPTERCROSSROADS ACADEMY: $100,000 · OtherCROSSROADS ACADEMYROTARY YOUTH CAMP C/O MR GARY MCEACHEN: $100,000 · OtherROTARY YOUTH CAMP C/O MR GARY MCEACHENYOUNG AUDIENCES INC: $80,000 · OtherYOUNG AUDIENCES INCROTARY YOUTH CAMP: $70,000 · OtherROTARY YOUTH CAMPFOLDS OF HONOR FOUNDATION: $60,000 · OtherKAUFMANN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS: $50,000 · OtherJR. GOLF FOUNDATION OF GREATER KANSAS CITY (FIRST TEE): $50,000 · OtherMID CONTINENT LIBRARY: $50,000 · OtherHARRIS PARK MIDTOWN SPORTS AND AQUATIC CENTER: $45,000 · Other+30 more: $384,500 · Other+30 moreYOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF GREATER KANSAS CITY: $555,000 · Human ServicesYOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF G…RECONCILIATION SERVICES: $165,000 · Human ServicesRECONCILIATION SERVICESDOWNTOWN KANSAS CITY CIVIC VENTURES: $100,000 · Human ServicesDOWNTOWN KANSAS CITY CIVIC VENTURESYMCA OF THE ROCKIES: $90,000 · Human ServicesYMCA OF THE ROCKIESSYNERGY SERVICES INC: $50,000 · Human ServicesUNITED INNER CITY SERVICES INC: $45,000 · Human Services+4 more: $42,500 · Human ServicesMINDDRIVE INCORPORATED: $125,000 · EducationMINDDRIVE INCOR…The Kansas University Endowment Association: $110,000 · EducationThe Kansas Univ…KANSAS CITY ART INSTITUTE: $60,000 · EducationKANSAS CITY ART…GOLF FOUNDATION OF KANSAS CITY: $50,000 · EducationGOLF FOUNDATION…OPERATION BREAKTHROUGH INC: $35,000 · EducationOPERATION BREAK…JOHNSON COUNTY LIBRARY FOUNDATION: $20,000 · Education+1 more: $10,000 · EducationWelcome House Inc: $150,000 · HealthWelcome H…FOOTPRINTS INC: $50,000 · HealthFOOTPRINT…BREAKTHROUGH T1D: $22,000 · HealthBREAKTHRO…PARKINSON'S FOUNDATION INC: $15,000 · HealthPARKINSON…CARE BEYOND THE BOULEVARD INC: $10,000 · HealthLYRIC OPERA OF KANSAS CITY INC: $25,000 · Arts & CultureKEMPER MUSEUM OPERATING FOUNDATION: $10,000 · Arts & CultureArts Engagement Foundation of Kansas City: $10,000 · Arts & CultureKANSAS CITY FRIENDS OF ALVIN AILEY: $2,500 · Arts & CultureKITE FOUNDATION AT 1433: $30,000 · PhilanthropyJEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF GREATER KANSAS CITY: $15,000 · PhilanthropyHARVESTERS - THE COMMUNITY FOOD NETWORK: $37,500 · Food & Nutrition
Other$1,214,500Human Services$1,047,500Education$410,000Health$247,000Arts & Culture$47,500Philanthropy$45,000Food & Nutrition$37,500

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetYOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF GREATER KANSAS CITY: $555,000 over 5y, 0.5% of budgetRECONCILIATION SERVICES: $165,000 over 4y, 0.9% of budgetWelcome House Inc: $150,000 over 4y, 1.2% of budgetMINDDRIVE INCORPORATED: $125,000 over 5y, 3.7% of budgetThe Kansas University Endowment Association: $110,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetDOWNTOWN KANSAS CITY CIVIC VENTURES: $100,000 over 4y, 5.1% of budgetYMCA OF THE ROCKIES: $90,000 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetKANSAS CITY ART INSTITUTE: $60,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetSYNERGY SERVICES INC: $50,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetGOLF FOUNDATION OF KANSAS CITY: $50,000 over 5y, 6.0% of budgetFOOTPRINTS INC: $50,000 over 2y, 1.4% of budgetUNITED INNER CITY SERVICES INC: $45,000 over 5y, 0.3% of budgetHARVESTERS - THE COMMUNITY FOOD NETWORK: $37,500 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetOPERATION BREAKTHROUGH INC: $35,000 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetKITE FOUNDATION AT 1433: $30,000 over 1y, 3.9% of budgetKANSAS ALPHA OF PHI DELTA THETA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION: $26,500 over 1y, 8.5% of budgetLYRIC OPERA OF KANSAS CITY INC: $25,000 over 3y, 0.2% of budgetCity Union Mission: $25,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetBREAKTHROUGH T1D: $22,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetJOHNSON COUNTY LIBRARY FOUNDATION: $20,000 over 5y, 1.2% of budgetPAWSPERITY INC: $20,000 over 4y, 0.2% of budgetPARKINSON'S FOUNDATION INC: $15,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetJEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF GREATER KANSAS CITY: $15,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetHOPE HOUSE INC: $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetKEMPER MUSEUM OPERATING FOUNDATION: $10,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetUMKC FOUNDATION: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetDE LA SALLE EDUCATION CENTER: $10,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetArts Engagement Foundation of Kansas City: $10,000 over 1y, 1.2% of budgetCARE BEYOND THE BOULEVARD INC: $10,000 over 2y, 0.3% of budgetGREATER KANSAS CITY COALITION TO END HOMELESSNESS: $10,000 over 2y, 0.5% of budgetJOHNSON COUNTY CHRISTMAS BUREAU: $8,000 over 4y, 0.3% of budgetHope Faith Ministries Inc: $7,500 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetFront Porch Alliance - Kansas City Inc: $5,000 over 1y, 1.4% of budgetCRISTO REY KANSAS CITY SISTERS OF CHARI TY OF LEAVENWORTH HIGH SCHOOL: $5,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetROSE BROOKS CENTER INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetLEAD TO READ INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetKANSAS CITY FRIENDS OF ALVIN AILEY: $2,500 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetREACHING OUT FROM WITHIN INC: $2,500 over 1y, 2.0% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

