We fund only organizations with a 501(c)3, organizations with a nonprofit fiscal agent, and some school systems.
We support programs and organizations that promote peace and justice and demonstrate respect and appreciation for human diversity in all its forms, such as race, culture, religion, gender, ability, sexual orientation, and social class.
We prefer to fund innovative projects proposed by established organizations with a track record of innovation. Many times such projects require 2 or more years to come to completion, and we are open to renewing a grant twice, with these conditions:
The project must show adequate progress to receive subsequent-year funding; and
By the second year, the organization must have at least one other major source of funding for the project or program.
An organization that has received 3 consecutive years of funding from us must wait at least 3 years to re-apply.
We fund some organizational strengthening projects, e.g., capacity-building or operating funds, when we are satisfied that an organization has prepared itself to attain the next level of effectiveness.
Generally we do not fund start-up organizations, nor do we provide the majority of funding for an organization, program or project.
We strongly prefer to do a site visit before an organization makes full application.
Most grants in the Social Justice and Education categories go to organizations in the Kansas City region, where site visits can be made within a day.
Occasionally, we make a Social Justice grant in a state of the U. S. which has very few private foundations.
We only fund out-of-region organizations with national activity and for programs or projects with national scope
Our Spirituality grants go to programs that assist people in understanding and expressing their deepest, most compassionate selves through service, and in appreciating what is fine and noble in all religions. We also support programs that teach and practice nonviolent conflict resolution.
Our Social Justice grants promote the welfare of groups of people who have been disadvantaged through no action or responsibility of their own. We specifically focus on domestic violence prevention and the development of leadership capability among disadvantaged youth.
Environmental grants go to organizations that seek to enrich our natural environment, lessen global warming, improve animal welfare, and/or educate human beings to work toward these purposes.
Within Education, we favor projects that show the fascination and potentiality of math, physical science, engineering, and the Arts to young people who otherwise might not receive such exposure. We also support early childhood (0-3 years) education.
Organizations and programs that address two or more of our funding areas have an improved chance of receiving a grant.
