The WMR Family Foundation concentrates its giving on higher-education institutions and regionally significant cultural/media organizations, with recurring grants to a small set of institutions. Major recipients include university endowments and public radio, alongside support for a historic community/Chautauqua-style association, suggesting an interest in educational advancement, civic culture, and regional community life. Grants are modest in number and dollar size but focused on institutional operating or endowment support rather than many small, one-off awards.
Concentrated giving to a small group of institutional grantees, with repeat grants and multi-year relationships; funding levels are mid-sized (roughly $25k–$75k) rather than many small grants or a very large single gift.
A recurring cluster of general operating grants to Kansas institutions stands out in the Wmr Family Foundation 045351-000 Co Wilmington Trust Company’s recent giving. The foundation has supported Kansas Public Radio, the Kansas University Endowment Association, Friends of the Topeka Zoo, Cornerstone of Topeka, St. Davids Episcopal Church, and Ksds Assistance Dogs, showing a pattern of institutional support across education, media, civic life, and community services. Its larger awards also point to sustained relationships rather than one-off gifts: the Kansas University Endowment Association appears in multiple years, and University of Dayton and The Bay View Association also receive repeated support. The foundation’s giving is national in scope, but its most visible clusters are in Kansas and in select Midwest communities. Recent grants also reach public media, conservation, and cultural organizations in Michigan, plus higher-education institutions in Ohio and Iowa. The common thread across these awards is support for organizational infrastructure, usually through general operating support, with grantees that serve campuses, local communities, or regionally significant cultural institutions. That makes the foundation easy to recognize as an institution-focused funder rather than one centered on individual projects or program-specific awards.
Higher education is a clear theme. The foundation gave $36,630 to the Kansas University Endowment Assoc in 2025 and $28,199 in 2024, both for general operating support, and it also awarded $25,000 to the University of Dayton in 2025. Morningside University received $10,000 in 2024, reinforcing that campus support extends beyond one state. Public media is another recurring area. Kansas Public Radio received $37,782 in 2023 for general operating support, placing media alongside education as a consistent institutional priority. Cultural and community organizations also appear in the record. The Bay View Association received $28,000 in 2023, $23,000 in 2024, and $23,500 in 2025, all for general operating support. Cultureworks in Holland, Michigan received $10,000 in 2023 and 2024, plus $9,500 in 2025. These grants show support for place-based civic and cultural institutions over multiple years.
$5.7M
$0
$2.9M
$5.7M
Most grants fall between $1K and $7K, with a median of $3K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$3K
75th Percentile
$7K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in KS.
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Notable grantees: The Bay View Association, Kansas University Endowment Association, Kansas Public Radio, University of Dayton
Typical awards are modest: the grant-size distribution shows a p25 of $1,000, a median of $3,000, and a p75 of $7,000. At the top of the recent list, grants can be substantially larger, but most awards cluster in the low-thousands and are directed to operating support. The pattern also shows recurrence. Kansas University Endowment Assoc, The Bay View Association, University of Dayton, Cornerstone of Topeka, St. Davids Episcopal Church, Community Action House, Friends of the Topeka Zoo, Cultureworks, and Blustem Meadow Foundation all appear in more than one year, which points to ongoing relationships rather than isolated gifts. The foundation is structured as a family foundation, and the record indicates it does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.
Grants are national in scope, with all recent recipients in the US. The strongest concentration by recipient location is Kansas, especially Lawrence and Topeka. Lawrence appears through Kansas Public Radio and the Kansas University Endowment Assoc, while Topeka shows up repeatedly with Friends of the Topeka Zoo, Cornerstone of Topeka, St. Davids Episcopal Church, and Ksds Assistance Dogs. Michigan is another notable cluster, including Petosky, Holland, and Harbor Springs. Ohio and Iowa also appear through Dayton and Sioux City.
Its recent grants favor higher education, public media, and place-based cultural or civic organizations. Examples include Kansas University Endowment Assoc, Kansas Public Radio, The Bay View Association, University of Dayton, and Cultureworks, all funded with general operating support.
The grant-size distribution shows a p25 of $1,000, a median of $3,000, and a p75 of $7,000. Many recent awards are in that range, though some larger institutional grants also appear.
