Quality Education and Health Programs in Kansas and Missouri

The Taylor S. Abernathy & Patti Harding Abernathy Charitable Trust was established in 1988 with the mission of supporting religious, charitable, scientific, and educational purposes. Managed through Bank of America’s Missouri Philanthropic Solutions Office, the trust focuses its resources on quality educational, cultural, human services, and health care programming. Its funding is concentrated in the Greater Kansas City Metropolitan Area, which includes regions in both Kansas and Missouri. Grants provided by the Abernathy Charitable Trust are awarded annually and are limited to one-year durations. They support both general operating and program-specific expenses. However, the trust does not consider applications for capital support such as buildings, land, or major equipment. The types of programs eligible for funding are typically aligned with five broad categories: arts, culture, and humanities; education; health; human services; and community improvement and capacity building. Projects should address community needs with clear goals and demonstrate significant impact within the specified region. The application deadline is May 31, and all applications must be submitted online through the Bank of America Philanthropic Solutions grantmaking portal. Applicants are advised to submit their applications before the due date as no extensions are granted if the deadline falls on a weekend or holiday. Organizations are typically notified of funding decisions by the end of September. Only one application per organization per year is permitted for foundations supporting the same geographic region, with some exceptions for those working in distinct areas or applying to different foundations with unique geographic scopes. Applicants are required to review the individual foundation detail pages on the Bank of America website to ensure alignment with the trust’s priorities. Bank of America staff may redirect a proposal to another more appropriate foundation if they believe it increases the likelihood of funding. The application process involves multiple stages of review, potentially including site visits or interviews. Larger requests or complex proposals may take longer to process. After receiving funding, organizations must submit a grant report within one year of the application date, detailing the project’s outcomes, challenges, expenditures, and plans for continuation. Failure to submit this report can result in ineligibility for future funding. For application-related inquiries or assistance, the contact person for the Taylor S. Abernathy & Patti Harding Abernathy Charitable Trust is Tony Twyman, SVP and Sr. Philanthropic Client Manager at Bank of America. He can be reached via email at tony.twyman@bofa.com or by phone at 816-292-4342. Additional support is available at mo.grantmaking@bofa.com.