The Ronald D. Deffenbaugh Foundation appears to be a Kansas City–area philanthropy focused on direct service organizations that support vulnerable populations, especially people with developmental disabilities, children and families, and those facing addiction or housing instability. Its grants also show a strong faith-based and community-caring orientation, with support for Catholic and Christian ministries, local social service providers, and a few education and arts institutions. The foundation tends to back operating support for established nonprofits, often returning to the same grantees more than once.
Concentrated, relationship-based giving with repeated support to a core set of local nonprofits, usually through general operating grants that are relatively large and flexible rather than many small one-off awards.
$3.1M
$95.6M
$9.3M
$4.5M
Most grants fall between $10K and $50K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$50K
About 41% of grants go to recipients in MO.
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Notable grantees: Down Syndrome Innovations, The Signatry, Catholic Charities Foundation, Welcome House, Inc., Healing House, Inc.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Down Syndrome Innovations | Mission, KS | $250,000 | 2023 | General Operations |
| Metropolitan Community College Foundation | Kansas City, MO | $225,000 | 2023 | General Operations |
| The Signatry | Overland Park, KS | $213,500 | 2023 | General Operations |
| Joy Meadows, Inc. | Independence, MO | $100,000 | 2023 | General Operations |
| Police Athletic League of Kansas City, Kansas | Kansas City, KS | $100,000 | 2023 | General Operations |
| Welcome House, Inc. | Kansas City, MO | $100,000 | 2023 | General Operations |
| Healing House, Inc. | Kansas City, MO | $100,000 | 2023 | General Operations |
| Carry the Cross Ministries (a/k/a On Eagl | Kansas City, KS | $90,000 | 2023 | General Operations |
| Catholic Charities Foundation | Overland Park, KS | $80,000 | 2023 | General Operations |
| Kansas University Endowment Association | Lawrence, KS | $75,000 | 2023 | General Operations |
| The Light House, Inc. | Kansas City, MO | $70,000 | 2023 | General Operations |
| First Call | Kansas City, MO | $65,000 | 2023 | General Operations |
| Drumm Center for Children (Drumm Farm) | Independence, MO | $65,000 | 2023 | General Operations |
| Boys Grow | Kansas City, MO | $60,000 | 2023 | General Operations |
| Family Conservancy (a/k/a TFC) | Kansas City, KS | $50,000 | 2023 | General Operations |
| Global Orphan Project | Kansas City, MO | $50,000 | 2023 | General Operations |
| Job One, Inc. | Independence, MO | $50,000 | 2023 | General Operations |
| Veterans Community Project | Kansas City, MO | $50,000 | 2023 | General Operations |
| KidsTLC, Inc. | Olathe, KS | $50,000 | 2023 | General Operations |
| Valley Hope Association Foundation | Norton, KS | $50,000 | 2023 | General Operations |
| Starlight Theatre Association of Kansas City | Kansas City, MO | $50,000 | 2023 | General Operations |
| Hope Family Care Center | Kansas City, MO | $50,000 | 2023 | General Operations |
| GoodLife Innovations, Inc. | Olathe, KS | $50,000 | 2023 | General Operations |
| Job One, Inc. | Independence, MO | $50,000 | 2023 | General Operations |
| Developing Potential, Inc. (DPI) | Lee's Summit, MO | $50,000 | 2023 | General Operations |
| NourishKC | Kansas City, MO | $50,000 | 2023 | General Operations |
| SOAR Special Needs | Lenexa, KS | $50,000 | 2023 | General Operations |
| War Horses for Veterans, Inc. | Stilwell, KS | $50,000 | 2023 | General Operations |
| Children's Mercy Hospital | Kansas City, MO | $47,415 | 2023 | General Operations |
| Operation Breakthrough, Inc. | Kansas City, MO | $40,000 | 2023 | General Operations |
| Starlight Theatre Association of Kansas City | Kansas City, MO | $35,000 | 2023 | General Operations |
| Gordon Parks Elementary School | Kansas City, MO | $30,000 | 2023 | General Operations |
| Rockhurst Hurtado Scholars Program | Kansas City, MO | $30,000 | 2023 | General Operations |
| Women's Employment Network | Kansas City, MO | $30,000 | 2023 | General Operations |
| One Ninety-Nine, Inc | Olathe, KS | $27,000 | 2023 | General Operations |
| Edify, Inc. | Boston, MA | $25,000 | 2023 | General Operations |
| Junior Achievement of Middle America | Kansas City, KS | $25,000 | 2023 | General Operations |
| Craig Hospital Foundation | Englewood, CO | $25,000 | 2023 | General Operations |
| Kansas City Art Institute a/k/a KCAI | Kansas City, MO | $25,000 | 2023 | General Operations |
| Growing Futures Early Education Center | Overland Park, KS | $25,000 | 2023 | General Operations |
| Frontier Schools, Inc. | Kansas City, MO | $25,000 | 2023 | General Operations |
| Boys Hope Girls Hope of Kansas City | Kansas City, MO | $25,000 | 2023 | General Operations |
| Academy for the Integrated Arts (AFIA) | Kansas City, MO | $25,000 | 2023 | General Operations |
| Upchurch Foundation | Shawnee, KS | $25,000 | 2023 | General Operations |
| Inclusion Connections | Olathe, KS | $25,000 | 2023 | General Operations |
| True Light Family Resource Center, Inc. | Kansas City, MO | $25,000 | 2023 | General Operations |
| Brothers in Blue Reentry, Inc. | Lansing, KS | $25,000 | 2023 | General Operations |
| Our Lady of Unity Catholic School | Kansas City, KS | $25,000 | 2023 | General Operations |
| Kansas City Scholars | Kansas City, MO | $25,000 | 2023 | General Operations |
| Cross-Lines Community Outreach | Kansas City, KS | $25,000 | 2023 | General Operations |
Down Syndrome Innovations
$250,000General Operations
The Signatry
$213,500General Operations
Joy Meadows, Inc.
$100,000General Operations
Police Athletic League of Kansas City, Kansas
$100,000General Operations
General Operations
Healing House, Inc.
$100,000General Operations
Carry the Cross Ministries (a/k/a On Eagl
$90,000General Operations
Catholic Charities Foundation
$80,000General Operations
The Light House, Inc.
$70,000General Operations
First Call
$65,000General Operations
Boys Grow
$60,000General Operations
Family Conservancy (a/k/a TFC)
$50,000General Operations
Job One, Inc.
$50,000General Operations
KidsTLC, Inc.
$50,000General Operations
Valley Hope Association Foundation
$50,000General Operations
GoodLife Innovations, Inc.
$50,000General Operations
Job One, Inc.
$50,000General Operations
Developing Potential, Inc. (DPI)
$50,000General Operations
NourishKC
$50,000General Operations
SOAR Special Needs
$50,000General Operations
War Horses for Veterans, Inc.
$50,000General Operations
Rockhurst Hurtado Scholars Program
$30,000General Operations
One Ninety-Nine, Inc
$27,000General Operations
Edify, Inc.
$25,000General Operations
Junior Achievement of Middle America
$25,000General Operations
Kansas City Art Institute a/k/a KCAI
$25,000General Operations
Growing Futures Early Education Center
$25,000General Operations
Frontier Schools, Inc.
$25,000General Operations
Boys Hope Girls Hope of Kansas City
$25,000General Operations
Academy for the Integrated Arts (AFIA)
$25,000General Operations
Upchurch Foundation
$25,000General Operations
True Light Family Resource Center, Inc.
$25,000General Operations
Brothers in Blue Reentry, Inc.
$25,000General Operations
Our Lady of Unity Catholic School
$25,000General Operations
Kansas City Scholars
$25,000General Operations