Kao Family Education Foundation
Kao Family Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation established by Dr. Min H. Kao and based in Olathe, Kansas. The foundation supports work in STEM education, health & medical, humanitarian relief, arts & culture, and environmental sustainability and publishes a detailed grants list on its site. The website lists board and management members and provides a contact email.
Source: Website · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
An educational institution or program (often schools or universities) proposing skills‑development or STEM-related courses with project-based budgets in the typical $5K–$50K range and a demonstrable alignment with the foundation’s published grant purposes.
Good Fit
- • Proposes STEM or skills-development courses for students or communities.
- • Is an established school, vocational program, or higher-education partner.
- • Seeks project‑level support in the typical small‑to‑mid grant sizes the foundation awards.
- • Can demonstrate local impact in the regions where the foundation has previously funded.
- • Has an existing relationship or referral into the foundation’s network (increases likelihood of selection).
Geography
In the latest year grants reached recipients across 59 distinct subnational regions, and nearly all giving went outside the foundation’s home state, indicating a geographically broad footprint.
Recipient Variety
The latest year shows 90 distinct recipients and three years of data show many returning recipients alongside new ones, with most grants going to independent schools, universities, and similar institutions rather than a tiny closed circle.
New Applicants
The foundation declares a preselection-only process, which limits direct application; however, observed giving included 17 new recipients in the latest year (about 19%), so new entrants do appear in the portfolio even if access is primarily invitation- or relationship-driven.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
