About Us
The Sunderland Foundation was founded in 1945 by Lester T. Sunderland, then president of the Ash Grove Cement Company, as a way to strengthen the communities that supported the business. As the Foundation grew, its commitment to improving the quality of life for these communities grew alongside it.
Today, that same intention guides the Foundation’s work as it focuses its resources on the needs of the Greater Kansas City community, the Foundation’s origin city, and the nonprofit partners who serve it.
Our Mission
The Sunderland Foundation seeks to support those most in need in the Greater Kansas City area.
Our Values
Sunderland Foundation partnerships and community investments are rooted in three core values:
- Supporting the expertise and on-the-ground experience of organizations.
- Empowering efforts that build just and equitable communities.
- Examining root causes and the systems that create inequitable outcomes.
History of The Sunderland Foundation
The Sunderland Foundation was founded in 1945 by Lester T. Sunderland, then president of the Ash Grove Cement Company. His intent in creating the Foundation was to give back to the communities where Ash Grove employees lived and worked.
For decades, the Foundation grew alongside Ash Grove, supporting efforts that strengthened community hospitals, educational institutions, civic spaces and essential social services across the Midwest and Pacific Northwest.
After Ash Grove was acquired in 2018, the Foundation’s resources increased significantly, enabling the Foundation to commit even more support to the communities it served. The Foundation has granted more than $1 billion in its lifetime.
Today, the Foundation is taking steps to honor its history while focusing on the future of Greater Kansas City, where the Foundation began. After careful consideration, the Foundation is initiating a planned spend-out of its remaining resources by 2030 within the Greater Kansas City region. By accelerating its giving, the Foundation seeks to more immediately and effectively improve the quality of life for individuals across the region.
Leadership & Trustees
The Sunderland Foundation is guided by trustees committed to ensuring the Foundation’s resources support organizations making a meaningful impact within Greater Kansas City.