The WS & EC Jones Testamentary Trust concentrates its giving on education and community mental health, directing large, targeted gifts to a small set of institutions. Most funding supports literacy and higher-education initiatives as well as mental-health services and anti-stigma efforts in Kansas, and the trust also routes significant funds through an affiliated family foundation for educational and medical purposes.
A defining feature of Ws & Ec Jones Testamentary Trust is its repeated, large-scale support for educational and medical grantmaking through the Walter S & Evan C Jones Foundation in Emporia. That affiliated foundation appears at the top of the recent grant list multiple times, with awards of $1,904,000 in 2024, $1,740,000 in 2023, and $1,425,000 in 2025 for educational and charitable medical purposes. The trust also pairs those institutional gifts with substantial support for higher education and literacy at Emporia State University Foundation, including three separate $1,250,000 awards across 2023, 2024, and 2025 tied to nursing and student wellness. Beyond campus support, the trust backs community mental health work in East Central Kansas, including major grants to Mental Health Ctr of East Central Kansas for anti-stigma and related efforts. Its recent record shows a funder making targeted, high-dollar awards to a relatively small set of Kansas institutions rather than broad, scattered grantmaking.
Education is a central theme in the trust’s grantmaking. In 2025, it gave $1,250,000 to Emporia State University Foundation for support of nursing and student programs, and it also made a $500,000 grant in 2025 for mobilizing literacy at the same university foundation. The trust extends that education focus into technical training as well: Flint Hills Technical College Foundation received $500,000 in 2025 for advanced manufacturing, while USD #244 - Burlington received $250,000 in 2024 for a high school welding shop. Community infrastructure and local services are another strand. City of Burlingame received $500,000 in 2024 for a swimming pool and another $166,667 in 2025 for pool improvements. City of Osage City was awarded $400,000 in 2023 for Lincoln & Jones Park, and City of Scranton received $150,000 in 2025 for a community center and park. The trust also funded United Way of the Flint Hills Inc with $110,000 in 2024 to support KCSL-Healthy.
Typical awards sit in the tens of thousands to low six figures, with a p25 of $20,000, a median of $43,334, and a p75 of $143,690. The recent record also shows recurring support for several recipients across multiple years, including Emporia State University Foundation, Mental Health Ctr of East Central Kansas, East Central Kansas Economic Opportunity Corp, and Sos Inc. That pattern suggests sustained relationships rather than one-time gifts. The trust is a testamentary trust, and it also channels significant funds through the Walter S & Evan C Jones Foundation. It does make grants to individuals, and its public record here shows no program-related investments.
$6.1M
$59.4M
$8.7M
$7.9M
Most grants fall between $20K and $144K, with a median of $43K.
25th Percentile
$20K
Median
$43K
75th Percentile
$144K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in KS.
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Highly concentrated: few, large grants to a small number of repeat grantees, with multi-grant relationships and a geographic focus on Kansas despite the trust being based in Dallas.
Notable grantees: Walter S & Evan C Jones Foundation, Emporia State University Foundation, Mental Health Center of East Central Kansas
Grantmaking is concentrated in Kansas, with KS as the top state by grant count and 0% of grants to recipients in Texas despite the Dallas headquarters. Emporia appears frequently, including Emporia State University Foundation, Mental Health Ctr of East Central Kansas, Flint Hills Technical College Foundation, Plumb Place, and Sos Inc. Other Kansas recipients include Burlingame, Osage City, Ottawa, Scranton, Lawrence, Burlington, Melvern, and Olpe. All recent grants in the dataset go to US recipients.
The trust supports education, community mental health, local parks and recreation, technical training, and some health-related community services. Recent grants include support for nursing and student programs, literacy, anti-stigma work, a swimming pool, a park, and an advanced manufacturing program.
Yes. Emporia State University Foundation received $1,250,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Mental Health Ctr of East Central Kansas appears in 2024 and 2025, East Central Kansas Economic Opportunity Corp appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and Sos Inc received grants in both 2024 and 2025.
The trust’s typical grant size is $20,000 at the 25th percentile, $43,334 at the median, and $143,690 at the 75th percentile. The recent list also includes several much larger gifts, especially to institutions in Emporia.
Kansas is the top state by grant count, and the recent grant list is entirely made up of US recipients. Emporia is a frequent recipient city, alongside Burlingame, Osage City, Ottawa, Scranton, Lawrence, Burlington, Melvern, and Olpe.
