The Don & Jean Wagner Charitable Foundation concentrates its giving in the Kansas City area, primarily supporting local cultural institutions and civic organizations. Most dollars flow to a small number of large, multi-year or repeat gifts—especially to the Kansas City Zoo—while also funding higher-education and public safety causes. Grants are presented as general/charitable donations, indicating flexible operating or capital support to established local organizations.
Concentrated, high-value local giving: few grants per year, repeat and sizable gifts to long-term grantees in Kansas City rather than many small awards or broad geographic distribution.
The Don & Jean Wagner Charitable Foundation’s recent giving is anchored by repeated support for the Kansas City Zoo, including three sizable charitable donations in 2023, 2024, and 2025. That pattern sets the tone for the foundation’s work: straightforward charitable gifts to established organizations, often in the Kansas City area, with a mix of cultural, educational, civic, and youth-serving beneficiaries. The zoo is not the only repeat recipient, but it is the clearest marker of the foundation’s priorities because it appears at the top of the recent-gifts list in multiple years. Beyond that flagship relationship, the foundation has also made meaningful gifts to the UMKC Foundation and Starlight Theater, signaling sustained interest in higher education and performing arts. Other grants show a practical community orientation, including support for public safety through the Police Foundation of Kansas City and charitable gifts to schools, churches, and local service organizations. The available grant descriptions are consistently labeled charitable donations, which points to flexible support rather than tightly restricted project funding. The result is a donor profile built around local institutions, recurring relationships, and community-facing organizations rather than a broad national strategy.
In cultural and civic philanthropy, the foundation’s recent gifts include $75,000 to The Kansas City Zoo in 2024 and $35,000 to Starlight Theater in 2024, showing support for local attractions that draw public audiences. Higher education is another clear area: the UMKC Foundation received $48,000 in 2023 and $25,000 in 2024. The foundation also backs public-safety and community-benefit work. In 2025, it gave $34,500 to the Police Foundation of Kansas City. Smaller gifts extend to schools and community institutions, such as $12,500 to St Paul’s Episcopal Day School in 2024 and $10,000 to The Rabbit Hole in North Kansas City in 2024. These grants show a preference for established organizations with a local footprint.
Typical awards are modest to mid-sized, with a p25 of $1,000, a median of $5,000, and a p75 of $8,742. The recent record also shows a handful of much larger gifts, suggesting a two-tier pattern: frequent smaller charitable donations alongside a few substantial anchor grants. Recipients recur across years, including The Kansas City Zoo, Starlight Theater, the UMKC Foundation, and Truman Library Institute. The foundation is not making program-related investments and does not fund individuals. Grant descriptions are consistently framed as charitable donations, which fits an unrestricted or general-support style of giving.
$216K
$5.5M
$544K
$235K
Most grants fall between $1K and $9K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$9K
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Notable grantees: The Kansas City Zoo, Starlight Theatre, UMKC Foundation, Police Foundation of Kansas City
The foundation gives overwhelmingly close to home: 77% of grants go to recipients in Missouri, and Missouri is also the top state by grant count. Kansas City is the main hub, with multiple gifts to organizations there, alongside recurring awards in Independence and North Kansas City. A smaller share reaches nearby Kansas cities such as Prairie Village, Mission, and Overland Park. Outside the region, only a few grants appear, including recipients in Minnesota, Texas, and Massachusetts, all within the United States.
Its recent grants go to cultural institutions, higher-education affiliates, civic and public-safety groups, schools, churches, and local service organizations. Examples in the record include the Kansas City Zoo, Starlight Theater, the UMKC Foundation, and the Police Foundation of Kansas City.
The foundation’s typical grants are relatively small to mid-sized: p25 is $1,000, median grant size is $5,000, and p75 is $8,742. The recent record also includes larger gifts above $50,000.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including the Kansas City Zoo, the UMKC Foundation, Starlight Theater, and Truman Library Institute. That repeat pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than purely one-time gifts.
