Kao Family Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests and works by invitation only, so a cold application is unlikely to be considered; a group without an existing link should look first for an introduction.
- Its stated themes are STEM education, health and medical, humanitarian, arts and culture, and environmental sustainability, and it looks for programmes that can continue beyond the funding period, directly affect the issue addressed, and involve constituents in their design.
- Most grants are modest: about 8 in 10 of its 87 grants to organisations fall between $25,000 and $500,000, and half were $58,000 or less, so a request in that region is a realistic size, though its largest grant was about $7,900,000 and that band is not a ceiling.
- The filing shows 36% of grant dollars in its most recent year went to organisations it had also funded in earlier filings, so an existing relationship matters, and its giving has risen each year across the three filings shown, from $3,481,904 to $13,001,297.
- No geographic focus is stated; grants have mainly gone to Illinois, Kansas, Missouri and California, but that reflects where grants have gone, not a rule on who may apply.
Overview
Kao Family Foundation is a US private foundation based in Olathe, KS.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation focuses its support on STEM education, health and medical work, humanitarian activity, arts and culture, and environmental sustainability. It describes its wider mission as seeking enduring impact in education, health, human rights, culture and the environment through transformative programmes and initiatives. Its support encompasses established organisations and new, innovative initiatives with potential for significant impact. It values stakeholder-led, results-driven strategies with long-term programmatic sustainability, and organisations using collaborative, participatory approaches within their communities. In assessing success, it looks for programmes able to continue beyond the funding period, transparent communication and collaboration between funder and grantee, direct impact on the issue addressed, novel or overlooked approaches, and constituent- and stakeholder-led participation.
Themes
- STEM Education
- Health and Medical
- Humanitarian
- Arts and Culture
- Environmental Sustainability
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Illinois, Kansas, Missouri and California.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 36% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 87 grants to organisations were $58,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- The foundation values programmes that can continue beyond its funding period and have lasting impact.
- It values open, honest communication and collaboration between funder and grantee, fostering shared learning.
- It seeks proposals whose funding directly affects the issue or need addressed.
- It values new, innovative, unconventional or overlooked approaches.
- It values constituent- and stakeholder-led participation in grantees’ programmes and strategies.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 6%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 2%
- The largest single recipient received 39% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 36% of grant dollars went to organisations Kao Family Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 17% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 25 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $150k (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- National Taiwan University Academic Development Foundation · Organization's general charitable purposes$7,915,7652024 tax year
- Kao Family Education Foundation · Organization's general charitable purposes$1,055,0002024 tax year
- Children's Mercy · Organization's general charitable purposes$943,7782024 tax year
- Scleroderma Research Foundation · Organization's general charitable purposes$500,0002024 tax year
- Thorn · Organization's general charitable purposes$417,2492024 tax year
- Kansas State University Foundation · Organization's general charitable purposes$212,4902024 tax year
- Missouri University of Science and Technology · Organization's general charitable purposes$203,3182024 tax year
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University · Organization's general charitable purposes$203,3182024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Laurie A Minard — Director
- Adam C Leibsohn — Director
- Nicolas Gonda — Director
- Debra K Pollard — Secretary, Assistant Treasurer
- Jennifer Kao — VP, Director
- Yu-Fan C Kao — Treasurer, Director
- Kenneth Kao — VP, Director
- Min H Kao — President, Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $3,711,657 | $3,481,904 | $78,154,922 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $4,332,702 | $4,063,363 | $107,526,691 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $13,269,208 | $13,001,297 | $151,737,017 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to Kao Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Olathe, KS
- kaofamilyfoundation.org
Applying to Kao Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Olathe, KS
- kaofamilyfoundation.org