Sunderland Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- Sunderland Foundation directs its funding to Greater Kansas City, so your organisation's work should sit within that priority area and align with one of its five strategic focus areas: affordable housing, economic stability, health and behavioural health, youth development, or select legacy relationships with civic, cultural and educational institutions.
- A realistic request would be modest to mid-sized, as half of its 506 grants to organisations were $250,000 or less, though grants have ranged from $44,500 up to $2,000,000 for most awards, with occasional larger exceptions.
- This is a relationship-led funder rather than a competitive open process: it operates by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited requests, and 58% of its grant dollars went to organisations it had also funded the previous year, so cold applications are unlikely to succeed.
- Given this, organisations that have not been approached by the Foundation should not send unsolicited applications; instead, focus on building visibility and connections within Greater Kansas City's community institutions that might lead to an invitation.
Overview
Sunderland Foundation is a US private foundation based in Overland Park, KS.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Sunderland Foundation focuses on improving quality of life in the communities it serves by funding organisations that strengthen community institutions, support systems and social services. It directs its work towards Greater Kansas City, supporting organisations with expertise and on-the-ground experience. Its strategic focus areas are affordable housing; economic stability, including equitable access to opportunity, quality jobs and capital for entrepreneurship and local investment; health and behavioural health, including affordable, high-quality care and health-care equity; youth development, including quality education and family-centred services; and select legacy relationships with civic, cultural and educational institutions that have shaped the region. Historically, it funded capital projects; its stated approach values organisations’ expertise, equitable communities and attention to root causes and systems that create inequitable outcomes.
Themes
- Affordable housing
- Economic stability
- Health and behavioural health
- Select legacy relationships
- Youth development
Geographic Focus
Priority: Greater Kansas City.
How to apply
The Foundation reaches out to select organisations whose missions align with its five strategic funding focus areas.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2023 filing, 58% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022 and TY2023 filings, half of its 506 grants to organisations were $250,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- The Foundation values organisations’ expertise and on-the-ground experience.
- It is guided by some of Greater Kansas City’s most urgent needs.
- The Foundation values efforts that build just and equitable communities.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2023.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 5%
- The largest single recipient received 14% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2023, 58% of grant dollars went to organisations Sunderland Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 13% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 228 grants in tax year 2023 by size
Median $250k (tax year 2023)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- University of Kansas Endowment Association · 2023 donation cancer center construction$25,000,0002023 tax year
- Childrens Mercy Hospital · Construct pediatiric mental health facility$10,000,0002023 tax year
- University of Washington Foundation · Final payment for haring center$10,000,0002023 tax year
- University of Missouri Kansas City Foundation · Construction health building payment #2$10,000,0002023 tax year
- Kansas City Kansas Community College · Construction of downtown community education center in kck$6,250,0002023 tax year
- Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences · Establish center for population health and equity$5,000,0002023 tax year
- Lakemary Center · Construct 40 bed psychiatric residental treatment center$5,000,0002023 tax year
- Metropolitan Community College Foundation · Construct automotive institute at longview campus$5,000,0002023 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Grant Sunderland — Trustee
- Randy Vance — President, COO
- Michelle Buckner — Trustee
- Emery Golson — Trustee
- Leigh Foster — Trustee
- Jennifer Mayhew — Trustee
- Thomas Sunderland — Trustee
- William Sunderland — Trustee
- Charles Sunderland — Secretary & Treasurer, Trustee
- Kent Sunderland — Chairman, Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
2 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $218,143,931 | $213,771,465 | $1,118,590,774 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $222,464,168 | $218,342,551 | $1,017,130,762 | Filing for 2023 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 Sunderland Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (913) 335-6454
- Overland Park, KS
- sunderland.org
Applying to Sunderland Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (913) 335-6454
- Overland Park, KS
- sunderland.org