The R C Kemper Jr Charitable Trust concentrates large, strategic gifts in the Kansas City region, with a clear emphasis on arts and culture, higher education/medical capital projects, and K–12 charter school facilities. They make multi-hundred-thousand-dollar grants—often for capital campaigns or broad program support—and also back agricultural leadership and major civic institutions. The foundation favors a small portfolio of sizable awards and repeats support to signature local cultural organizations.
A single institution sits at the center of R C Kemper Jr Charitable Trust 10023600’s giving: the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art received multiple awards across 2023, 2024, and 2025, including support for exhibitions, staff, and acquisition. That repeated support points to a funder that backs long-running cultural commitments rather than isolated one-off gifts. The trust’s portfolio also includes sizeable support for Kansas City Girls Preparatory Academy, UMKC Foundation, Kansas City Symphony, Agriculture Future of America, and American Royal Association. Those grants show a mix of education, performing arts, agriculture leadership, and civic institutions, with many awards landing in Kansas City. The trust also funded medical and university capital projects through the University of Kansas Hospital System. Its recent activity includes both operating support and capital-related gifts, suggesting flexibility in how it structures awards. The overall pattern is of a regional trust making large, targeted grants to a relatively small set of organizations, often around major institutional priorities and campaign needs.
Arts and culture is one of the clearest lanes in the trust’s grantmaking. The Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art received $571,000 in 2024, plus additional awards in 2025 for a quarterly distribution, staff request, exhibition support, and acquisition. Education appears in both K–12 and higher education. Kansas City Girls Preparatory Academy received $1,000,000 for capital campaign support in 2023, while KCGPA Foundation later received $200,000 for general operating expenses in 2025. UMKC Foundation also received $1,000,000 in 2024. Agriculture and civic life are also present. Agriculture Future of America was awarded $732,000 in 2023 and another $100,000 in 2025 for its 30th anniversary campaign. The American Royal Association received $500,000 in 2024 and $250,000 in 2025, including a final payment tied to capital.
Typical awards are sizable: the grant-size distribution is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $25,000 at the median, and $100,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent record shows a small number of large grants alongside many at the $100,000-and-up level. Recipients can appear across multiple years, as seen in repeated support for several organizations from 2023 through 2025. The trust also funds individuals, and its activity includes operating support, capital campaign support, and project-specific awards. The 2025 filing is the latest 990 year on file.
$2.9M
$51.5M
$3.6M
$3.1M
Most grants fall between $10K and $100K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$100K
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Concentrated portfolio of large grants (several six-figure to seven-figure awards), frequent capital campaign and institutional support, repeat funding to flagship local cultural organizations rather than many small grants or diffuse national giving.
Notable grantees: Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, UMKC Foundation, Kansas City Girls Preparatory Academy, Kansas City Symphony, Agriculture Future of America
Giving is highly concentrated in Missouri: 58% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state, and Missouri is also the top state by grant count. Kansas City appears repeatedly as the primary recipient city, with additional grants in Westwood, KS; Kansas City, KS; Topeka, KS; Denver, CO; Wheat Ridge, CO; Chatham, MA; and New York, NY. All recorded recipient grants are in the United States.
Recent grants go to cultural institutions, schools, universities, hospitals, agriculture nonprofits, and community organizations. Examples include Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Kansas City Girls Preparatory Academy, UMKC Foundation, University of Kansas Hospital System, Agriculture Future of America, and American Royal Association.
The grant-size distribution is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $25,000 at the median, and $100,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent grants list also includes several awards in the $250,000 to $1,000,000 range.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Agriculture Future of America, and American Royal Association. The museum alone received awards in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
Missouri is the main recipient state, with 58% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Kansas City is the most common recipient city in the recent grants list, though the trust also gives to organizations in Kansas, Colorado, Massachusetts, and New York.
The recent grants include capital campaign support, general operating expenses, exhibition support, acquisition, final payment - capital, and support of charitable. That mix shows both project-based and operating support across different institutions.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS HOSPITAL SYSTEM | WESTWOOD, KS | $500,000 | 2025 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| KEMPER MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART | KANSAS CITY, MO | $416,000 | 2025 | 4TH QUARTER DISTRIBUTION |
| KEMPER MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART | KANSAS CITY, MO | $277,333 | 2025 | 3RD QUARTER DISTRIBUTION |
| AMERICAN ROYAL ASSOCIATION | KANSAS CITY, MO | $250,000 | 2025 | FINAL PAYMENT - CAPITAL |
| KEMPER MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART | KANSAS CITY, MO | $200,000 | 2025 | STAFF REQUEST |
| KCGPA FOUNDATION | KANSAS CITY, MO | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES |
| KEMPER MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART | KANSAS CITY, MO | $150,000 | 2025 | 2025 EXHIBITION SUPPORT |
| LYRIC OPERA OF KANSAS CITY | KANSAS CITY, MO | $100,000 | 2025 | 2024-2025 SEASON |
| CENTRAL CITY OPERA | WHEAT RIDGE, CO | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES |
| CHATHAM ORPHEUM THEATRE | CHATHAM, MA | $100,000 | 2025 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| AGRICULTURE FUTURE OF AMERICA | KANSAS CITY, KS | $100,000 | 2025 | 30TH ANNIVERSARY CAMPAIGN |
| LIBERTY MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION | MEMORIAL DRIVE KANSA, MO | $100,000 | 2025 | 2ND CENTURY CAPITAL |
| THE NATURE CONSERVANCY | TOPEKA, KS | $75,000 | 2025 | BUFFALO RESTORATION PROGRAM |
| AJC | NEW YORK, NY | $75,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES |
| KEMPER MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART | KANSAS CITY, MO | $54,000 | 2025 | ACQUISITION OF |
| ARTADIA | BROOKLYN, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR ARTISTS |
| CHATHAM HISTORICAL SOCIETY | CHATHAM, MA | $25,000 | 2025 | COMING TO OUR SHORES |
| FOLK ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL | KANSAS CITY, MO | $20,000 | 2025 | 2025 CONFERENCE |
| JEWISH COMMUNITY RELATIONS BUREAU | OVERLAND PARK, KS | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES |
| KANBES MARKETS | KANSAS CITY, MO | $15,000 | 2025 | HEALTHY CORNER STORES |
| JCCC FOUNDATION | OVERLAND PARK, KS | $10,000 | 2025 | NERMAN MUSEUM L LIGHTON EXH |
| KC CARE | KANSAS CITY, MO | $10,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM |
| THE CAPE COD FOUNDATION | SOUTH YARMOUTH, MA | $7,500 | 2025 | CHATHAM ANGEL FUND |
| AMERICAN PUBLIC SQUARE | KANSAS CITY, MO | $5,000 | 2025 | EVENING AT THE SQUARE |
| LONGYEAR FOUNDATION-MUSEUM | CHESTNUT HILL, MA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES |
| KCAI | KANSAS CITY, MO | $5,000 | 2025 | STUDENT SUP-ANNUAL |
| PEACE HAVEN ASSOCIATION INC | ST LOUIS, MO | $5,000 | 2025 | MATCHING GIFT GENERAL FUND |
| AMERICAN JAZZ MUSEUM | KANSAS CITY, MO | $5,000 | 2025 | YOUNG MUSICIAN SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UMKC FOUNDATION | KANSAS CITY, MO | $1,000,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE |
| KANSAS CITY SYMPHONY | KANSAS CITY, MO | $750,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE |
| KEMPER MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART | KANSAS CITY, MO | $571,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE |
| AMERICAN ROYAL ASSOCIATION | KANSAS CITY, MO | $500,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE |
| HARVESTERS | KANSAS CITY, MO | $250,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY FOOD NETWORK |
| THE SALVATION ARMY KANSAS WESTERN MISSOURI | KANSAS CITY, MO | $100,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE |
| THE SALVATION ARMY | DENVER, CO | $100,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE |
| CEDARS CAMP | BALLWIN, MO | $50,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS | KANSAS CITY, MO | $50,000 | 2024 | MAUI-LAHAINA DISASTER |
| ACE SCHOLARSHIPS | GREENWOOD VILLAGE, CO | $35,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE |
| DENVER HEALTH FOUNDATION | DENVER, CO | $25,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE |
| ROCKY MOUNTAIN CONSERVANCY | ESTES PARK, CO | $25,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE |
| LYRIC OPERA OF KANSAS CITY | KANSAS CITY, MO | $25,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE |
| TURNING POINT THE CENTER FOR HOPE AND HEALING | LEAWOOD, KS | $15,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE |
| YEP KANSAS CITY | KANSAS CITY, MO | $15,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE |
| EMPORIA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | MATFIELD GREEN, KS | $15,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE |
| COLORADO OPEN LANDS | LAKEWOOD, CO | $10,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE |
| GOLD CROWN FOUNDATION | DENVER, CO | $10,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE |
| POWELL GARDENS | KINGSVILLE, MO | $10,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE |
| ABILITY KC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $10,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE |
| DENVER CHILDRENS FOUNDATION | DENVER, CO | $10,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE |
| OWEN COX DANCE GROUP | KANSAS CITY, MO | $8,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE |
UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS HOSPITAL SYSTEM
$500,000CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
KEMPER MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART
$416,0004TH QUARTER DISTRIBUTION
KEMPER MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART
$277,3333RD QUARTER DISTRIBUTION
KEMPER MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART
$200,000STAFF REQUEST
KCGPA FOUNDATION
$200,000GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES
KEMPER MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART
$150,0002025 EXHIBITION SUPPORT
CENTRAL CITY OPERA
$100,000GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES
CHATHAM ORPHEUM THEATRE
$100,000CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
AGRICULTURE FUTURE OF AMERICA
$100,00030TH ANNIVERSARY CAMPAIGN
KEMPER MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART
$54,000ACQUISITION OF
ARTADIA
$50,000SUPPORT FOR ARTISTS
CHATHAM HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$25,000COMING TO OUR SHORES
FOLK ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL
$20,0002025 CONFERENCE
JCCC FOUNDATION
$10,000NERMAN MUSEUM L LIGHTON EXH
KC CARE
$10,000MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
AMERICAN PUBLIC SQUARE
$5,000EVENING AT THE SQUARE
LONGYEAR FOUNDATION-MUSEUM
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES
KCAI
$5,000STUDENT SUP-ANNUAL
PEACE HAVEN ASSOCIATION INC
$5,000MATCHING GIFT GENERAL FUND
AMERICAN JAZZ MUSEUM
$5,000YOUNG MUSICIAN SCHOLARSHIPS
KEMPER MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART
$571,000SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE
THE SALVATION ARMY KANSAS WESTERN MISSOURI
$100,000SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE
THE SALVATION ARMY
$100,000SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE
TURNING POINT THE CENTER FOR HOPE AND HEALING
$15,000SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE
YEP KANSAS CITY
$15,000SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE
POWELL GARDENS
$10,000SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE
DENVER CHILDRENS FOUNDATION
$10,000SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE
OWEN COX DANCE GROUP
$8,000SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE