The Louetta M. Cowden Foundation makes a small number of large, targeted grants focused on historic memorial/museum support and health-related services, especially in the Kansas–Missouri region. Their giving prioritizes institutional capital and program support for museums and veterans’ memorials, cancer survivorship care, pediatric neurological health, and youth development/outreach. They show a preference for repeat, high-dollar commitments to a handful of organizations rather than many small grants.
A defining feature of the Louetta M Cowden Foundation is its sustained support for World War I commemoration in Kansas City, including a $200,000 grant to Liberty Memorial Association for “Support a Second Century:” and a $100,000 grant to the National Wwi Museum & Memorial for the same effort. That memorial focus sits alongside health-related giving, especially for cancer survivorship and pediatric neurological care, showing a portfolio built around a few long-running institutional commitments rather than a broad set of small awards. The foundation’s recent grant record also includes repeated support for Kansas City Community Gardens, Boys Club of Greater Kansas City, Charlotte Street Foundation, and Harry S Truman Children’s Neurological Center, indicating that the same organizations can appear across multiple years. Its grants tend to support capital, operating, or program needs for established community institutions. In practice, the funder backs museums, memorial organizations, youth-serving nonprofits, arts groups, and health providers with grants large enough to matter at the project level. The pattern is concentrated, selective, and tied to organizations with ongoing programs or infrastructure needs.
The foundation gives across a small set of connected cause areas. In health, it awarded $200,000 to Mosaic Life Care Foundation for “Support Cancer Survivorship,” linking the funder to survivorship services rather than general health philanthropy. It also supported pediatric care with $60,000 in 2023, $60,000 in 2024, and $50,000 in 2025 to Harry S Truman Children’s Neurological Center for health support. Youth development appears through multiple grants to Boys Club of Greater Kansas City for “Support Project Learn:” and to YMCA of Greater Kansas City for “Linwood Y - Youth.” Arts and cultural support is also present, including $40,000 to Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey for arts education and $20,000 to Mid-America Arts Alliance for diversity in the arts.
Typical grant size falls at $20,000 at the 25th percentile, $40,000 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile. The pattern is selective: multiple organizations recur across 2023 through 2025, including Harry S Truman Children’s Neurological Center, Kansas City Community Gardens Inc, Boys Club of Greater Kansas City, Charlotte Street Foundation, Alphapointe, Bridging the Gap Inc, and Girls Scouts of Ne Kansas & Nw Missouri Inc. That repetition points to continuing relationships rather than one-off awards. The foundation is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments.
$647K
$12.6M
$1.4M
$742K
Most grants fall between $20K and $50K, with a median of $40K.
25th Percentile
$20K
Median
$40K
75th Percentile
$50K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in MO.
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Concentrated giving: a small portfolio of large grants, often repeat awards to the same institutions; regionally focused on Kansas–Missouri organizations despite the foundation’s Dallas location; emphasis on institutional/program support rather than many small community grants.
Notable grantees: Liberty Memorial Association / National WWI Museum & Memorial, Mosaic Life Care Foundation, Harry S. Truman Children’s Neurological Center, Girl Scouts of NE Kansas & NW Missouri Inc
Grantmaking is local and heavily centered in Missouri. Kansas City appears most often, with additional grants in Independence, St. Joseph, and Gladstone. The top state by grant count is Missouri, while 0% of grants in the recent list went to recipients in Texas, the foundation’s headquarters state. All listed recent grants go to U.S. recipients, and no non-U.S. countries appear in the distribution.
The recent grants show support for museums and memorial organizations, health providers, youth-serving nonprofits, and arts groups. Examples include the National Wwi Museum & Memorial, Mosaic Life Care Foundation, Harry S Truman Children’s Neurological Center, Boys Club of Greater Kansas City, and Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey.
The foundation’s recent grant sizes cluster around $20,000 at the 25th percentile, $40,000 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile. Several grants also exceed that range, including $60,000, $75,000, $100,000, and $200,000 awards.
Yes. Multiple recipients appear in more than one year, including Harry S Truman Children’s Neurological Center in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Kansas City Community Gardens Inc in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Boys Club of Greater Kansas City in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and Charlotte Street Foundation in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
Most grants go to Missouri, especially Kansas City, with additional recipients in Independence, St. Joseph, and Gladstone. The recent grants list shows 100% of recipient organizations are in the United States.
No. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments, according to the provided foundation data.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NELSON GALLERY FOUNDATION | KANSAS CITY, MO | $55,000 | 2026 | MUSEUM SCHOOL & COMMUNITY |
| METROPOLITAN ARTS COUNCIL OF GREATER KC dba ARTSKC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $55,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT AUDIENCE |
| ALPHAPOINTE | KANSAS CITY, MO | $50,000 | 2026 | COMPREHENSIVE |
| HARRY S TRUMAN CHILDREN'S NEUROLOGICAL CENTER | INDEPENDENCE, MO | $50,000 | 2026 | HEALTHY SUPPORT FOR |
| BOYS CLUB OF GREATER KANSAS CITY | KANSAS CITY, MO | $50,000 | 2026 | PROJECT LEARN: ACADEMIC |
| CHARLOTTE STREET FOUNDATION | KANSAS CITY, MO | $45,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| KANSAS CITY COMMUNITY GARDENS INC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $40,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR HOME & |
| BRIDGING THE GAP INC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $40,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR WATER & ENERGY |
| MIDWEST INNOCENCE PROJECT INC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $35,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR SOCIAL WORK |
| ENGLEWOOD ARTS | INDEPENDENCE, MO | $30,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR EXPANDING |
| THE FARMER'S HOUSE | PLATTE CITY, MO | $25,000 | 2026 | ART & SOCIAL ENRICHMENT |
| POWELL GARDENS INC | KINGSVILLE, MO | $25,000 | 2026 | MIDWEST CENTER FOR |
| DRUMM CENTER FOR CHILDREN | INDEPENDENCE, MO | $25,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| KANSAS CITY REPERTORY THEATRE INC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $20,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT 2025-2026 YOUTH |
| NORTHLAND EARLY EDUCATION CENTER | KANSAS CITY, MO | $20,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| YMCA OF GREATER KANSAS CITY | KANSAS CITY, MO | $20,000 | 2026 | ASPIRE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| GLOBAL ONE URBAN FARMING | KANSAS CITY, MO | $15,000 | 2026 | CAPACITY BUILDING FOR |
| PLAZA ACADEMY | KANSAS CITY, MO | $15,000 | 2026 | AFTER SCHOOL TUTORING & |
| OPERATION BREAKTHROUGH INC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $15,000 | 2026 | TWILIGHT STEM:EXPANDED REAL |
| HARRY S TRUMAN LIBRARY INSTITUTE | KANSAS CITY, MO | $10,000 | 2026 | TRUMAN & KANSAS CITY SPORTS |
| ENSEMBLE IBERICA INC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $7,000 | 2026 | 2025-2026 CONCERT SEASON |
| NATIONAL WWI MUSEUM & MEMORIAL | KANSAS CITY, MO | $75,000 | 2025 | DIGITIZING THE FIRST WORLD |
| METROPOLITAN ARTS COUNCIL OF GREATER KC dba ARTSKC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $55,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT AUDIENCE |
| BOYS CLUB OF GREATER KANSAS CITY | KANSAS CITY, MO | $50,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT PROJECT LEARN: |
| ALPHAPOINTE | KANSAS CITY, MO | $50,000 | 2025 | COMPREHENSIVE VISION |
| HARRY S TRUMAN CHILDREN'S NEUROLOGICAL CENTER | INDEPENDENCE, MO | $50,000 | 2025 | HEALTHY SUPPORT FOR |
| KANSAS CITY COMMUNITY GARDENS INC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $50,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR HOME & |
| ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF KANSAS CITY | GLADSTONE, MO | $45,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM RENOVATION & |
| GIRLS SCOUTS OF NE KANSAS & NW MISSOURI INC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $40,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT GIRL SCOUT STAFF |
| CHARLOTTE STREET FOUNDATION | KANSAS CITY, MO | $40,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| YMCA OF GREATER KANSAS CITY | KANSAS CITY, MO | $20,000 | 2025 | LINWOOD Y - YOUTH |
| NORTHLAND EARLY EDUCATION CENTER | KANSAS CITY, MO | $20,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| MIDWEST INNOCENCE PROJECT INC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $20,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR SOCIAL WORK |
