The Roman Foundation First Option Trust primarily supports small, local civic and social-service needs in Paola and Miami County, KS — funding capital repairs and equipment as well as direct community programs. Their grants favor town institutions (city services, historical society, libraries), veterans’ and senior services, and local nonprofit program support, often providing one-off capital or capacity-building awards that address concrete, tangible needs.
A $81,552 remodel grant to the Miami County Historical Society Inc. is the clearest signal in Roman Foundation First Option Trust Dept Trustee’s recent giving: this funder backs concrete, local projects that change how community institutions function. The foundation’s grants center on Paola and nearby Miami County organizations, with awards that pay for building repairs, equipment, and direct program costs rather than broad unrestricted support. Recent examples show that pattern across civic facilities, community services, senior support, and local history. In 2024, the foundation also funded a boiler replacement for Vfw of the US Dept of Kansas and rigging-system repairs at the City of Paola community center, both tied to maintaining shared public spaces. Smaller awards follow the same project-specific approach, including support for My Fathers House Community Services Inc. and a matching-funds grant to Miami County Community Foundation. The mix points to a donor advised by practical local needs: one-off awards, tangible outputs, and institutions that serve residents in day-to-day settings.
Historic preservation is one clear thread. Roman Foundation First Option Trust Dept Trustee gave $81,552 to Miami County Historical Society Inc. for a remodel, pairing preservation with building improvement rather than only exhibit support. Civic infrastructure is another major area: the foundation awarded $26,000 to the City of Paola for community center rigging system repairs and $13,860 to the City of Paola for pool updates and repairs, both aimed at keeping municipal facilities usable. Senior mobility also appears in the record, with an $18,150 grant to Paola Senior Center for an accessible mini-van. The foundation also funds community service delivery, including $18,898 to My Fathers House Community Services Inc. for a community service program and $10,000 to All for Moms Foundation Inc. for mission funding and supplies.
The foundation’s recent grants cluster around a typical middle range of $7,500 to $18,898, with a median grant size of $12,500 and a p25 of $7,500. The p75 is $18,898, showing a narrow spread for most awards with a few larger project grants above that band. The 2024 and 2025 records show repeat support to the same recipients, including My Fathers House Community Services Inc. and Miami County Community Foundation, which suggests recurring relationships rather than isolated one-time gifts. This is a trust-style funder with a local, project-specific pattern; grants are restricted to defined purposes such as repairs, matching funds, program costs, and supplies. No application process is shown in the data.
$256K
$2M
$113K
$82K
Most grants fall between $8K and $19K, with a median of $13K.
25th Percentile
$8K
Median
$13K
75th Percentile
$19K
About 100% of grants go to recipients in KS.
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Concentrated, place-based giving in Paola/Miami County with a mix of several relatively large, one-time capital grants and smaller program or matching awards; several repeat grantees indicate ongoing local partnerships rather than broad geographic diversification.
Notable grantees: Miami County Historical Society Inc, VFW of the US Dept of Kansas, City of Paola, My Father's House Community Services Inc, Paola Senior Center
Grantmaking is concentrated entirely in Kansas, with 100% of grants to recipients in the state and the top recipient city appearing repeatedly as Paola. Beyond Paola, recent grants also landed in Lenexa, Lacygne, and Osawatomie, all in Kansas. The record does not show any out-of-state or non-U.S. recipients. This is a local giving pattern centered on Miami County and nearby communities rather than broad regional or national distribution.
The recent grants point to capital repairs, equipment, and direct service programs. Examples include a remodel for Miami County Historical Society Inc., boiler replacement support for Vfw of the US Dept of Kansas, rigging repairs for the City of Paola community center, and an accessible mini-van for Paola Senior Center.
The recent grant record shows 14 grants to U.S. recipients, and 100% of grants were given to recipients in Kansas. The funded cities include Paola, Lenexa, Lacygne, and Osawatomie.
Typical awards are relatively small and project-based: the p25 is $7,500, the median is $12,500, and the p75 is $18,898. Recent grants range from $1,500 to $81,552, with most awards clustered near the median.
Yes. My Fathers House Community Services Inc. received two grants, $18,898 in 2025 and $12,500 in 2024. Miami County Community Foundation also appears twice, with $12,500 in 2024 and $3,375 in 2025.
The record includes historic preservation, civic facility maintenance, senior transportation, community service programs, library programming, and school enrichment. Named examples include Miami County Historical Society Inc., Paola Senior Center, Friends of Library District #2 of Linn County, and Usd #367 Osawatomie High School.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MY FATHERS HOUSE COMMUNITY SERVICES INC | PAOLA, KS | $18,898 | 2025 | COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM |
| ALL FOR MOMS FOUNDATION INC | LENEXA, KS | $10,000 | 2025 | MISSION FUNDING/SUPPLIES |
| MIAMI COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | PAOLA, KS | $3,375 | 2025 | MATCHING FUNDS/CAPACITY |
| MIAMI COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC | PAOLA, KS | $81,552 | 2024 | REMODEL |
| VFW OF THE US DEPT OF KANSAS | PAOLA, KS | $45,000 | 2024 | FBO BPO ELKS TO REPLACE BOILER |
| CITY OF PAOLA | PAOLA, KS | $26,000 | 2024 | PAOLA COMMUNITY CENTER RIGGING SYSTEM REPAIRS |
| PAOLA SENIOR CENTER | PAOLA, KS | $18,150 | 2024 | ACCESSIBLE MINI-VAN |
| CITY OF PAOLA | PAOLA, KS | $13,860 | 2024 | POOL UPDATES/REPAIRS |
| MY FATHERS HOUSE COMMUNITY SERVICES INC | PAOLA, KS | $12,500 | 2024 | COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM |
| MIAMI COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | PAOLA, KS | $12,500 | 2024 | MATCHING FUNDS/CAPACITY |
| FRIENDS OF LIBRARY DISTRICT #2 OF LINN COUNTY | LACYGNE, KS | $7,500 | 2024 | PROGRAM COSTS/SPECIAL PROGRAMS |
| PRAIRIE VIEW EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION | LACYGNE, KS | $5,000 | 2024 | WEATHER BALLOON LAUNCH |
| USD #367 OSAWATOMIE HIGH SCHOOL | OSAWATOMIE, KS | $1,500 | 2024 | TEACHER SUMMER CAMP |
MY FATHERS HOUSE COMMUNITY SERVICES INC
$18,898COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM
ALL FOR MOMS FOUNDATION INC
$10,000MISSION FUNDING/SUPPLIES
MIAMI COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$3,375MATCHING FUNDS/CAPACITY
MIAMI COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC
$81,552REMODEL
VFW OF THE US DEPT OF KANSAS
$45,000FBO BPO ELKS TO REPLACE BOILER
CITY OF PAOLA
$26,000PAOLA COMMUNITY CENTER RIGGING SYSTEM REPAIRS
PAOLA SENIOR CENTER
$18,150ACCESSIBLE MINI-VAN
CITY OF PAOLA
$13,860POOL UPDATES/REPAIRS
MY FATHERS HOUSE COMMUNITY SERVICES INC
$12,500COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM
MIAMI COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$12,500MATCHING FUNDS/CAPACITY
FRIENDS OF LIBRARY DISTRICT #2 OF LINN COUNTY
$7,500PROGRAM COSTS/SPECIAL PROGRAMS
PRAIRIE VIEW EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
$5,000WEATHER BALLOON LAUNCH
USD #367 OSAWATOMIE HIGH SCHOOL
$1,500TEACHER SUMMER CAMP