The Louis and Elizabeth Nave Flarsheim Charitable Foundation appears focused on supporting performing arts programming, with a specific recent grant for ballet outreach and dance education. Their giving (from available data) is programmatic and targeted rather than broad, supporting community-facing arts initiatives rather than infrastructure or general operations.
The most distinctive pattern in Louis and Elizabeth Nave Flarsheim Charitable’s recent giving is its repeated support for Kansas City arts organizations, especially dance and performance programs. The largest recent grant in the data was $20,000 to Kansas City Ballet Association for Reach Out and Dance, a program the foundation also backed with $15,000 in 2024 and $10,000 in 2025. That same local arts emphasis appears across other grantees, including Mesner Puppet Theater, which received $15,000 in 2023 and $10,000 in 2024, and Kansas City Chamber Orchestra, which received $10,000 in 2023 and $10,000 in 2024 for concert programming. The foundation’s portfolio also includes arts-adjacent support such as music performance, theater, and arts access initiatives through organizations like Kansas City Young Audiences, The Coterie Theatre, and Musical Theater Heritage. Recent grants show a mix of unrestricted support and program-specific funding, with a clear preference for community-facing cultural organizations rather than broad institutional giving. Its record points to a regional arts funder that repeatedly returns to a small set of organizations over multiple years.
In dance and ballet outreach, the foundation gave $20,000 to Kansas City Ballet Association for Reach Out and Dance, then followed with $15,000 in 2024 and $10,000 in 2025 for the same program. For theater and performing arts access, it awarded $15,000 to Mesner Puppet Theater in 2025 as unrestricted general support, after a similar $15,000 grant in 2023 and $10,000 in 2024. Music organizations also appear in the record: Kansas City Chamber Orchestra received $10,000 in 2023 for unrestricted general support and another $10,000 in 2024 for concert programming, while Youth Symphony Association of Kansas City Inc received $10,000 in 2023 for orchestral support. The foundation also funds arts access and education through Kansas City Young Audiences and Musical Theater Heritage.
Typical grants cluster tightly around $10,000, with the reported distribution at p25 $5,000, median $10,000, and p75 $10,000. The recent record shows repetition across years for several recipients, including Kansas City Ballet Association, Mesner Puppet Theater, Kansas City Chamber Orchestra, Johnson County Library Foundation, and Arts Council of Johnson County. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-time gifts. The foundation is a charitable foundation, not a program-related investor, and it funds individuals as well as organizations. Recent awards include both unrestricted general support and clearly designated project support.
$169K
$3.5M
$392K
$227K
Most grants fall between $5K and $10K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$10K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in MO.
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Highly concentrated, one-off funding: a single $20,000 program grant to a performing arts organization (no evidence of repeat or diversified giving).
Notable grantees: Kansas City Ballet Association
Giving is heavily concentrated in the Kansas City region. Kansas City, MO appears repeatedly across the recent grants list, with additional grants in Overland Park, KS, Kansas City, KS, and Weston, MO. Missouri is the top state by grant count, while 0% of grants in the data went to recipients in the foundation’s Texas headquarters state. All listed recipient grants in the country distribution are in the US, with no non-US grant locations appearing in the data.
The recent record centers on performing arts and arts access organizations. Recipients include ballet, puppet theater, orchestral, theater, and arts council groups, along with a small number of adjacent community service and education organizations. Several grants are explicitly for program support, while others are unrestricted general support.
Yes. The data shows multiple-year support for several recipients, including Kansas City Ballet Association, Mesner Puppet Theater, Kansas City Chamber Orchestra, Johnson County Library Foundation, and Arts Council of Johnson County. That points to recurring relationships rather than isolated awards.
The reported grant-size distribution is tightly centered on $10,000: p25 is $5,000, median is $10,000, and p75 is $10,000. In the recent grants list, $10,000 awards appear most often.
