Stowers Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $6.2 million (FYE 2024)
• Success Rate: N/A - Invitation only
• Decision Time: Trustee discretion
• Grant Range: $300,000 - $1.2 million (typical)
• Geographic Focus: Colorado, Kansas, Missouri

Contact Details

• Phone: (913) 312-5667
• Address: 6731 W 121st St Ste 206, Leawood, KS 66209-2003
• Website: Not available
• Email: Not publicly available

Overview

The Stowers Foundation is a private foundation established in 2011 by James E. Stowers Jr. and Virginia G. Stowers, who also founded the Stowers Institute for Medical Research. With assets of approximately $89 million as of 2024, the foundation distributes over $6 million annually in grants. The foundation's primary mission is to provide financial support to the Stowers Institute for Medical Research for public outreach, education, and communication programs, while also supporting select charitable organizations in health, education, and community development. The founders, who have committed to The Giving Pledge, have dedicated more than 99% of their wealth to philanthropy, having endowed the Stowers Institute with over $2 billion in gifts over the years.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through trustee-discretion grants with no formal program structure. Recent grants have ranged from $300,000 to $1.2 million, with the largest consistent beneficiary being the Stowers Institute for Medical Research.

Priority Areas

• Medical research support and communication
• Pediatric health and genomic research
• K-12 education operations
• Community and economic development
• Public health outreach and education programs

What They Don't Fund

As an invitation-only funder, the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and limits grants to preselected organizations within their geographic focus area.

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by four trustees, all of whom are children of the founders and serve without compensation:

• Linda Stowers (Trustee)
• Wendy B. Marvin (Trustee/Contact Person)
• Kathleen Stowers Potter (Trustee)
• James E. Stowers III (Trustee)

Grants are approved in advance by the trustees in their absolute discretion, reflecting the founders' strategic approach to philanthropy focused on medical research and community development.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Stowers Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and explicitly does not accept unsolicited applications. All grants are made to preselected charitable organizations chosen by the trustees in their absolute discretion.

Decision Timeline

Decisions are made at the trustees' discretion with no public timeline. The foundation's Form 990 indicates that no direct expenses are incurred in making donations, suggesting a streamlined internal decision process.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation only funds preselected organizations.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - organizations cannot apply directly.

Application Success Factors

Given the invitation-only nature of this foundation, traditional application success factors do not apply. Based on their grant history, organizations that align with their mission include:

• Organizations with direct connections to medical research, particularly genomics and disease research
• Established healthcare institutions serving pediatric populations in the Kansas City region
• Educational institutions in their geographic focus area
• Organizations that can demonstrate significant community impact in Colorado, Kansas, or Missouri

Recent grant examples show a pattern of supporting:

• The Stowers Institute for Medical Research ($1,233,000 for communication and outreach)
• Children's Mercy Hospital ($500,000 for the Kids First Pediatric Genomic Project)
• Gordon Parks Elementary School ($300,000 to fund school operations)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is an invitation-only funder with no public application process
• Focus is heavily weighted toward medical research and the Stowers Institute
• Geographic limitations to Colorado, Kansas, and Missouri
• Large grant sizes typically ranging from $300,000 to over $1 million
• All funding decisions made by family trustees with close ties to the founders
• Organizations cannot proactively apply but should focus on building visibility in the Kansas City philanthropic community
• Consider connections to medical research or pediatric health as potential alignment factors

References

• Cause IQ Foundation Profile. Accessed February 4, 2026. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/stowers-foundation,326176805/
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Stowers Foundation Form 990 Data. Accessed February 4, 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/326176805
• Grantmakers.io Foundation Profile. Accessed February 4, 2026. https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/326176805-stowers-foundation/
• Instrumentl 990 Report - Stowers Foundation. Accessed February 4, 2026. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/stowers-foundation
• The Giving Pledge - Jim and Virginia Stowers. Accessed February 4, 2026. https://givingpledge.org/pledger?pledgerId=297
• Stowers Institute for Medical Research - History and Mission. Accessed February 4, 2026. https://www.stowers.org/history-mission