  • Who funds YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF GREATER KANSAS CITY ↗
  • Who funds RECONCILIATION SERVICES ↗
  • Who funds Welcome House Inc ↗
  • Who funds MINDDRIVE INCORPORATED ↗
  • Who funds The Kansas University Endowment Association ↗
  • Who funds DOWNTOWN KANSAS CITY CIVIC VENTURES ↗
  • Who funds YMCA OF THE ROCKIES ↗
  • Who funds KANSAS CITY ART INSTITUTE ↗
  • Who funds SYNERGY SERVICES INC ↗
  • Who funds GOLF FOUNDATION OF KANSAS CITY ↗
  • Who funds FOOTPRINTS INC ↗
  • Who funds UNITED INNER CITY SERVICES INC ↗
  • Who funds HARVESTERS - THE COMMUNITY FOOD NETWORK ↗
  • Who funds OPERATION BREAKTHROUGH INC ↗
  • Who funds KITE FOUNDATION AT 1433 ↗
  • Who funds KANSAS ALPHA OF PHI DELTA THETA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds LYRIC OPERA OF KANSAS CITY INC ↗
  • Who funds City Union Mission ↗
  • Who funds BREAKTHROUGH T1D ↗
  • Who funds JOHNSON COUNTY LIBRARY FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds PAWSPERITY INC ↗
  • Who funds PARKINSON'S FOUNDATION INC ↗

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Greater Kansas City C…United Way of Greater…The Francis Family Fo…Health Forward Founda…Ewing Marion Kauffman…Oppenstein Brothers F…The Sunderland Founda…Marion and Henry Bloc…The Kansas City Royal…The H & R Block Found…The Sherman Family Fo…William T Kemper Foun…
Greater Kansas City Community FoundationMO57.3× affinity30 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Greater Kansas City Community Foundation · United Way of Greater Kansas City Inc · The Francis Family Foundation · Health Forward Foundation · Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation · Oppenstein Brothers Foundation · The Sunderland Foundation · Marion and Henry Bloch Family Foundation · The Kansas City Royals Foundation · The H & R Block Foundation · The Sherman Family Foundation · William T Kemper Foundation Commerce Bank Trustee

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.
04Through Plinth

Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

How do I get to Kirk Foundation?

Find your warmest path to Kirk Foundation through trustees and officers whose names appear on both boards. Search for your organization and Plinth traces the shortest route it can evidence.

Each link is a name appearing on two organizations’ public IRS 990 filings, matched on that name and, where the filings support it, on location. A same-state match has geographic support, which is a second matching feature rather than confirmation that the two are one person; a cross-state one is the likeliest to be two people who share a name. Every hop shows its tier, low-confidence and distant paths are held back rather than guessed, and it is worth confirming the person before you use the introduction.

On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 70 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

How this is measured
Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Possibly out of date. A more recent filing (FY2025) is on record and reports $763k of grant expense with no grantee named in the published copy. A private foundation itemizes every grant it makes, so a return carrying none has filed its list as an attachment that the public copy does not include. The figures above are therefore from FY2024, the most recent year this funder’s grantee list reached the public record.

Source object · view filing

Play a game based on Kirk’s filings →

More from the funding graph

The unnamed billions
grants reported with no recipient in the public record
The regranting layer
51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
The DAF merry-go-round
$9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
The endowment market
who holds foundation money, and what just moved
The camps
funders cluster by geography, not ideology
By state
where grant money is based, and what stays home