Kansas is the top state by grant count, with Lawrence and Topeka appearing often in the recipient list. Other recurring recipient locations include Petosky, Holland, and Harbor Springs in Michigan, plus Dayton, Ohio and Sioux City, Iowa.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOPEKA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | TOPEKA, KS | $2,725,226 | 2026 | PARKER FAMILY FUND |
| MORGAN STANLEY GIFT | PURCHASE, NY | $1,421,613 | 2026 | PALMER FAMILY FUND |
| VANGUARD CHARITABLE | WARWICK, RI | $1,362,613 | 2026 | JILLIAN PARKER FUND |
| KANSAS PUBLIC RADIO | LAWRENCE, KS | $40,690 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE BAY VIEW ASSOCIATION | PETOSKY, MI | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON | DAYTON, OH | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| AUDIO READER NETWORK | LAWRENCE, KS | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITY ACTION HOUSE | HOLLAND, MI | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| JUSTICE IN MOTION INC | BROOKLYN, NY | $8,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CULTUREWORKS | HOLLAND, MI | $7,500 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| BLUSTEM MEADOW FOUNDATION | PETOSKEY, MI | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CORNERSTONE OF TOPEKA INC | TOPEKA, KS | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE MANA FOOD PROJECT INC | HARBOR SPRINGS, MI | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NORTHWEST MICHIGAN COMM ACTION AGEN | TRAVERSE CITY, MI | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| TIP OF THE MITT WATERSHED COUNCIL | PETOSKY, MI | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| KSDS ASSISTANCE DOGS INC | WASHINGTON, KS | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| PETOSKEY-HARBOR SPRINGS AREA COMM F | PETOSKEY, MI | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| LITTLE TRAVERSE CONSERVANCY INC | HARBOR SPRINGS, MI | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NORTH CENTRAL MICHIGAN COLLEGE FOUN | PETOSKEY, MI | $2,500 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| TOP OF MICHIGAN TRAILS COUNCIL | PETOSKY, MI | $2,500 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CRU | ORLANDO, FL | $2,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE TOPEKA PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION | TOPEKA, KS | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| KANSAS UNIVERSITY ENDOWMENT ASSOC | LAWRENCE, KS | $36,630 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON | DAYTON, OH | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE BAY VIEW ASSOCIATION | PETOSKY, MI | $23,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| BLUSTEM MEADOW FOUNDATION | PETOSKEY, MI | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| FRIENDS OF THE TOPEKA ZOO INC | TOPEKA, KS | $9,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CULTUREWORKS | HOLLAND, MI | $9,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CORNERSTONE OF TOPEKA INC | TOPEKA, KS | $8,315 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ST DAVIDS EPISCOPAL CHURCH | TOPEKA, KS | $7,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITY ACTION HOUSE | HOLLAND, MI | $6,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| TIP OF THE MITT WATERSHED COUNCIL | PETOSKY, MI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| LITTLE TRAVERSE CONSERVANCY INC | HARBOR SPRINGS, MI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| JUSTICE IN MOTION INC | BROOKLYN, NY | $4,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| WEST OTTAWA PUBLIC SCHOOLS EDUC FOUND | HOLLAND, MI | $4,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| 2030 FOUNDATION OF TOPEKA | TOPEKA, KS | $3,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| KSDS ASSISTANCE DOGS INC | WASHINGTON, KS | $3,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| TOPEKA COLLEGIATE SCHOOL INC | TOPEKA, KS | $3,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE POWERHOUSE | DURANGO, CO | $3,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| TOP OF MICHIGAN TRAILS COUNCIL | PETOSKY, MI | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NORTH CENTRAL MICHIGAN COLLEGE FOUN | PETOSKEY, MI | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CRU | ORLANDO, FL | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| BUCHANAN CENTER INC | TOPEKA, KS | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| TOPEKA RESCUE MISSION INC | TOPEKA, KS | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| FALLING FORWARD FOUNDATION | LAWRENCE, KS | $1,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MIDLAND CARE CONNECTION INC | TOPEKA, KS | $1,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| LETS HELP INC | TOPEKA, KS | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| DOWNTOWN TOPEKA FOUNDATION | TOPEKA, KS | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE TOPEKA PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION | TOPEKA, KS | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF TOPEKA | TOPEKA, KS | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
KANSAS PUBLIC RADIO
$40,690GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
THE BAY VIEW ASSOCIATION
$25,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
AUDIO READER NETWORK
$20,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
CULTUREWORKS
$7,500GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
BLUSTEM MEADOW FOUNDATION
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
CORNERSTONE OF TOPEKA INC
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
THE MANA FOOD PROJECT INC
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
TIP OF THE MITT WATERSHED COUNCIL
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
PETOSKEY-HARBOR SPRINGS AREA COMM F
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
TOP OF MICHIGAN TRAILS COUNCIL
$2,500GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
CRU
$2,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
THE TOPEKA PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
THE BAY VIEW ASSOCIATION
$23,500GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
BLUSTEM MEADOW FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
CULTUREWORKS
$9,500GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
CORNERSTONE OF TOPEKA INC
$8,315GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
ST DAVIDS EPISCOPAL CHURCH
$7,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
TIP OF THE MITT WATERSHED COUNCIL
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
WEST OTTAWA PUBLIC SCHOOLS EDUC FOUND
$4,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
2030 FOUNDATION OF TOPEKA
$3,500GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
THE POWERHOUSE
$3,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
TOP OF MICHIGAN TRAILS COUNCIL
$2,500GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
NORTH CENTRAL MICHIGAN COLLEGE FOUN
$2,500GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
CRU
$2,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
BUCHANAN CENTER INC
$2,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
FALLING FORWARD FOUNDATION
$1,500GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
MIDLAND CARE CONNECTION INC
$1,500GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
LETS HELP INC
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
DOWNTOWN TOPEKA FOUNDATION
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
THE TOPEKA PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT