The Chase Koch Foundation concentrates its giving in and around Wichita, supporting education at multiple levels (K–12, higher education, and new learning models), youth and community athletics, and local STEM/informal learning institutions. Grants range from large, strategic gifts for research or endowed funds to mid-sized capital, program, and athletics support, indicating a mix of place‑based civic investment and interest in education innovation and healthy youth development.
A $1,000,000 grant to The Just Trust for Education to support the Gravity Fund shows the Chase Koch Foundation Inc’s willingness to back education models at a national scale while still keeping most of its giving close to Wichita. The foundation’s recent record also includes a $1,000,000 research grant to Beth Israel Lahey Health Inc, which sits alongside a substantial cluster of local awards in Wichita institutions. That mix points to a funder that supports both education innovation and place-based civic investment. Across its recent grants, the foundation funds K–12 schools, higher education, STEM and informal learning institutions, youth sports, and arts and culture organizations. It has also supported capital and renovation work, general operating needs, training, athletics, and campaign efforts. The grant list suggests a flexible approach rather than a single program template: some awards are designed for construction or facility improvements, while others underwrite operating costs or program expansion. Wichita remains central to the foundation’s giving, but the portfolio is not limited to one city or one institution type. Recent awards range from museum construction and school auditorium renovation to student-athlete support, classroom innovation, and youth sports programming.
Education innovation appears in grants to The Just Trust for Education, which received $1,000,000 for the Gravity Fund, and to VELA Education Fund, which received $200,000 for investing in education founders and learning models. Those awards indicate interest in new approaches to schooling and the people building them. The foundation also backs local learning infrastructure. Exploration Place Inc received $400,000 for the construction of the EP2 initiative, while Wichita Public Schools Foundation received $10,000 for the Classroom Innovation Pillar. In K–12 settings, Wichita Collegiate School received $250,000 for renovation of Galichia Auditorium. Youth sports and student development are another visible thread. Phoenix Multisport Inc received $500,000 in general support, BPS Foundation received $200,000 for Wichita State student-athlete community and men’s basketball, and League 42 Foundation received two grants for its KIDS FIRST campaign and operating expenses.
$2.4M
$53.2M
$218K
$2.6M
Most grants fall between $130K and $375K, with a median of $250K.
25th Percentile
$130K
Median
$250K
75th Percentile
$375K
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A concentrated, place‑based strategy: a small number of large transformational grants (two $1M gifts) complemented by several mid‑sized awards for capital, program, and athletics; primarily funds repeat local institutions and initiatives that align with education, youth development, and civic infrastructure.
Notable grantees: The Just Trust for Education (Gravity Fund), Beth Israel Lahey Health Inc, Exploration Place Inc, Wichita State University Foundation, Wichita Collegiate School
Typical grant sizes are sizable: the 25th percentile is $130,000, the median is $250,000, and the 75th percentile is $375,000. The recent list includes both one-off awards and repeat support; League 42 Foundation appears in two different years, as does Botanica Inc and Mark Arts. The foundation’s structure is private philanthropy, with no grants to individuals and no program-related investments. Several awards are unrestricted or broad-purpose grants, including general support and operating expenses, alongside project-specific funding for research, construction, athletics, and training.
The foundation gives regionally, with 71% of grants going to recipients in Kansas. Wichita is the main recipient city in the recent list, including awards to Exploration Place Inc, League 42 Foundation, Wichita Collegiate School, Empower Evergreen Inc, Create Campaign Inc, Wichita State University Foundation, Mark Arts, Botanica Inc, and Wichita Public Schools Foundation. Outside Kansas, recent grants went to Denver, Boston, Durham, Las Vegas, and Glencoe. All recent grants in the data went to U.S. recipients.
Recent grants go to education organizations, museums, schools, athletics groups, and arts institutions. Examples include support for the Gravity Fund, research, student-athlete community programming, museum construction, school renovation, classroom innovation, and youth sports initiatives.
The foundation’s recent grants are generally mid- to large-sized. The 25th percentile is $130,000, the median grant is $250,000, and the 75th percentile is $375,000.
