The Vess Family Foundation concentrates its giving on conservative civic engagement and training organizations while also supporting a handful of local Wichita nonprofits and a Catholic parish. A small number of large, often unrestricted grants dominate the portfolio, with repeat, multi-year support to election-integrity and youth conservative groups. Their mix of national ideological funding and targeted local charitable gifts suggests dual priorities: advancing conservative political organizing/training and bolstering community-level services in their home city.
A 310,000 grant to True the Vote in 2025 stands out in the Vess Family Foundation’s recent record and signals how heavily the foundation leans into conservative civic engagement and training. Across its portfolio, the foundation pairs large support for election-integrity and voter-engagement organizations with smaller, targeted gifts to Wichita charities and a Catholic parish. The giving pattern shows both national ideological support and local community aid, with grants to groups such as Turning Point USA and Americans for America alongside Wichita-based nonprofits. That mix is consistent with a portfolio where a few sizable awards account for much of the activity, while many other grants fall in the middle range and support general operations, training, or specific projects. The foundation also backs direct-service organizations that address family crisis, children’s services, and shelter needs in Wichita, plus faith-based institutions. In practice, the Vess Family Foundation appears to fund two tracks at once: civic and political training aligned with conservative priorities, and local charitable support in its Kansas community.
In election integrity and voter engagement training, the foundation gave $310,000 to True the Vote in 2025 and $300,000 to the same organization in 2023, both for education and training. In campus conservative organizing, it supported Turning Point USA with $100,000 in 2024 and another $100,000 in 2023 for education and training. The foundation also funds civic education and advocacy. It gave $75,000 to Americans for America in 2023 for training and education. Beyond that, it has backed family crisis and local support services in Wichita through unrestricted general funds to Wichita Family Crisis Center, Center of Hope Inc, and Wichita Children's Home. Faith-based giving appears as well through St Thomas Aquinas Church and Catholic Charities Inc.
Typical grant size sits at $9,750 at the 25th percentile, $16,000 at the median, and $32,500 at the 75th percentile, which shows a cluster of mid-sized awards alongside a handful of much larger grants. The recent record also shows repeat support across years: True the Vote, Turning Point USA, Cambodian Children's Fund, Center of Hope Inc, Tom's Door, Wichita Children's Home, and St Jude Children's Research Hospital each received more than one grant. The foundation is a family foundation, makes no program-related investments, and does not fund individuals. Its recent grants include unrestricted general support, education and training, construction, and disaster-related support.
$615K
$13.4M
$787K
$776K
Most grants fall between $10K and $33K, with a median of $16K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$16K
75th Percentile
$33K
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Concentrated portfolio with a few large grants and repeat funding to a small set of national conservative training/engagement organizations, complemented by limited unrestricted support to local Wichita charities and a church.
Notable grantees: True the Vote, Turning Point USA, Wichita Family Crisis Center, St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Americans for America
Most grants go to Kansas recipients, and 65% of grants are awarded in the foundation’s headquarters state. Wichita is the main local center, with grants to Wichita Family Crisis Center, League 42 Foundation, St Thomas Aquinas Church, Share the Season, Center of Hope Inc, Catholic Charities Inc, and Wichita Children's Home. Outside Kansas, the foundation gave to organizations in Rosenberg, TX; Lemont, IL; Aurora, CO; Santa Monica, CA; Boone, NC; Memphis, TN; and Carbondale, CO. All reported recipient locations are in the United States.
Its recent grants show a strong focus on education and training for conservative civic groups, plus local Wichita charities serving families, children, and shelter needs. It also funds a Catholic parish and Catholic Charities Inc, and it has made construction and disaster-related grants in addition to unrestricted support.
The grant-size distribution is centered in the middle range: $9,750 at the 25th percentile, $16,000 at the median, and $32,500 at the 75th percentile. The recent list also includes several much larger awards, such as $310,000 and $300,000 to True the Vote.
Kansas is the top state by grant count, with 65% of grants awarded in the foundation’s headquarters state. Wichita is the main city in that pattern, with multiple grants to local human-service, faith-based, and community organizations.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including True the Vote, Turning Point USA, Cambodian Children's Fund, Center of Hope Inc, Tom's Door, Wichita Children's Home, and St Jude Children's Research Hospital. That pattern points to recurring support rather than one-time gifts only.