Yes. The foundation’s profile indicates that it funds individuals, alongside institutional grants and support routed through the Walter S & Evan C Jones Foundation.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WALTER S & EVAN C JONES FOUNDATION | EMPORIA, KS | $1,425,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE MEDICAL GRANTS |
| EMPORIA STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | EMPORIA, KS | $1,250,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT NURSING & STUDENT |
| MENTAL HEALTH CTR OF EAST CENTRAL KANSAS | EMPORIA, KS | $507,573 | 2025 | BREAKING GROUND, BREAKING |
| FLINT HILLS TECHNICAL COLLEGE FOUNDATION | EMPORIA, KS | $500,000 | 2025 | ADVANCED MANUFACTURING |
| EMPORIA STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | EMPORIA, KS | $500,000 | 2025 | MOBILIZING LITERACY IN |
| PLUMB PLACE | EMPORIA, KS | $333,333 | 2025 | SUPPORT 100 YEARS CAMPAIGN |
| CITY OF OLPE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT | OLPE, KS | $250,000 | 2025 | OPLE FITNESS PARK - |
| NORTHEAST KANSAS LIBRARY FOUNDATION | LAWRENCE, KS | $200,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY ROOM ADDITION, |
| CITY OF BURLINGAME | BURLINGAME, KS | $166,667 | 2025 | POOL IMPROVEMENTS (PART 3) |
| CITY OF SCRANTON | SCRANTON, KS | $150,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY CENTER & PARK |
| EAST CENTRAL KANSAS ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY CORP | OTTAWA, KS | $150,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| USD # 456 MARAIS DES CYGNES VALLEY | MELVERN, KS | $129,498 | 2025 | SOFTBALL/BASEBALL FIELD |
| SOS INC | EMPORIA, KS | $110,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| CITY OF CARBONDALE | CARBONDALE, KS | $75,000 | 2025 | PARK IMPROVEMENTS - |
| HARTFORD PARK REVITILIZAITON | HARTFORD, KS | $60,000 | 2025 | SPLASH PAD |
| USD # 253 - EMPORIA UNIFIED SCHOOLS | EMPORIA, KS | $50,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT SPARTAN STOP & CAMP |
| USD # 243 - LEBO-WAVERLY PUBLIC SCHOOLS | LEBO, KS | $50,000 | 2025 | TECH IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVE |
| VASSAR COMMUNITY CENTER | VASSAR, KS | $40,000 | 2025 | PLAYGROUND IMPROVEMENTS |
| FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH | EMPORIA, KS | $35,000 | 2025 | EMPORIA SCHOOL SUPPLY |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF SOUTH CENTRAL KS | WICHITA, KS | $30,000 | 2025 | EMPORIA AFTER-SCHOOL |
| IMAGINARIUM INC | EMPORIUM, KS | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| KANSAS BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS INC | WICHITA, KS | $20,000 | 2025 | 1 TO 1 YOUTH MENTORING & |
| CAMP ALEXANDER OF EMPORIA LYON COUNTY KS | EMPORIA, KS | $14,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| USD # 244 - BURLINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS | BURLINGTON, KS | $13,000 | 2025 | TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR |
| EMPORIA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | EMPORIA, KS | $10,000 | 2025 | EMPORIA AREA MATCH DAY |
| SPECIAL OLYMPICS KANSAS INC | MISSION, KS | $5,000 | 2025 | HEALTHY ATHLETES PROJECT |
| WALTER S & EVAN C JONES FOUNDATION | EMPORIA, KS | $1,904,000 | 2024 | FOR EDUCATIONAL & MEDICAL |
| MENTAL HEALTH CTR OF EAST CENTRAL KANSAS | EMPORIA, KS | $1,522,719 | 2024 | BREAKING STIGMA, BREAKING |
| EMPORIA STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | EMPORIA, KS | $1,250,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT NURSING & STUDENT |
| EMPORIA STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | EMPORIA, KS | $1,000,000 | 2024 | MOBILIZING LITERACY IN THE |
| CITY OF BURLINGAME | BURLINGAME, KS | $500,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT SWIMMING POOL |
| USD # 244 - BURLINGTON | BURLINGTON, KS | $250,000 | 2024 | HIGH SCHOOL WELDING SHOP |
| EAST CENTRAL KANSAS ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY CORP (ECKAN) | OTTAWA, KS | $150,000 | 2024 | EMERGENCY SERVICES & |
| USD # 434 - SANTA FE TRAIL | SCRANTON, KS | $124,760 | 2024 | ENHANCING EDUCATION WITH |
| UNITED WAY OF THE FLINT HILLS INC | EMPORIA, KS | $110,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT KCSL-HEALTHY |
