WILLIAM T. KEMPER FOUNDATION

Contact information:

118 West 47th Street
Kansas City, MO 64112
Phone: 816-234-2112

Type of foundation: Independent

Types of grants: Project, general operating, capital, equipment.

Description: William T. Kemper was a prominent banker and founder of Commerce Bank. The major giving interests of the William T. Kemper Foundation are human services, education, civic affairs and the arts.

Sample grants:

• $100,000 to KCPT Public Television (2007).
• $80,000 to Friends of Chamber Music (2007).
• $25,000 to KCPT (2008).
• $20,000 to Rag Tag Programming for Film and Media Art (2008).
• $10,000 to Literacy Kansas City (2007).
• $7,333 to High Plains Public Radio (2008).

Fit for public broadcasting: The Foundation has a good history of supporting public media as part of its overall funding of community institutions in its region. Stations may benefit from consistently emphasizing their central role as community institutions and the ways in which their work converges with the Foundation's key interests. 

Eligibility: Grants are given primarily in Missouri, Kansas and western Illinois.

Deadline: Board meetings are held quarterly. Application deadlines are three weeks prior to each board meeting. 

How to apply: Application guidelines are available from the Foundation. Potential applicants should contact the Foundation to discuss their proposal prior to submission.

Giving range: Grants generally range up to $100,000. A few are higher. 

Assets: $207,876,527 (year ending October 31, 2008)

Total giving: $13,478,471 (year ending October 31, 2008)