Most grants go to the Kansas City region, especially Kansas City, MO. Other recipient locations in the recent list include Overland Park, KS, Kansas City, KS, and Weston, MO. Missouri is the top state by grant count.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MESNER PUPPET THEATER | KANSAS CITY, MO | $15,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| REDEMPTORIST SOCIAL SERVICES CENTER INC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $15,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| MID-AMERICA ARTS ALLIANCE | KANSAS CITY, MO | $15,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| SHEPHERDS CENTER OF KANSAS CITY | KANSAS CITY, KS | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| SHERWOOD AUTISM CENTER | KANSAS CITY, MO | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| COMMUNITY HOUSING OF WYANDOTTE COUNTY aka CHWC INC | KANSAS CITY, KS | $10,000 | 2025 | EPIC ARTS |
| THE COTERIE THEATRE INC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| COTERIE INC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| KANSAS CITY BALLET ASSOCIATION | KANSAS CITY, MO | $10,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT REACH OUT AND DANCE |
| KANSAS CITY BALLET ASSOCIATION | KANSAS CITY, MO | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| JOHNSON COUNTY LIBRARY FOUNDATION | OVERLAND PARK, KS | $10,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT BRAINFUSE ONLINE |
| MESNER PUPPET THEATER | KANSAS CITY, MO | $10,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR WHAT IF PUPPETS |
| CENTER FOR CONFLICT RESOLUTION | KANSAS CITY, MO | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| GLOBAL ONE URBAN FARMING | KANSAS CITY, MO | $10,000 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING IN A FOOD |
| SERVE THE WORLD CHARITIES INC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $10,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT IMPACT CENTER |
| COMMUNITY HOUSING OF WYANDOTTE COUNTY | KANSAS CITY, MO | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COUNCIL | KANSAS CITY, MO | $7,500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| HEARTLAND MEN'S CHORUS | KANSAS CITY, MO | $7,500 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR SEASON 39 |
| MUSICAL THEATER HERITAGE INC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $7,500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| PCS FOR PEOPLE | SAINT PAUL, MN | $7,500 | 2025 | DIGITAL & HEALTH EQUITY FOR |
| THEATRE YOUNG AMERICA INC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $7,500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| FRIENDS OF YATES BRANCH INC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $7,500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| KANSAS CITY CHAMBER ORCHESTRA | KANSAS CITY, MO | $7,500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| KANSAS CITY CHAMBER ORCHESTRA | KANSAS CITY, MO | $7,500 | 2025 | SUPPORT 2023-2024 CONCERT |
| YOUTH SYMPHONY ASSN OF KANSAS CITY | KANSAS CITY, MO | $7,500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| MUSICAL THEATER HERITAGE INC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $7,500 | 2025 | SUPPORT EDUCATION AND |
| YOUTH SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION OF KANSAS CITY INC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $7,500 | 2025 | CELEBRATE EDUCATION AND |
| INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COUNCIL | KANSAS CITY, MO | $7,500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| JOHNSON COUNTY LIBRARY FOUNDATION | OVERLAND PARK, KS | $7,500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| KANSAS CITY FREE EYE CLINIC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $7,500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| SERVE THE WORLD CHARITIES INC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| KANSAS CITY JAZZ ALIVE | KANSAS CITY, MO | $5,000 | 2025 | SPOTLIGHT: CHARLIE PARKER |
| KANSAS CITY NORTHERN MINIATURE RAILROAD | KANSAS CITY, MO | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| ARTS COUNCIL OF JOHNSON COUNTY | OVERLAND PARK, KS | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| ARTS ENGAGEMENT FDN OF KANSAS CITY | KANSAS CITY, MO | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| PETS FOR LIFE | KANSAS CITY, MO | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| THEATRE YOUNG AMERICA INC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $4,500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| CITY IN MOTION DANCE THEATRE INC | RIVERSIDE, MO | $4,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| CITY IN MOTION DANCE THEATRE INC | RIVERSIDE, MO | $4,000 | 2025 | SCHOOL OF DANCE SCHOLARSHIP |
| KANSAS CITY BALLET ASSOCIATION | KANSAS CITY, MO | $15,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT REACH OUT AND DANCE |
| MUSICAL THEATER HERITAGE INC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $10,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT MTH EDUCATION AND |
| HEALING HOUSE INC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $10,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| ARTS COUNCIL OF JOHNSON COUNTY | OVERLAND PARK, KS | $10,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| MESNER PUPPET THEATER | KANSAS CITY, MO | $10,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| SERVE THE WORLD CHARITIES INC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $10,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT IMPACT CENTER |
| KANSAS CITY CHAMBER ORCHESTRA | KANSAS CITY, MO | $10,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT 2023-2024 CONCERT |
| MID AMERICA ARTS ALLIANCE | KANSAS CITY, MO | $10,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| COTERIE INC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $10,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| CHWC INC | KANSAS CITY, KS | $10,000 | 2024 | EPIC ARTS |
| PCS FOR PEOPLE | SAINT PAUL, MN | $6,000 | 2024 | DIGITAL & HEALTH EQUITY FOR |
MESNER PUPPET THEATER
$15,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
SHEPHERDS CENTER OF KANSAS CITY
$10,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
SHERWOOD AUTISM CENTER
$10,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
COMMUNITY HOUSING OF WYANDOTTE COUNTY aka CHWC INC
$10,000EPIC ARTS
THE COTERIE THEATRE INC
$10,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
KANSAS CITY BALLET ASSOCIATION
$10,000SUPPORT REACH OUT AND DANCE
KANSAS CITY BALLET ASSOCIATION
$10,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
JOHNSON COUNTY LIBRARY FOUNDATION
$10,000SUPPORT BRAINFUSE ONLINE
MESNER PUPPET THEATER
$10,000SUPPORT FOR WHAT IF PUPPETS
GLOBAL ONE URBAN FARMING
$10,000CAPACITY BUILDING IN A FOOD
SERVE THE WORLD CHARITIES INC
$10,000SUPPORT IMPACT CENTER
COMMUNITY HOUSING OF WYANDOTTE COUNTY
$10,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COUNCIL
$7,500UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
HEARTLAND MEN'S CHORUS
$7,500SUPPORT FOR SEASON 39
MUSICAL THEATER HERITAGE INC
$7,500UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
THEATRE YOUNG AMERICA INC
$7,500UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
FRIENDS OF YATES BRANCH INC
$7,500UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
KANSAS CITY CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
$7,500UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
KANSAS CITY CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
$7,500SUPPORT 2023-2024 CONCERT
YOUTH SYMPHONY ASSN OF KANSAS CITY
$7,500UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
MUSICAL THEATER HERITAGE INC
$7,500SUPPORT EDUCATION AND
YOUTH SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION OF KANSAS CITY INC
$7,500CELEBRATE EDUCATION AND
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COUNCIL
$7,500UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
JOHNSON COUNTY LIBRARY FOUNDATION
$7,500UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
KANSAS CITY FREE EYE CLINIC
$7,500UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
SERVE THE WORLD CHARITIES INC
$5,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
KANSAS CITY JAZZ ALIVE
$5,000SPOTLIGHT: CHARLIE PARKER
KANSAS CITY NORTHERN MINIATURE RAILROAD
$5,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
ARTS COUNCIL OF JOHNSON COUNTY
$5,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
ARTS ENGAGEMENT FDN OF KANSAS CITY
$5,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
PETS FOR LIFE
$5,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
THEATRE YOUNG AMERICA INC
$4,500UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
CITY IN MOTION DANCE THEATRE INC
$4,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
CITY IN MOTION DANCE THEATRE INC
$4,000SCHOOL OF DANCE SCHOLARSHIP
KANSAS CITY BALLET ASSOCIATION
$15,000SUPPORT REACH OUT AND DANCE
MUSICAL THEATER HERITAGE INC
$10,000SUPPORT MTH EDUCATION AND
HEALING HOUSE INC
$10,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
ARTS COUNCIL OF JOHNSON COUNTY
$10,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
MESNER PUPPET THEATER
$10,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
SERVE THE WORLD CHARITIES INC
$10,000SUPPORT IMPACT CENTER
KANSAS CITY CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
$10,000SUPPORT 2023-2024 CONCERT