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Patterson Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$51.3M
Grant Range
$25K - $7.2M
Decision Time
4mo

Patterson Family Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $51,322,857 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $1.4 billion
  • Grant Range: $25,000 - $7,200,000
  • Number of Grants: 301 (2023, record high)
  • Median Grant: $94,000
  • Geographic Focus: Rural Kansas and western Missouri (counties with fewer than 50,000 residents)
  • Decision Time: 3-5 months (from LOI to decision)

Contact Details

Address: 300 Wyandotte Street, Suite 301, Kansas City, MO 64105
Phone: 833-614-2450
Email: info@pffkc.org or support@pffkc.org
Website: https://pattersonfamilyfoundation.org
Grants Portal: pffkc.my.site.com/community/s/

Pre-Application Support: The foundation offers free Office Hours (1–3 PM) for applicants. Reserve by emailing support@pffkc.org with preferred date and three discussion topics.

Overview

The Patterson Family Foundation was founded in 2007 by Neal and Jeanne Patterson. Neal was the co-founder and longtime CEO of Cerner Corporation, a major healthcare IT provider, with an estimated net worth of $1.5 billion at the time of his death in 2017. Jeanne, employee #7 at Cerner, also founded First Hand Foundation, which has provided financial assistance to over 300,000 children across 100+ countries. Following the couple's deaths within months of each other in 2017, the foundation's endowment ballooned more than 500-fold to $1.4 billion, making it one of the 20 largest private foundations in the Midwest and the second-largest in Missouri. At the current endowment level, annual payouts should reach at least $70 million.

The foundation's mission is "Working together to help rural communities thrive," carried forward through strategic grantmaking and collaborative initiatives serving rural counties across Kansas and western Missouri. In 2023, the foundation issued 301 grants totaling $51.3 million—both record highs—representing a dramatic increase from 69 awards in 2022. The foundation sent nearly three-quarters of its grant dollars to Kansas-based organizations (108 grants, $49.6 million) and most of the rest to Missouri (44 grants, $16.0 million).

In September 2024, Maria Flynn became president and CEO, bringing extensive entrepreneurship and healthcare technology experience. She is a fifth-generation Kansas wheat farmer with a deep appreciation for rural communities. Under her leadership, the foundation launched a major restructured grantmaking approach in April 2025, expanding access across all four priority areas simultaneously.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs (2025 Competitive Cycle)

The foundation operates through a competitive, two-round application process with specific categories:

Economic Opportunity

  • Entrepreneurship & Business Support: $50,000–$1,000,000 (excludes co-working spaces without programming and capital-only requests)
  • Trades Workforce Development: $50,000–$1,000,000
  • Childcare: $100,000–$500,000 (ages birth-5; excludes Pre-K, after-school, and summer programs)
  • Innovation in Economic Opportunity: $25,000–$500,000

Education

  • High School Career & Technical Education: $50,000–$500,000 (excludes capital and existing staff compensation)
  • Advanced & Specialized Course Access: $50,000–$500,000 (AP, dual-credit, IB, STEM)
  • Teacher Pipeline: $50,000–$500,000 (recruitment and "grow your own" initiatives)
  • Innovation in Education: $25,000–$500,000

Healthcare

  • Preventative Care Access: $100,000–$500,000 (mobile health, telehealth, community health workers)
  • Specialty Care Access: $100,000–$500,000
  • Healthcare Workforce Development: $100,000–$750,000
  • Innovation in Healthcare: $250,000–$500,000

Community Engagement

  • Youth Engagement: $50,000–$500,000 (excludes capital, advocacy, scholarships, sports)
  • Innovation in Community Engagement: $25,000–$500,000

Special Programs

  • Rural Community Foundation Match Program: Up to $70,000 for qualifying community foundations to support match day events (1:1 match to original donor gift)
  • Community Foundation Capacity Building: Support for dedicated staff members at community foundations
  • Rural Hospital Equipment and Telehealth: For nonprofit rural hospitals seeking medical equipment, supplies, or telehealth expansion
  • Rural EMS Programs: Supporting emergency medical services in rural areas

Multi-Year Funding: Available based on project complexity, with up to 3-year grants anticipated.

Capital Projects: Require 60% funding from other sources; Patterson Family Foundation covers up to 20% of total cost with a maximum of $2,000,000.