Yes. League 42 Foundation appears twice in the recent grant list, once for the KIDS FIRST campaign and once for general operating expenses. Botanica Inc and Mark Arts also each appear in more than one year.
Kansas is the top state by grant count, with 71% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Wichita appears repeatedly among recipient locations, while other recent recipients are in Denver, Boston, Durham, Las Vegas, and Glencoe.
No. The foundation does not fund individuals, and it does not make program-related investments.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Just Trust for Education | Durham, NC | $1,000,000 | 2025 | Support the Gravity Fund |
| Exploration Place Inc | Wichita, KS | $400,000 | 2025 | Support Exploration Place and the Construction of the EP2 Initiative |
| Wichita Collegiate School | Wichita, KS | $250,000 | 2025 | Renovation of Galichia Auditorium |
| League 42 Foundation | Wichita, KS | $250,000 | 2025 | Support KIDS FIRST Campaign |
| BPS Foundation | Las Vegas, NV | $200,000 | 2025 | Support Wichita State Student-Athlete Community/Men's Basketball |
| VELA Education Fund | Glencoe, IL | $200,000 | 2025 | Intended for Investing in Education Founders and Learning Models |
| League 42 Foundation | Wichita, KS | $40,000 | 2025 | General Operating Expenses |
| Botanica Inc | Wichita, KS | $28,000 | 2025 | Support 2024 LEGO Nature Pop Exhibit |
| Mark Arts | Wichita, KS | $25,000 | 2025 | Support Live Musical Performances |
| Wichita Public Schools Foundation | Wichita, KS | $10,000 | 2025 | Support the Classroom Innovation Pillar |
| Beth Israel Lahey Health Inc | Boston, MA | $1,000,000 | 2024 | RESEARCH |
| Phoenix Multisport Inc | Denver, CO | $500,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Create Campaign Inc | Wichita, KS | $250,000 | 2024 | TRAINING PROGRAM |
| Empower Evergreen Inc | Wichita, KS | $250,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Wichita State University Foundation | Wichita, KS | $200,000 | 2024 | ATHLETICS SUPPORT |
| Mark Arts | Wichita, KS | $60,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Botanica Inc | Wichita, KS | $20,000 | 2024 | SCULPTURE SPONSOR |
| BETH ISRAEL LAHEY HEALTH INC | BOSTON, MA | $1,000,000 | 2023 | RESEARCH |
| PHILLIPS FUNDAMENTAL LEARNING CENTER INC | WICHITA, KS | $375,000 | 2023 | CONSTRUCTION OF OUTDOOR LEARNING ENVIRONMENT & STATE-OF-THE-ART DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAM |
| LEAGUE 42 FOUNDATION | WICHITA, KS | $250,000 | 2023 | EDUCATION CENTER ADDITION |
| MARK ARTS | WICHITA, KS | $100,000 | 2023 | LIVE ENTERTAINMENT SPONSORSHIP |
| WICHITA FAMILY CRISIS CENTER | WICHITA, KS | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| EASTERN CONGO INITIATIVE | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BOTANICA INC | WICHITA, KS | $20,000 | 2023 | WASHED ASHORE EXHIBIT |
The Just Trust for Education
$1,000,000Support the Gravity Fund
Exploration Place Inc
$400,000Support Exploration Place and the Construction of the EP2 Initiative
Support Wichita State Student-Athlete Community/Men's Basketball
VELA Education Fund
Intended for Investing in Education Founders and Learning Models
Botanica Inc
$28,000Support 2024 LEGO Nature Pop Exhibit
Mark Arts
$25,000Support Live Musical Performances
Wichita Public Schools Foundation
$10,000Support the Classroom Innovation Pillar
Create Campaign Inc
$250,000TRAINING PROGRAM
Mark Arts
$60,000GENERAL SUPPORT
Botanica Inc
$20,000SCULPTURE SPONSOR
CONSTRUCTION OF OUTDOOR LEARNING ENVIRONMENT & STATE-OF-THE-ART DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAM
MARK ARTS
$100,000LIVE ENTERTAINMENT SPONSORSHIP
BOTANICA INC
$20,000WASHED ASHORE EXHIBIT