The Kenneth L & Eva S Smith Foundation (Thomas K Jones, trustee) concentrates its giving locally in the Kansas/Kansas City area, prioritizing services for children and families and health care. The foundation makes a small number of relatively large grants, often repeating support for community-based child development and welfare organizations while also funding medical/cancer research at the state university.
Concentrated and relationship-driven: a small portfolio of sizable gifts with repeat funding to a primary community partner (Operation Breakthrough) alongside a few targeted health-related contributions.
A three-year series of $160,000 charitable contributions to Operation Breakthrough Inc stands out in the Kenneth L & Eva S Smith Foundation Thomas K Jones Trustee’s recent giving. That pattern points to a funder that supports the same community institutions over time, rather than spreading grants widely. The foundation’s grant list also shows repeated support for KU Endowment - KU Cancer Center, KVC Health Systems Inc, Children’s Mercy Hospital Department of Philanthropy, and Lakemary Center Endowment, each appearing across multiple years. The foundation’s recent grants indicate a focus on children, families, health care, and related community services in the Kansas City area and nearby Kansas communities. Grants to Operation Breakthrough Inc in Kansas City, MO were among the largest awards in the file, while KU Endowment - KU Cancer Center in Kansas City, KS received support in more than one year. KVC Health Systems Inc in Olathe, KS also appears repeatedly, alongside gifts to St Luke's Foundation, KC Pet Project, and The Junior Golf Foundation of Greater Kansas City - First Tee. The grant purpose field is consistently listed as charitable contribution, showing straightforward general support rather than project-specific restrictions in the recent record.
In early childhood education and family support, the foundation gave $160,000 to Operation Breakthrough Inc in 2025, matching the same amount it awarded that organization in 2024 and 2023. That repeated pattern suggests long-term support for a single community-based provider in Kansas City, MO. Health and medical giving appears in several places. The foundation gave $75,000 to KU Endowment - KU Cancer Center in 2025, following earlier grants of $50,000 in both 2024 and 2023. It also supported Children's Mercy Hospital Department of Philanthropy with $50,000 in 2025, after $50,000 grants in 2024 and 2023. Child welfare and behavioral health show up through KVC Health Systems Inc, which received $61,000 in 2024 and $25,000 in both 2025 and 2023. The foundation also made $35,000 and $25,000 gifts to Lakemary Center Endowment in 2025 and 2023, respectively.
Typical grants cluster in the mid-$20,000 range, with p25 at $18,750, a median of $22,500, and p75 at $27,500. The recent record also includes larger awards at $50,000, $61,000, $75,000, and $160,000, so the foundation uses a small set of larger commitments alongside smaller recurring gifts. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Operation Breakthrough Inc, KU Endowment - KU Cancer Center, Children’s Mercy Hospital Department of Philanthropy, KVC Health Systems Inc, Lakemary Center Endowment, KC Pet Project, St Luke's Foundation, The Junior Golf Foundation of Greater Kansas City - First Tee, and Wonderscope Children’s Museum of Kansas City. The grants are listed as charitable contributions, and the data does not identify an application process.
$508K
$2.4M
$380K
$581K
Most grants fall between $19K and $28K, with a median of $23K.
25th Percentile
$19K
Median
$23K
75th Percentile
$28K
About 45% of grants go to recipients in MO.
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Notable grantees: Operation Breakthrough, Inc., KU Endowment – KU Cancer Center, KVC Health Systems, Inc.
Grantmaking is concentrated in the Kansas City region. Kansas recipients account for 44% of grants, and the top state by grant count is KS. Recent gifts also land in Kansas City, MO; Kansas City, KS; Olathe, KS; Paola, KS; Prairie Village, KS; and Overland Park, KS. All recent grants in the file are to US recipients, with no non-US countries represented.