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses on four interconnected priority areas:

  1. Economic Opportunity: Growing and retaining talent, attracting former and new residents, investing in opportunities that strengthen and diversify local and regional economies
  2. Education: Supporting teachers, providing hands-on learning opportunities, and preparing students for future careers through high-quality education systems
  3. Healthcare: Expanding healthcare workforce capacity, improving access to essential services, and enhancing health outcomes in rural communities
  4. Community Engagement: Driving grassroots engagement, empowering multi-generational leaders, supporting volunteerism, and strengthening regional partnerships

What They Don't Fund

Based on specific grant category exclusions:

  • Co-working spaces without programming (Economic Opportunity)
  • Capital-only requests for entrepreneurship/business support
  • Pre-K, after-school, and summer programs (Childcare category)
  • Existing staff compensation without new programming (Career & Technical Education)
  • Capital projects (Youth Engagement category)
  • Advocacy programs (Youth Engagement)
  • Scholarships (Youth Engagement)
  • Sports programs (Youth Engagement)
  • Rent, utilities, or building maintenance (Specialty Care Access)
  • County Fair Association endorsements or supplements (Community Foundation Match)
  • Organizations outside Kansas and western Missouri counties with fewer than 50,000 residents
  • Indirect costs: Capped at 15% of total budget

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

The board includes the couple's two children and two of Neal's children from a prior marriage:

  • Lindsey Patterson Smith: Board Chair; served as President for nearly seven years until August 2023; remains deeply committed and actively participates
  • Clay Patterson: Board member; son of Neal from prior marriage
  • Cortney Patterson Barton: Board member; daughter of Neal and Jeanne
  • William Patterson: Board member; son of Neal and Jeanne

Executive Leadership

Maria Flynn, President & CEO (September 2024–present)

  • Founded and served as CEO of Orbis Biosciences (pharmaceutical manufacturing technology company acquired by Adare Pharmaceuticals)
  • Managing Director at Techstars Kansas City
  • Director at Cerner Corporation with P&L responsibility
  • Founded Ambiologix consulting firm
  • Author of Make Opportunity Happen: The Entrepreneur's Guide to Align Your Own Stars (2024)
  • Education: University of Chicago, Stanford University, Kansas State University
  • Recognition: Entrepreneur Magazine's Entrepreneurial Women to Watch, Pipeline Entrepreneurs' Inspiration Award

Quote: "Growing up on a farm makes me appreciate rural communities. Twenty percent of Americans live in rural America, but only six percent of philanthropy reaches them."

Jessica Hunt, Vice President of Strategy and Programs

  • Joined 2019, promoted to VP in 2020
  • Oversees multimillion-dollar annual portfolio across all four priority areas

Quotes: "About 20 percent of Americans live in rural areas but only about 7 percent of philanthropy goes back into those rural communities... when you think about removing philanthropy that goes into universities in rural settings, that philanthropic investment decreases to about 5 percent of total philanthropy."

On partnerships: "We share that network of resources to help communities develop solutions that are community-ready and right-sized for the challenges that they're trying to solve."

Chris Harris, Senior Director of Programs

Quotes on the 2025 strategic shift: "Prior to this, we had selected what we perceived as being the most urgent needs. The reality is there's urgency in every single one of these sectors, and so we wanted to open it up, scale it, and allow more access to more communities across all of our priority areas at once."

"We talk about the lack of progress in a rural community, and I want to celebrate the massive progress they've made despite the lack of resources other places might have."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Patterson Family Foundation uses a competitive, two-round online application process through their grants portal. Applications outside this process are not accepted.

2025 Application Timeline:

MilestoneRound 1Round 2
LaunchApril 1April 19
Registration DeadlineApril 15July 1
Letter of Intent DueApril 18July 3
Full Application DueMay 9July 25
Funding DecisionsAugust 2025October 2025

Step-by-Step Process:

  1. Register in the Grants Portal at pffkc.my.site.com/community/s/ (approval required before access granted)
  2. Submit Letter of Intent describing organization and project (~30 minutes to complete)
  3. Receive Feedback: Foundation evaluates alignment with priorities
  4. Submit Full Application (if invited; ~45 minutes–1 hour) including:
    • IRS Letter of Determination
    • Most recent 990 and audit
    • Organization and project budgets
    • Board-adopted policies (anti-discrimination, conflict of interest, whistleblower)
    • Relevant supporting documentation
  5. Receive Funding Decision via formal award letter

Important Application Rules:

  • Applicants are restricted to one Letter of Intent per cycle per organization
  • Late submissions are not accepted
  • No public announcements should be made until formal award letter is received
  • The foundation states: "Unfortunately, the Foundation is unable to fund all requests" (competitive process)

Decision Timeline

  • Round 1: LOI due April 18, full application due May 9, decision by August 2025 (approximately 4 months from LOI to decision)
  • Round 2: LOI due July 3, full application due July 25, decision by October 2025 (approximately 3 months from LOI to decision)
  • Notifications are sent via formal award letters

Success Rates

Specific success rate percentages are not publicly disclosed. However:

  • In 2023, the foundation made 301 grants (record high) totaling $51.3 million
  • This represented a significant increase from 69 awards in 2022
  • The foundation's largest checks have gone to the Kansas Association of Community Foundations (six grants totaling $16.6 million between 2022–2023)
  • Other major recipients include Kansas Children's Cabinet and Trust Fund ($2.5 million in 2023) and Kansas Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies ($2 million in 2022)

Reapplication Policy

The foundation has not publicly disclosed a specific reapplication policy for unsuccessful applicants. Applicants should contact the foundation directly at support@pffkc.org to inquire about reapplication guidelines.

Application Success Factors

Advice from the Foundation

Think Boldly and Long-Term: Chris Harris emphasized that communities should "think boldly" and move beyond immediate "windshield problems." The foundation seeks organizations that understand the underlying causes of challenges and their long-term impacts, not just surface-level issues.

Demonstrate Deep Understanding: Harris explained, "We're looking for organizations and communities that understand the challenge"—including its origins, long-term impacts, proposed solutions, and ability to mobilize others.

Community-Ready Solutions: Jessica Hunt noted the foundation provides "networks and resources to help communities develop solutions that are community-ready and right-sized for the challenges that they're trying to solve." Applications should demonstrate how solutions fit the specific community context.

Entrepreneurial Thinking: Under Maria Flynn's leadership, the foundation has emphasized entrepreneurial approaches. Hunt observed that Flynn "has really pushed the team in our thinking on how we help catalyze rural communities." Applications demonstrating innovative, catalytic approaches aligned with this mindset may resonate well.

Celebrate Progress: Harris stated, "We talk about the lack of progress in a rural community, and I want to celebrate the massive progress they've made despite the lack of resources other places might have." Frame applications to acknowledge existing community strengths and assets while addressing challenges.

Use Office Hours: The foundation offers free Office Hours (1–3 PM) for applicants to ask questions. Reserve by emailing support@pffkc.org with your preferred date and three discussion topics. This is a valuable opportunity to get clarity and ensure alignment before submitting.

Recent Funded Projects (Examples)

  • Washburn University School of Law: $1 million to expand the Rural Legal Practice Network and Externship Program (2024)
  • Kansas Leadership Center: Multi-year grant in collaboration with Kansas Association of Community Foundations for Community Foundation Leadership Initiative, including leadership training and coaching for community foundation grantees (starting fall 2024)
  • University of Kansas Medical Center: $12 million grant to boost access to specialty care in rural Kansas
  • Kansas Children's Cabinet and Trust Fund: $2.5 million (2023)
  • Kansas Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies: $2 million (2022)
  • Heartland Community Foundation: Multiple grants for rural community support

Application Strengths

Based on the foundation's stated priorities and approach:

  • Clear demonstration of understanding the root causes of challenges, not just symptoms
  • Evidence of community engagement and ability to mobilize stakeholders
  • Innovative, bold approaches that go beyond incremental improvements
  • Right-sized solutions appropriate for rural community context
  • Multi-sector collaboration across economic opportunity, education, healthcare, and community engagement
  • Long-term vision with sustainable impact beyond the grant period
  • Alignment with one of the specific 2025 grant categories with realistic budget requests within stated ranges

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Geographic Eligibility is Strict: Only organizations in or serving Kansas and western Missouri counties with fewer than 50,000 residents are eligible. Verify your county population before applying.

  2. The 2025 Strategic Shift Favors Bold Thinking: The foundation moved from invitation-only to open competitive grants in 2025 to increase access. They want communities to "think boldly" beyond immediate surface problems—focus on root causes and transformative solutions.

  3. One Application Per Cycle: You can only submit one Letter of Intent per application cycle, so choose your strongest, most aligned project. Be strategic about which round to enter based on your readiness.

  4. Leverage Office Hours: Free office hours are available to discuss your project before applying. Use this opportunity to validate alignment, ask questions, and refine your approach. Email support@pffkc.org to schedule.

  5. Multi-Year Grants Available: Don't limit yourself to one-year projects. The foundation anticipates offering grants up to 3 years for complex projects. If your work requires sustained investment, make the case.

  6. Capital Funding is Limited but Available: Capital projects must have 60% funding from other sources; the foundation will cover maximum 20% of total cost up to $2 million. Come with other funders already committed.

  7. Rural Philanthropy Gap is Their Mission: Only 5-7% of philanthropy reaches rural communities despite 20% of Americans living there. Frame your application in terms of addressing this gap and demonstrating why rural investment matters.

  8. Community Foundation Partnerships Valued: The foundation's largest grants have gone to the Kansas Association of Community Foundations and local community foundations. If you're a community foundation or partnering with one, highlight this.

  9. Registration Required Before Application: You must register in the grants portal and receive approval before you can access application materials. Don't wait until the last minute—register well before deadlines.

  10. Deadlines are Absolute: Late submissions are not accepted. Plan to submit early to avoid technical issues.

References

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