The Ina Calkins Board, established through the estate of Mrs. Ina Calkins, widow of A. W. Calkins, aims to support the physical, educational, and social needs of individuals and nonprofits within Kansas City, MO, with a focus on promoting total abstinence from alcohol, supporting the elderly and children, providing medical and educational aid, and backing local educational and YMCA/YWCA establishments. Since 1930, it continues to administer funds to those of high character interested in aiding their fellow man.
The Ina Calkins Board Grant program distributes approximately $200,000 annually to a selected group of 501(c)(3) nonprofits in the Kansas City, MO, area, in alignment with the directives outlined by Ina Calkins. These include supporting organizations that educate on the benefits of abstaining from alcohol, meeting the needs of the elderly, caring for dependent children, providing medical aid to crippled or deformed children, facilitating education in social service, endowing local colleges and universities, and funding YMCAs and YWCAs. All beneficiaries must reside or be based within Kansas City, MO, except for initiatives promoting alcohol abstinence, which have no geographical limit. Decisions are communicated by the end of November each year.