Most grants go to Missouri, which is both the top state by grant count and the recipient state for 77% of grants. Kansas City is the main city in the record, with additional gifts to nearby Missouri and Kansas communities.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE KANSAS CITY ZOO | KANSAS CITY, MO | $54,250 | 2025 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| POLICE FOUNDATION OF KANSAS CITY | KANSAS CITY, MO | $34,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| STARLIGHT THEATER | KANSAS CITY, MO | $22,600 | 2025 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| ALS ASSOCIATION | ALBERT LEA, MN | $13,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| PEMBROKE HILL | KANSAS CITY, MO | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| TRUMAN LIBRARY INSTITUTE | INDEPENDENCE, MO | $9,985 | 2025 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| ROYALS CHARITIES | KANSAS CITY, MO | $7,850 | 2025 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| POWER FOR PARKINSON'S | AUSTIN, TX | $6,200 | 2025 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| ST PAUL'S EPISCOPAL DAY SCHOOL | KANSAS CITY, MO | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| ST ANN CATHOLIC SCHOOL | PRAIRIE VILLAGE, KS | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| BOTAR | MISSION, KS | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| WAYSIDE WAIFS | KANSAS CITY, MO | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| UMKC FOUNDATION | KANSAS CITY, MO | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| OPERATION BREAKTHROUGH | KANSAS CITY, MO | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| FOLLY THEATER | KANSAS CITY, MO | $4,660 | 2025 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| SALVATION ARMY | KANSAS CITY, MO | $4,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| LEAD TO READ KC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $4,100 | 2025 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| NEWHOUSE KC | KANSAS CITY, MO | $2,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| CHILDRENS MERCY HOSPITAL | KANSAS CITY, MO | $2,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| THE RABBIT HOLE | NORTH KANSAS CITY, MO | $2,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER | HOUSTON, TX | $2,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| REDA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION | OVERLAND PARK, KS | $1,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| WILLIAM JEWELL COLLEGE | LIBERTY, MO | $1,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| ST LUKE'S FOUNDATION | KANSAS CITY, MO | $1,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| ROSE BROOKS CENTER | KANSAS CITY, MO | $1,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| CRISTO REY | KANSAS CITY, MO | $500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| PARKINSON'S FOUNDATION | MIAMI, FL | $500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| MS SOCIETY | KANSAS CITY, MO | $100 | 2025 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| THE KANSAS CITY ZOO | KANSAS CITY, MO | $75,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| STARLIGHT THEATER | KANSAS CITY, MO | $35,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| UMKC FOUNDATION | KANSAS CITY, MO | $25,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| ST PAUL'S EPISCOPAL DAY SCHOOL | KANSAS CITY, MO | $12,500 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| THE RABBIT HOLE | NORTH KANSAS CITY, MO | $10,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| ST LUKE'S FOUNDATION | KANSAS CITY, MO | $10,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| ST ANN CATHOLIC SCHOOL | PRAIRIE VILLAGE, KS | $10,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| REDA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION | OVERLAND PARK, KS | $9,574 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| TRUMAN LIBRARY INSTITUTE | INDEPENDENCE, MO | $8,985 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| JAZZOO | KANSAS CITY, MO | $8,500 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATI0N |
| CITY UNION MISSION | KANSAS CITY, MO | $5,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| THE JEWELL BALL | KANSAS CITY, MO | $5,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| SALVATION ARMY | KANSAS CITY, MO | $5,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| KANSAS CITY GIRLS PREPARATORY ACADEMY | KANSAS CITY, MO | $5,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| ROSE BROOKS CENTER | KANSAS CITY, MO | $5,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| ROYALS CHARITIES | KANSAS CITY, MO | $3,560 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| THE PEMBROKE HILL SCHOOL | KANSAS CITY, MO | $2,500 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER | HOUSTON, TX | $1,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| KANSAS CITY HEALING PROJECT | MISSION, KS | $1,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| KANSAS CITY METROPOLITAN CRIME COMMISSION | KANSAS CITY, MO | $1,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| NATIONAL WWI MUSEUM & MEMORIAL | KANSAS CITY, MO | $1,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| BOTAR | MISSION, KS | $1,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
THE KANSAS CITY ZOO
$54,250CHARITABLE DONATION
ALS ASSOCIATION
$13,500CHARITABLE DONATION
TRUMAN LIBRARY INSTITUTE
CHARITABLE DONATION
POWER FOR PARKINSON'S
$6,200CHARITABLE DONATION
ST PAUL'S EPISCOPAL DAY SCHOOL
$5,000CHARITABLE DONATION
ST ANN CATHOLIC SCHOOL
$5,000CHARITABLE DONATION
BOTAR
$5,000CHARITABLE DONATION
FOLLY THEATER
$4,660CHARITABLE DONATION
SALVATION ARMY
$4,500CHARITABLE DONATION
LEAD TO READ KC
$4,100CHARITABLE DONATION
THE RABBIT HOLE
$2,000CHARITABLE DONATION
MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER
$2,000CHARITABLE DONATION
REDA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
$1,500CHARITABLE DONATION
CRISTO REY
$500CHARITABLE DONATION
PARKINSON'S FOUNDATION
$500CHARITABLE DONATION
MS SOCIETY
$100CHARITABLE DONATION
THE KANSAS CITY ZOO
$75,000CHARITABLE DONATION
STARLIGHT THEATER
$35,000CHARITABLE DONATION
ST PAUL'S EPISCOPAL DAY SCHOOL
$12,500CHARITABLE DONATION
ST ANN CATHOLIC SCHOOL
$10,000CHARITABLE DONATION
REDA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
$9,574CHARITABLE DONATION
TRUMAN LIBRARY INSTITUTE
$8,985CHARITABLE DONATION
JAZZOO
$8,500CHARITABLE DONATI0N
THE JEWELL BALL
$5,000CHARITABLE DONATION
SALVATION ARMY
$5,000CHARITABLE DONATION
MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER
$1,000CHARITABLE DONATION
KANSAS CITY HEALING PROJECT
$1,000CHARITABLE DONATION
KANSAS CITY METROPOLITAN CRIME COMMISSION
$1,000CHARITABLE DONATION
BOTAR
$1,000CHARITABLE DONATION