The recent grants point to children and family services, health care, and related community programs. Repeated recipients include Operation Breakthrough Inc, KU Endowment - KU Cancer Center, KVC Health Systems Inc, Children's Mercy Hospital Department of Philanthropy, and Lakemary Center Endowment.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including Operation Breakthrough Inc in 2023, 2024, and 2025; KU Endowment - KU Cancer Center in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and Children's Mercy Hospital Department of Philanthropy in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
The listed distribution centers on mid-sized gifts: p25 is $18,750, median is $22,500, and p75 is $27,500. The file also includes larger awards such as $50,000, $61,000, $75,000, and $160,000.
The top state by grant count is Kansas, and 44% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state of KS. Recent recipient cities include Kansas City, KS; Olathe, KS; Paola, KS; Prairie Village, KS; Overland Park, KS; and Kansas City, MO.
The grant purpose field is consistently listed as charitable contribution. That suggests the foundation is making general support grants in the recent file rather than documenting narrower project-specific purposes.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OPERATION BREAKTHROUGH INC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $160,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| KU ENDOWMENT - KU CANCER CENTER | KANSAS CITY, KS | $75,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| CHILDREN'S MERCY HOSPITAL DEPARTMENT OF PHILANTHROPY | KANSAS CITY, MO | $50,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| LAKEMARY CENTER ENDOWMENT | PAOLA, KS | $35,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| KVC HEALTH SYSTEMS INC | OLATHE, KS | $25,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| KC PET PROJECT | KANSAS CITY, MO | $25,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| ST LUKE'S FOUNDATION | KANSAS CITY, MO | $25,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| THE JUNIOR GOLF FOUNDATION OF GREATER KANSAS CITY - FIRST TEE | PRAIRIE VILLAGE, KS | $25,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| FRIENDS OF SASONE DAF JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER KANSAS CITY | OVERLAND PARK, KS | $20,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| GORDON PARKS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | KANSAS CITY, MO | $20,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| NATIONAL KIDNEY FOUNDATION SERVING KS & WEST MO | OVERLAND PARK, KS | $20,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| CORNERSTONES OF CARE DEVELOPMENT DEPT | KANSAS CITY, MO | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| CHILD ADVOCACY SERVICES CENTER INC - THE CHILDRENS PLACE | KANSAS CITY, MO | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| ERIN ANDRA WILSON FOUNDATION | KANSAS CITY, MO | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| HEARTLAND THERAPEUTIC RIDING INC | OVERLAND PARK, KS | $2,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| OPERATION BREAKTHROUGH INC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $160,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| KVC HEALTH SYSTEMS INC | OLATHE, KS | $61,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| CHILDREN'S MERCY HOSPITAL DEPARTMENT OF PHILANTHROPY | KANSAS CITY, MO | $50,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| KU ENDOWMENT - KU CANCER CENTER | KANSAS CITY, KS | $50,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| LAKEMARY CENTER ENDOWMENT | PAOLA, KS | $35,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| THE JUNIOR GOLF FOUNDATION OF GREATER KANSAS CITY - FIRST TEE | PRAIRIE VILLAGE, KS | $25,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| KC PET PROJECT | KANSAS CITY, MO | $25,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| ST LUKE'S FOUNDATION | KANSAS CITY, MO | $25,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| NATIONAL KIDNEY FOUNDATION SERVING KS & WEST MO | OVERLAND PARK, KS | $20,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| FRIENDS OF SASONE DAF JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER KANSAS CITY | OVERLAND PARK, KS | $20,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| GORDON PARKS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | KANSAS CITY, MO | $20,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| WONDERSCOPE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF KANSAS CITY | KANSAS CITY, MO | $20,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| CHILD ADVOCACY SERVICES CENTER INC - THE CHILDRENS PLACE | KANSAS CITY, MO | $10,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| CORNERSTONES OF CARE DEVELOPMENT DEPT | KANSAS CITY, MO | $10,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| ERIN ANDRA WILSON FOUNDATION | KANSAS CITY, MO | $5,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| HEARTLAND THERAPEUTIC RIDING INC | OVERLAND PARK, KS | $2,500 | 2024 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| OPERATION BREAKTHROUGH INC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $160,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| CHILDREN'S