| KANSAS CITY REPERTORY THEATRE INC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $20,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT 2024-2025 YOUTH |
| MID-AMERICA ARTS ALLIANCE | KANSAS CITY, MO | $20,000 | 2025 | DIVERSITY IN THE ARTS |
| THE FARMER'S HOUSE | PLATTE CITY, MO | $15,000 | 2025 | ART PROGRAMS FOR |
| PLAZA ACADEMY | KANSAS CITY, MO | $15,000 | 2025 | MENTAL HEALTH & SPECIAL |
| OPERATION BREAKTHROUGH INC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $15,000 | 2025 | HELPING URBAN TEENS EARN |
| MOSAIC LIFE CARE FOUNDATION | ST JOSEPH, MO | $200,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT CANCER SURVIVORSHIP |
| NATIONAL WWI MUSEUM & MEMORIAL | KANSAS CITY, MO | $100,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT A SECOND CENTURY: |
| HARRY S TRUMAN CHILDREN'S NEUROLOGICAL CENTER | INDEPENDENCE, MO | $60,000 | 2024 | HEALTH SUPPORT FOR |
| KANSAS CITY COMMUNITY GARDENS INC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $50,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR HOME & |
| BOYS CLUB OF GREATER KANSAS CITY | KANSAS CITY, MO | $50,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT PROJECT LEARN: |
| KANSAS CITY FRIENDS OF ALVIN AILEY | KANSAS CITY, MO | $40,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT ARTS EDUCATION |
| CHARLOTTE STREET FOUNDATION | KANSAS CITY, MO | $40,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| BRIDGING THE GAP INC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $35,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| YMCA OF GREATER KANSAS CITY | KANSAS CITY, MO | $20,000 | 2024 | LINWOOD Y - YOUTH |
| KANSAS CITY REPERTORY THEATRE INC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $20,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT 2022-2023 YOUTH |
| LIBERTY MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION | KANSAS CITY, MO | $200,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT A SECOND CENTURY: |
| GIRLS SCOUTS OF NE KANSAS & NW MISSOURI INC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $60,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT GIRL SCOUT OUTREACH |
NELSON GALLERY FOUNDATION
$55,000MUSEUM SCHOOL & COMMUNITY
METROPOLITAN ARTS COUNCIL OF GREATER KC dba ARTSKC
$55,000SUPPORT AUDIENCE
HARRY S TRUMAN CHILDREN'S NEUROLOGICAL CENTER
$50,000HEALTHY SUPPORT FOR
UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
KANSAS CITY COMMUNITY GARDENS INC
$40,000SUPPORT FOR HOME &
MIDWEST INNOCENCE PROJECT INC
$35,000SUPPORT FOR SOCIAL WORK
ENGLEWOOD ARTS
$30,000SUPPORT FOR EXPANDING
THE FARMER'S HOUSE
$25,000ART & SOCIAL ENRICHMENT
POWELL GARDENS INC
$25,000MIDWEST CENTER FOR
NORTHLAND EARLY EDUCATION CENTER
$20,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
GLOBAL ONE URBAN FARMING
$15,000CAPACITY BUILDING FOR
HARRY S TRUMAN LIBRARY INSTITUTE
$10,000TRUMAN & KANSAS CITY SPORTS
ENSEMBLE IBERICA INC
$7,0002025-2026 CONCERT SEASON
METROPOLITAN ARTS COUNCIL OF GREATER KC dba ARTSKC
$55,000SUPPORT AUDIENCE
HARRY S TRUMAN CHILDREN'S NEUROLOGICAL CENTER
$50,000HEALTHY SUPPORT FOR
KANSAS CITY COMMUNITY GARDENS INC
$50,000SUPPORT FOR HOME &
ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF KANSAS CITY
$45,000PROGRAM RENOVATION &
GIRLS SCOUTS OF NE KANSAS & NW MISSOURI INC
$40,000SUPPORT GIRL SCOUT STAFF
NORTHLAND EARLY EDUCATION CENTER
$20,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
MIDWEST INNOCENCE PROJECT INC
$20,000SUPPORT FOR SOCIAL WORK
THE FARMER'S HOUSE
$15,000ART PROGRAMS FOR
MOSAIC LIFE CARE FOUNDATION
$200,000SUPPORT CANCER SURVIVORSHIP
HARRY S TRUMAN CHILDREN'S NEUROLOGICAL CENTER
$60,000HEALTH SUPPORT FOR
KANSAS CITY COMMUNITY GARDENS INC
$50,000SUPPORT FOR HOME &
KANSAS CITY FRIENDS OF ALVIN AILEY
$40,000SUPPORT ARTS EDUCATION
LIBERTY MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION
$200,000SUPPORT A SECOND CENTURY:
GIRLS SCOUTS OF NE KANSAS & NW MISSOURI INC
$60,000SUPPORT GIRL SCOUT OUTREACH