The recent grants include education and training, unrestricted general support, a construction project, and support tied to Anthony Family Shelter and Harbor House at Catholic Charities Inc. Those purposes show a mix of operating support, program support, and capital or facility-related funding.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| True the Vote | Rosenberg, TX | $310,000 | 2025 | Education and training |
| Share the Season | Wichita, KS | $50,000 | 2025 | Unrestricted general fund |
| Wichita Children's Home | Wichita, KS | $30,000 | 2025 | Unrestricted general fund |
| Cambodian Children's Fund | Santa Monica, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | Unrestricted general fund |
| Center of Hope Inc | Wichita, KS | $20,000 | 2025 | Unrestricted general fund |
| Catholic Charities Inc | Wichita, KS | $20,000 | 2025 | Anthony Family Shelter, Harbor House |
| St Jude Children's Research Hospital | Memphis, TN | $16,000 | 2025 | Unrestricted general fund |
| Tom's Door | Carbondale, CO | $16,000 | 2025 | Unrestricted general fund |
| Samaritan's Purse | Boone, NC | $15,000 | 2025 | Hurricane Helene relief |
| Guadalupe Clinic | Wichita, KS | $15,000 | 2025 | Unrestricted general fund |
| TOP Early Learning Center | Wichita, KS | $12,500 | 2025 | Unrestricted general fund |
| Tunnel to Towers | Staten Island, NY | $12,000 | 2025 | Unrestricted general fund |
| Helping a Hero | Houston, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | Unrestricted general fund |
| KanVets United | Wichita, KS | $10,000 | 2025 | Unrestricted general fund |
| Childrens First CEO Kansas Inc | Wichita, KS | $10,000 | 2025 | Unrestricted general fund |
| Kansans for Life | Wichita, KS | $10,000 | 2025 | Unrestricted general fund |
| The Lord's Diner | Wichita, KS | $10,000 | 2025 | Unrestricted general fund |
| ICT Food Rescue | Wichita, KS | $8,000 | 2025 | Unrestricted general fund |
| HumanKind Ministries | Wichita, KS | $7,500 | 2025 | Unrestricted general fund |
| St Thomas Aquinas Church | Wichita, KS | $5,000 | 2025 | Unrestricted general fund |
| Shriners Hospitals for Children | Topeka, KS | $4,000 | 2025 | Unrestricted general fund |
| Bike Walk Wichita | Wichita, KS | $2,500 | 2025 | Unrestricted general fund |
| MADD | Olathe, KS | $1,000 | 2025 | Unrestricted general fund |
| Turning Point USA | Lemont, IL | $100,000 | 2024 | Education and training |
| True the Vote | Rosenberg, TX | $100,000 | 2024 | Education and training |
| Center for Combating Human Trafficking | Wichita, KS | $40,000 | 2024 | Unrestricted general fund |
| Wichita Children's Home | Wichita, KS | $30,000 | 2024 | Unrestricted general fund |
| Cambodian Children's Fund | Santa Monica, CA | $20,000 | 2024 | Unrestricted general fund |
| Catholic Charities Inc | Wichita, KS | $19,500 | 2024 | Anthony Family Shelter, Harbor House |
| Tom's Door | Carbondale, CO | $16,000 | 2024 | Unrestricted general fund |
| St Jude Children's Research Hospital | Memphis, TN | $16,000 | 2024 | Unrestricted general fund |
| Kansans for Life | Wichita, KS | $15,000 | 2024 | Unrestricted general fund |
| Center of Hope Inc | Wichita, KS | $15,000 | 2024 | Unrestricted general fund |
| Guadalupe Clinic | Wichita, KS | $10,000 | 2024 | Unrestricted general fund |
| The Lord's Diner | Wichita, KS | $10,000 | 2024 | Unrestricted general fund |
| Childrens First CEO Kansas Inc | Wichita, KS | $10,000 | 2024 | Unrestricted general fund |
| Tunnel to Towers | Staten Island, NY | $9,000 | 2024 | Unrestricted general fund |
| HumanKind Ministries | Wichita, KS | $7,500 | 2024 | Unrestricted general fund |
| Make-A-Wish Kansas | Ballwin, MO | $6,000 | 2024 | Unrestricted general fund |
| St Thomas Aquinas Church | Wichita, KS | $3,500 | 2024 | Unrestricted general fund |
| MADD | Olathe, KS | $750 | 2024 | Unrestricted general fund |
| True the Vote | Rosenberg, TX | $300,000 | 2023 | Education and training |
| Wichita Family Crisis Center | Wichita, KS | $100,000 | 2023 | Unrestricted general fund |
| Turning Point USA | Lemont, IL | $100,000 | 2023 | Education and training |
| Americans for America | Aurora, CO | $75,000 | 2023 | Training and education |
| League 42 Foundation | Wichita, KS | $75,000 | 2023 | Unrestricted general fund |
| St Thomas Aquinas Church | Wichita, KS | $53,500 | 2023 | Unrestricted general fund |
| KVC Health Systems | Olathe, KS | $40,000 | 2023 | Construction project |
| Share the Season | Wichita, KS | $25,000 | 2023 | Unrestricted general fund |
| Wichita Children's Home | Wichita, KS | $22,500 | 2023 | Unrestricted general fund |
True the Vote
$310,000Education and training
Share the Season
$50,000Unrestricted general fund
Wichita Children's Home
$30,000Unrestricted general fund
Anthony Family Shelter, Harbor House
Tom's Door
$16,000Unrestricted general fund
TOP Early Learning Center
$12,500Unrestricted general fund
Tunnel to Towers
$12,000Unrestricted general fund
Helping a Hero
$10,000Unrestricted general fund
KanVets United
$10,000Unrestricted general fund
Kansans for Life
$10,000Unrestricted general fund
The Lord's Diner
$10,000Unrestricted general fund
ICT Food Rescue
$8,000Unrestricted general fund
St Thomas Aquinas Church
$5,000Unrestricted general fund
Bike Walk Wichita
$2,500Unrestricted general fund
MADD
$1,000Unrestricted general fund
True the Vote
$100,000Education and training
Center for Combating Human Trafficking
$40,000Unrestricted general fund
Wichita Children's Home
$30,000Unrestricted general fund
Tom's Door
$16,000Unrestricted general fund
Kansans for Life
$15,000Unrestricted general fund
The Lord's Diner
$10,000Unrestricted general fund
Make-A-Wish Kansas
$6,000Unrestricted general fund
St Thomas Aquinas Church
$3,500Unrestricted general fund
MADD
$750Unrestricted general fund
True the Vote
$300,000Education and training
Americans for America
$75,000Training and education
St Thomas Aquinas Church
$53,500Unrestricted general fund
KVC Health Systems
$40,000Construction project
Share the Season
$25,000Unrestricted general fund
Wichita Children's Home
$22,500Unrestricted general fund