| SOS INC | EMPORIA, KS | $110,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| CITY OF OSAGE CITY | OSAGE CITY, KS | $75,000 | 2024 | JONES PARK |
| USD # 456 MARAIS DES CYGNES VALLEY | MELVERN, KS | $65,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT LIBRARY |
| USD # 454 - BURLINGAME | BURLINGAME, KS | $50,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT HS GYMNASIUM |
| CITY OF MELVERN | MELVERN, KS | $45,000 | 2024 | GRANT FOR ROOF REPAIRS |
| USD # 253 - EMPORIA | EMPORIA, KS | $41,667 | 2024 | SUPPORT CAMP HOPE |
| BLOOM HOUSE YOUTH SERVICES INC | EMPORIA, KS | $35,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT FIRE SAFETY PROJECT |
| FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH | EMPORIA, KS | $30,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT EMPORIA SCHOOL |
| EMPORIA STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | EMPORIA, KS | $30,000 | 2024 | ACADEMIC CENTER FOR |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF SOUTH CENTRAL KS | WICHITA, KS | $25,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT AFTER SCHOOL |
| USD # 253 - EMPORIA | EMPORIA, KS | $25,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT SPARTAN STOP |
| EMPORIA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | EMPORIA, KS | $20,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT EMPORIA AREA MATCH |
| KANSAS BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS INC | WICHITA, KS | $16,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY INC | KENNESAW, GA | $15,000 | 2024 | HOPE LODGE KANSAS CITY |
| FRIENDS OF THE TRAIL - MELVERN RIVERFRONT PARKS & TRAILS | MELVERN, KS | $14,430 | 2024 | SUPPORT MELVERN RIVERFRONT |
WALTER S & EVAN C JONES FOUNDATION
$1,425,000CHARITABLE MEDICAL GRANTS
PLUMB PLACE
$333,333SUPPORT 100 YEARS CAMPAIGN
CITY OF OLPE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
$250,000OPLE FITNESS PARK -
NORTHEAST KANSAS LIBRARY FOUNDATION
$200,000COMMUNITY ROOM ADDITION,
CITY OF BURLINGAME
$166,667POOL IMPROVEMENTS (PART 3)
CITY OF SCRANTON
$150,000COMMUNITY CENTER & PARK
EAST CENTRAL KANSAS ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY CORP
$150,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
USD # 456 MARAIS DES CYGNES VALLEY
$129,498SOFTBALL/BASEBALL FIELD
SOS INC
$110,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
CITY OF CARBONDALE
$75,000PARK IMPROVEMENTS -
HARTFORD PARK REVITILIZAITON
$60,000SPLASH PAD
USD # 253 - EMPORIA UNIFIED SCHOOLS
$50,000SUPPORT SPARTAN STOP & CAMP
USD # 243 - LEBO-WAVERLY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
$50,000TECH IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVE
VASSAR COMMUNITY CENTER
$40,000PLAYGROUND IMPROVEMENTS
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
$35,000EMPORIA SCHOOL SUPPLY
IMAGINARIUM INC
$25,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
CAMP ALEXANDER OF EMPORIA LYON COUNTY KS
$14,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
USD # 244 - BURLINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
$13,000TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR
WALTER S & EVAN C JONES FOUNDATION
$1,904,000FOR EDUCATIONAL & MEDICAL
CITY OF BURLINGAME
$500,000SUPPORT SWIMMING POOL
USD # 244 - BURLINGTON
$250,000HIGH SCHOOL WELDING SHOP
EAST CENTRAL KANSAS ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY CORP (ECKAN)
$150,000EMERGENCY SERVICES &
USD # 434 - SANTA FE TRAIL
$124,760ENHANCING EDUCATION WITH
UNITED WAY OF THE FLINT HILLS INC
$110,000SUPPORT KCSL-HEALTHY
SOS INC
$110,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
CITY OF OSAGE CITY
$75,000JONES PARK
USD # 456 MARAIS DES CYGNES VALLEY
$65,000SUPPORT LIBRARY
USD # 454 - BURLINGAME
$50,000SUPPORT HS GYMNASIUM
CITY OF MELVERN
$45,000GRANT FOR ROOF REPAIRS
USD # 253 - EMPORIA
$41,667SUPPORT CAMP HOPE
BLOOM HOUSE YOUTH SERVICES INC
$35,000SUPPORT FIRE SAFETY PROJECT
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
$30,000SUPPORT EMPORIA SCHOOL
USD # 253 - EMPORIA
$25,000SUPPORT SPARTAN STOP
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY INC
$15,000HOPE LODGE KANSAS CITY
FRIENDS OF THE TRAIL - MELVERN RIVERFRONT PARKS & TRAILS
$14,430SUPPORT MELVERN RIVERFRONT