John W. Speas & Effie E. Speas Memorial Trust Fund

The John W. Speas & Effie E. Speas Memorial Trust, established in 1943, operates under the management of the Missouri office of Bank of America Private Bank. The trust’s central mission is to support nonprofit organizations serving the Greater Kansas City Metropolitan Area by promoting quality programming in education, cultural enrichment, health care, and human services. Through its annual grantmaking, the trust contributes to strengthening community institutions and improving access to essential services. Grants awarded through the Speas Memorial Trust are strictly for one-year durations and support both general operating and program-specific expenses. However, requests for capital support, including buildings, land, or major equipment, are not considered. The foundation emphasizes support for organizations addressing critical needs in arts and humanities, health, human services, education, and capacity building. Specific funding preferences include services for underserved populations, educational initiatives for disadvantaged students, access to the arts, and strategic organizational development. Eligibility is limited to organizations serving the Greater Kansas City Metropolitan Area within Kansas and Missouri. Nonprofits must demonstrate alignment with the foundation’s mission and programmatic focus areas. The trust does not fund individuals, endowments, government services like fire or police departments, or stand-alone publications unless part of a broader initiative. Applications are submitted online through Bank of America's Philanthropic Solutions portal. The annual application deadline is July 31, and all submissions must be completed by 11:59 PM Central Time on that date. No deadline extensions are granted if the date falls on a weekend or federal holiday. Applicants are advised to begin the process early to ensure technical support availability during business hours. Applicants are notified of funding decisions by the end of October. Grant reports are required within one year of the application date, regardless of whether funds are fully spent. Organizations with active grants are ineligible to apply to the same group of Missouri foundations until the end of their grant period. For questions or technical issues during the application process, applicants may contact the Missouri grantmaking office at mo.grantmaking@bofa.com. The grant operates on an annual cycle, and the next expected due date is July 31, 2026. The trust emphasizes thoughtful alignment with its priorities and geographic scope, and applicants are encouraged to use the Bank of America website’s search features and resources to confirm their eligibility and foundation fit prior to submission.

Begin application process early to ensure technical support access during business hours; adhere strictly to geographic and programmatic guidelines; confirm eligibility via foundation search.