MERCY HOSPITAL DEPARTMENT OF PHILANTHROPY | KANSAS CITY, MO | $50,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| KU ENDOWMENT - KU CANCER CENTER | KANSAS CITY, KS | $50,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| KC PET PROJECT | KANSAS CITY, MO | $25,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| THE JUNIOR GOLF FOUNDATION OF GREATER KANSAS CITY - FIRST TEE | PRAIRIE VILLAGE, KS | $25,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| KVC HEALTH SYSTEMS INC | OLATHE, KS | $25,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| LAKEMARY CENTER ENDOWMENT | PAOLA, KS | $25,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| ST LUKE'S FOUNDATION | KANSAS CITY, MO | $25,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| GORDON PARKS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | KANSAS CITY, MO | $20,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| FRIENDS OF SASONE DAF JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER KANSAS CITY | OVERLAND PARK, KS | $20,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| WONDERSCOPE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF KANSAS CITY | KANSAS CITY, MO | $20,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| NATIONAL KIDNEY FOUNDATION SERVING KS & WEST MO | OVERLAND PARK, KS | $20,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| CORNERSTONES OF CARE | KANSAS CITY, MO | $15,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| CHILD ADVOCACY SERVICES CENTER INC - THE CHILDRENS PLACE | KANSAS CITY, MO | $10,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| ERIN ANDRA WILSON FOUNDATION | KANSAS CITY, MO | $5,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| HEARTLAND THERAPEUTIC RIDING INC | OVERLAND PARK, KS | $2,500 | 2023 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
KU ENDOWMENT - KU CANCER CENTER
$75,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
CHILDREN'S MERCY HOSPITAL DEPARTMENT OF PHILANTHROPY
$50,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
LAKEMARY CENTER ENDOWMENT
$35,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
KVC HEALTH SYSTEMS INC
$25,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
THE JUNIOR GOLF FOUNDATION OF GREATER KANSAS CITY - FIRST TEE
$25,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
FRIENDS OF SASONE DAF JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER KANSAS CITY
$20,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
NATIONAL KIDNEY FOUNDATION SERVING KS & WEST MO
$20,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
CORNERSTONES OF CARE DEVELOPMENT DEPT
$10,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
CHILD ADVOCACY SERVICES CENTER INC - THE CHILDRENS PLACE
$10,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
ERIN ANDRA WILSON FOUNDATION
$5,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
HEARTLAND THERAPEUTIC RIDING INC
$2,500CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
KVC HEALTH SYSTEMS INC
$61,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
CHILDREN'S MERCY HOSPITAL DEPARTMENT OF PHILANTHROPY
$50,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
KU ENDOWMENT - KU CANCER CENTER
$50,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
LAKEMARY CENTER ENDOWMENT
$35,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
THE JUNIOR GOLF FOUNDATION OF GREATER KANSAS CITY - FIRST TEE
$25,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
NATIONAL KIDNEY FOUNDATION SERVING KS & WEST MO
$20,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
FRIENDS OF SASONE DAF JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER KANSAS CITY
$20,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
WONDERSCOPE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF KANSAS CITY
$20,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
CHILD ADVOCACY SERVICES CENTER INC - THE CHILDRENS PLACE
$10,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
CORNERSTONES OF CARE DEVELOPMENT DEPT
$10,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
ERIN ANDRA WILSON FOUNDATION
$5,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
HEARTLAND THERAPEUTIC RIDING INC
$2,500CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
KU ENDOWMENT - KU CANCER CENTER
$50,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
THE JUNIOR GOLF FOUNDATION OF GREATER KANSAS CITY - FIRST TEE
$25,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
KVC HEALTH SYSTEMS INC
$25,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
LAKEMARY CENTER ENDOWMENT
$25,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
FRIENDS OF SASONE DAF JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER KANSAS CITY
$20,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
WONDERSCOPE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF KANSAS CITY
$20,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
NATIONAL KIDNEY FOUNDATION SERVING KS & WEST MO
$20,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
CHILD ADVOCACY SERVICES CENTER INC - THE CHILDRENS PLACE
$10,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
ERIN ANDRA WILSON FOUNDATION
$5,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
HEARTLAND THERAPEUTIC RIDING INC
$2,500CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION