The Richard J Stern Foundation for the Arts concentrates its giving on major performing arts institutions in the Kansas City area, underwriting seasonal operations and capital projects to sustain local cultural infrastructure. A small number of flagship organizations receive the bulk of funding, with occasional support routed through a donor-advised vehicle for museum acquisitions and related cultural needs.
Richard J Stern Foundation for the Arts Commerce Bank Trustee channels most of its giving into Kansas City’s performing arts institutions, with repeated season underwriting for the Kansas City Symphony and Lyric Opera of Kansas City. The pattern is steady across multiple years: the symphony received large season grants in 2021/2022, 2022/2023, 2023/2024, and 2024/2025, while Lyric Opera appears across the same stretch with support tied to season and mainstage productions. Beyond operating support, the foundation also backs capital and infrastructure needs that affect how arts groups present work. Kansas City Ballet Association received funding for renovation and expansion of its Johnson County campus, and the Performing Arts Foundation of Kansas City dba Folly Theater received support for a sound system upgrade. Museum and acquisition support also appears in the record through the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation - Stern Donor-advised Fund and the Nelson Gallery Foundation. Taken together, the foundation’s recent grants show a local arts patron focused on maintaining institutions, facilities, and programming capacity in Kansas City rather than scattering gifts across many unrelated causes.
One clear theme is season underwriting for major performing arts groups. The Kansas City Symphony received $300,000 in 2023 for 2022/2023 season support, and Lyric Opera of Kansas City Inc received $200,000 in 2025 for 2024/2025 season support. A second theme is capital and facility work. Kansas City Ballet Association received $200,000 in 2023 for renovation and expansion of its Johnson County campus, showing support for long-term physical infrastructure. The foundation also funds equipment and technical upgrades: the Performing Arts Foundation of Kansas City dba Folly Theater received $178,677 in 2025 for a sound system upgrade, and Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts received $137,500 in 2023 to replace musicians’ chairs, expand inventory, and replace organ pipes. Museum acquisition support appears as well, including a $100,000 grant to Nelson Gallery Foundation for unexplored resonance acquisition support.
$3.6M
$52.5M
$6.7M
$4.1M
Most grants fall between $8K and $35K, with a median of $15K.
25th Percentile
$8K
Median
$15K
75th Percentile
$35K
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Highly concentrated: few large grants to repeat flagship grantees (multiple multi-year/season support awards), primarily local and arts-focused rather than many small, diverse grants.
Notable grantees: Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Kansas City Symphony, Kansas City Ballet Association, Greater Kansas City Community Foundation (Stern Donor-Advised Fund)
Typical grants are in the mid-five-figure range, with a p25 of $7,500, median of $15,000, and p75 of $35,000. The recent grant list also shows a separate layer of larger operating and capital awards, including repeated six-figure support for core arts institutions. Recipients appear across multiple years, especially Kansas City Symphony and Lyric Opera of Kansas City Inc, which suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-time gifts. The foundation is structured as a trustee-managed foundation, and it also funds through a donor-advised vehicle, including the Stern Donor-advised Fund. It funds individuals as well as organizations.
Giving is highly concentrated in Missouri, with 96% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Kansas City, MO dominates the recipient map, with additional Missouri grants in Liberty, MO. The recent-grants list is entirely U.S.-based, and the country distribution shows 301 grants to U.S. recipients. Within the local footprint, examples include Kansas City Symphony, Lyric Opera of Kansas City Inc, and Kansas City Art Institute in Kansas City, plus William Jewell College’s Harriman-Jewell Series in Liberty.
It supports local arts and cultural organizations in Kansas City, especially major performing arts institutions such as the Kansas City Symphony and Lyric Opera of Kansas City Inc. The record also includes ballet, museums, theaters, and arts education groups, along with support for facilities, equipment, and capital projects.
Yes. The Kansas City Symphony appears with season support in 2021/2022, 2022/2023, 2023/2024, and 2024/2025. Lyric Opera of Kansas City Inc also appears across multiple years with season and mainstage support, indicating repeated funding relationships.
Typical grant size is modest compared with the largest awards in the record: p25 is $7,500, median is $15,000, and p75 is $35,000. The recent grants list also includes larger season and capital awards in the $100,000 to $300,000 range for key arts institutions.
The foundation gives primarily in Missouri, with 96% of grants to recipients in the HQ state. Kansas City, MO is the main recipient city, and the recent grants also include Liberty, MO through William Jewell College’s Harriman-Jewell Series.
Yes. The recent record includes $200,000 to the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation - Stern Donor-advised Fund for KC museum Turrell acquisition support, and $100,000 to Nelson Gallery Foundation for unexplored resonance acquisition support.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KANSAS CITY SYMPHONY | KANSAS CITY, MO | $300,000 | 2025 | 2024/2024 SEASON SUPPORT |
| LYRIC OPERA OF KANSAS CITY INC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $200,000 | 2025 | 2024/2025 SEASON SUPPORT |
| LYRIC OPERA OF KANSAS CITY INC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $200,000 | 2025 | 2024/2025 SEASON SUPPORT |
| LYRIC OPERA OF KANSAS CITY INC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $200,000 | 2025 | 2024/2025 SEASON SUPPORT |
| PERFORMING ARTS FOUNDATION OF KANSAS CITY DBA FOLLY THEATER | KANSAS CITY, MO | $178,677 | 2025 | SOUND SYSTEM UPGRADE |
| KANSAS CITY ART INSTITUTE | KANSAS CITY, MO | $125,000 | 2025 | MICHAEL VERGASON LANDSCAPE PLAN OVER 2 YEARS |
| WILLIAM JEWELL COLLEGE (HARRIMAN-JEWELL SERIES) | LIBERTY, MO | $100,000 | 2025 | 2025/2026 SEASON SUPPORT RECOGNIZED THROUGH SEASON SPONSORSHIP |
| NELSON GALLERY FOUNDATION | KANSAS CITY, MO | $100,000 | 2025 | UPEXPLORED RESONANCE ACQUISITION SUPPORT |
| KAUFFMAN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS | KANSAS CITY, MO | $80,000 | 2025 | REPLACE HARLEQUIN LIBERTY LATCHLOC STAGE IN MURIEL KAUFFMAN THEATER |
| KANSAS CITY ART INSTITUTE | KANSAS CITY, MO | $65,000 | 2025 | CERAMICS PROGRAM |
| KANSAS CITY BALLET ASSOCIATION | KANSAS CITY, MO | $60,000 | 2025 | 2024/2025 SEASON SUPPORT AND PARTIAL UNDERWRITING OF DON QUIXOTE |
| UNICORN THEATRE | KANSAS CITY, MO | $50,000 | 2025 | FUND OUR FUTURE (FOF) CAMPAIGN |
| LYRIC OPERA OF KANSAS CITY INC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $50,000 | 2025 | 2025 LYRIC BALL |
| NELSON GALLERY FOUNDATION | KANSAS CITY, MO | $50,000 | 2025 | FEATURED EXHIBITIONS: "WE LIVE IN PAINTING" |
| KANSAS CITY REPERTORY THEATRE INC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $50,000 | 2025 | 2024/2025 SEASON SUPPORT AND PARTIAL UNDERWRITING OF EMMA |
| MUSICAL THEATER HERITAGE INC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $49,000 | 2025 | EQUIPMENT UPGRADES |
| KAUFFMAN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS | KANSAS CITY, MO | $40,000 | 2025 | 2025 FUTURE STAGES FESTIVAL |
| KANSAS CITY BALLET ASSOCIATION | KANSAS CITY, MO | $40,000 | 2025 | FAMILY PRODUCTION OF "SNOW WHITE" |
| COTERIE INC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $35,000 | 2025 | 2025/2026 SEASON SUPPORT |
| UNICORN THEATRE | KANSAS CITY, MO | $35,000 | 2025 | SEASON SUPPORT |
| KANSAS CITY SYMPHONY | KANSAS CITY, MO | $35,000 | 2025 | 2024 SYMPHONY BALL |
| ARTS ENGAGEMENT FOUNDATION OF KANSAS CITY | KANSAS CITY, MO | $30,000 | 2025 | KC STUDIO MAGAZINE |
| KANSAS CITY ACTORS THEATRE INC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $30,000 | 2025 | 2025/2026 SEASON SUPPORT |
| KANSAS CITY CHORALE | KANSAS CITY, MO | $30,000 | 2025 | 2024/2025 SEASON SUPPORT |
| CHARLOTTE STREET FOUNDATION | KANSAS CITY, MO | $30,000 | 2025 | USED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OR TRUSTEES AS THEY SEE FIT FOR OPERATING THEIR ORGANIZATION |
| FRIENDS OF CHAMBER MUSIC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $30,000 | 2025 | ARTISTIC PLANNING AS PART OF 50TH ANNIVERSARY CAMPAIGN |
| PARK UNIVERSITY | PARKVILLE, MO | $30,000 | 2025 | PARK ICM SEASON SUPPORT THROUGH STANISLAV & FRIENDS |
| KEMPER MUSEUM OPERATING FOUNDATION DBA KEMPER MUSEUM OF ART | KANSAS CITY, MO | $25,000 | 2025 | STAN DOUGLAS: METRONOME |
| KANSAS CITY CHAPTER OF YOUNG AUDIENCES INC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $25,000 | 2025 | USED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OR TRUSTEES AS THEY SEE FIT FOR OPERATING THEIR ORGANIZATION |
| MUSIC-ARTS INSTITUTE | INDEPENDENCE, MO | $20,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| OWEN-COX DANCE GROUP | KANSAS CITY, MO | $20,000 | 2025 | 2024/2025 PERFORMANCE SEASON AND TAKE THE STAGE |
| WILLIAM JEWELL COLLEGE (HARRIMAN-JEWELL SERIES) | LIBERTY, MO | $20,000 | 2025 | TRANSITION SUPPORT FOR NEW 501(C)(3) ENTITY |
| THE HEART OF AMERICA SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL | KANSAS CITY, MO | $20,000 | 2025 | 2025 SEASON SUPPORT |
| KANSAS CITY FRIENDS OF ALVIN AILEY | KANSAS CITY, MO | $18,000 | 2025 | AILEY II RESIDENCY |
| YOUTH SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION OF KANSAS CITY INC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $18,000 | 2025 | ORCHESTRAL EDUCATION PROGRAM |
| FRIENDS OF CHAMBER MUSIC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $15,000 | 2025 | 2025/2026 SEASON SUPPORT |
| MID-AMERICA ARTS ALLIANCE | KANSAS CITY, MO | $15,000 | 2025 | ARTS PROGRAMMING IN THE METROPOLITAN KANSAS CITY AREA |
| METROPOLITAN ARTS COUNCIL OF GREATER KANSAS CITY DBA ARTSKC - REGIONAL ARTS | KANSAS CITY, MO | $15,000 | 2025 | MARKETING CAPACITY PROGRAM |
| HEARTLAND MEN'S CHORUS | KANSAS CITY, MO | $15,000 | 2025 | 2024/2025 SEASON SUPPORT |
| TEENTIX KC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $15,000 | 2025 | TEENTIX KC PROGRAM PILOT |
| MOVING ARTS KANSAS CITY | KANSAS CITY, MO | $15,000 | 2025 | 2025 SEASON SUPPORT |
| HARRY S TRUMAN LIBRARY INSTITUTE FOR NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS | KANSAS CITY, MO | $12,600 | 2025 | ART PERSERVATION PROJECT |
| BACH ARIA SOLOISTS | KANSAS CITY, MO | $12,500 | 2025 | 2024/2025 SEASON SUPPORT WITH ONE-TIME INCREASE FOR HELEN SUNG COMMISSION |
| UMKC FOUNDATION (UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-KANSAS CITY - CONSERVATORY) | KANSAS CITY, MO | $11,500 | 2025 | HEALING & HARMONY CONCERT SERIES |
| UMKC FOUNDATION (UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-KANSAS CITY - CONSERVATORY) | KANSAS CITY, MO | $10,800 | 2025 | MFA STUDENT FELLOWSHIP IN SOUND DESIGN |
| JOHNSON COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION | OVERLAND PARK, KS | $10,000 | 2025 | NEW DANCE PARTNERS 2025 |
| UMKC FOUNDATION (UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-KANSAS CITY - CONSERVATORY) | KANSAS CITY, MO | $10,000 | 2025 | CONSERVATORY BRIDGES |
| MESNER PUPPET THEATER DBA WHAT IF PUPPETS | KANSAS CITY, MO | $10,000 | 2025 | SEASON SUPPORT |
| EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF WEST MISSORUI (ST PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH) | KANSAS CITY, MO | $10,000 | 2025 | PIANO ACQUISITION |
| WYLLIAMS-HENRY CONTEMPORARY DANCE | KANSAS CITY, MO | $10,000 | 2025 | 2024/2025 SEASON SUPPORT |
PERFORMING ARTS FOUNDATION OF KANSAS CITY DBA FOLLY THEATER
$178,677SOUND SYSTEM UPGRADE
KANSAS CITY ART INSTITUTE
$125,000MICHAEL VERGASON LANDSCAPE PLAN OVER 2 YEARS
WILLIAM JEWELL COLLEGE (HARRIMAN-JEWELL SERIES)
$100,0002025/2026 SEASON SUPPORT RECOGNIZED THROUGH SEASON SPONSORSHIP
NELSON GALLERY FOUNDATION
$100,000UPEXPLORED RESONANCE ACQUISITION SUPPORT
REPLACE HARLEQUIN LIBERTY LATCHLOC STAGE IN MURIEL KAUFFMAN THEATER
KANSAS CITY ART INSTITUTE
$65,000CERAMICS PROGRAM
KANSAS CITY BALLET ASSOCIATION
$60,0002024/2025 SEASON SUPPORT AND PARTIAL UNDERWRITING OF DON QUIXOTE
NELSON GALLERY FOUNDATION
$50,000FEATURED EXHIBITIONS: "WE LIVE IN PAINTING"
2024/2025 SEASON SUPPORT AND PARTIAL UNDERWRITING OF EMMA
MUSICAL THEATER HERITAGE INC
$49,000EQUIPMENT UPGRADES
KANSAS CITY BALLET ASSOCIATION
$40,000FAMILY PRODUCTION OF "SNOW WHITE"
ARTS ENGAGEMENT FOUNDATION OF KANSAS CITY
$30,000KC STUDIO MAGAZINE
USED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OR TRUSTEES AS THEY SEE FIT FOR OPERATING THEIR ORGANIZATION
ARTISTIC PLANNING AS PART OF 50TH ANNIVERSARY CAMPAIGN
KEMPER MUSEUM OPERATING FOUNDATION DBA KEMPER MUSEUM OF ART
$25,000STAN DOUGLAS: METRONOME
USED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OR TRUSTEES AS THEY SEE FIT FOR OPERATING THEIR ORGANIZATION
MUSIC-ARTS INSTITUTE
$20,000SCHOLARSHIPS
OWEN-COX DANCE GROUP
$20,0002024/2025 PERFORMANCE SEASON AND TAKE THE STAGE
WILLIAM JEWELL COLLEGE (HARRIMAN-JEWELL SERIES)
$20,000TRANSITION SUPPORT FOR NEW 501(C)(3) ENTITY
THE HEART OF AMERICA SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL
$20,0002025 SEASON SUPPORT
KANSAS CITY FRIENDS OF ALVIN AILEY
$18,000AILEY II RESIDENCY
YOUTH SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION OF KANSAS CITY INC
$18,000ORCHESTRAL EDUCATION PROGRAM
ARTS PROGRAMMING IN THE METROPOLITAN KANSAS CITY AREA
METROPOLITAN ARTS COUNCIL OF GREATER KANSAS CITY DBA ARTSKC - REGIONAL ARTS
$15,000MARKETING CAPACITY PROGRAM
HEARTLAND MEN'S CHORUS
$15,0002024/2025 SEASON SUPPORT
TEENTIX KC
$15,000TEENTIX KC PROGRAM PILOT
MOVING ARTS KANSAS CITY
$15,0002025 SEASON SUPPORT
ART PERSERVATION PROJECT
BACH ARIA SOLOISTS
$12,5002024/2025 SEASON SUPPORT WITH ONE-TIME INCREASE FOR HELEN SUNG COMMISSION
HEALING & HARMONY CONCERT SERIES
UMKC FOUNDATION (UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-KANSAS CITY - CONSERVATORY)
$10,800MFA STUDENT FELLOWSHIP IN SOUND DESIGN
CONSERVATORY BRIDGES
MESNER PUPPET THEATER DBA WHAT IF PUPPETS
$10,000SEASON SUPPORT
EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF WEST MISSORUI (ST PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH)
$10,000PIANO ACQUISITION
WYLLIAMS-HENRY CONTEMPORARY DANCE
$10,0002024/2025 SEASON SUPPORT