Kansas Sampler Foundation
Kansas Sampler Foundation is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit that preserves rural Kansas culture through guidebooks, the Kansas Explorers Club, the Big Kansas Road Trip, and the We Kan! community-leader network, serving the state's 626 small towns and curious Kansas travelers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersInman, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Kansas Sampler Foundation does
Kansas Sampler Foundation is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit founded in 1993 by Mil Penner and Marci Penner, headquartered on a farm near Inman, Kansas. Its mission is to preserve and sustain rural Kansas culture by educating Kansans about their state and by networking and supporting rural communities. The foundation operates a portfolio of programs targeting small Kansas towns (75% of the state's 626 incorporated cities have populations under 1,500): the Kansas Guidebook 2 for Explorers (a 480-page physical book covering all 105 Kansas counties with 4,500+ entries), the newly launched Online Kansas Guidebook at kansasguidebook.org (May 2026, 5,000+ entries with 18,000+ photos and member-only trip-planning tools), the Kansas Explorers Club membership program, the annual Big Kansas Road Trip county showcase, the We Kan! Network of rural community leaders, the PowerUp Movement for young rural professionals, and the 8 Wonders of Kansas contest/guidebook.
The foundation's underlying technology is a proprietary content platform spanning physical publications, an event-driven community program, and the recently launched digital guidebook with curated exploration routes and member tools. Its business model is diversified across low-friction recurring membership fees ($18.61 single / $30 family annually), one-time book and merchandise sales through e-commerce and statewide retail ($29.95 and $40 per guidebook), event registration fees ($60-$75 for We Kan! Conference and Big Rural Brainstorm), and multi-year foundation grants — most recently a three-year Patterson Family Foundation grant supporting strategic plan implementation, leadership transition, and program expansion. The organization operates with approximately three full-time staff plus remote support and is currently undergoing a leadership transition with Simone Elder appointed as incoming Executive Director in late 2025.
Kansas Sampler Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kansas Sampler Foundation
- Legal name
- Kansas Sampler Foundation
- Website
- https://kansassampler.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Kansas Sampler Foundation is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit that preserves rural Kansas culture through guidebooks, the Kansas Explorers Club, the Big Kansas Road Trip, and the We Kan! community-leader network, serving the state's 626 small towns and curious Kansas travelers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Kansas Sampler Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Rural Community Development and Cultural Preservation Services
- NAICS
- Tour Operators (56152), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Guided Tours & Interpretive Services (Ranger-Led, Naturalist, Cultural Interpretation) (THAAAGAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- School Group & Curriculum-Led Trips (THAKAGAB)
Keywords
Where Kansas Sampler Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Inman
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Kansas Sampler Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Membership Fees: Kansas Explorers Club membership with single ($18.61/year) and family ($30/year) tiers providing bimonthly newsletters, trip planning tools, and access to Big Kansas Road Trip events
- Book and Merchandise Sales: Sale of Kansas Guidebook 2 for Explorers ($29.95), 8 Wonders of Kansas Guidebook ($40), apparel, and accessories through e-commerce store
- Foundation Grants: Multi-year grants from foundations including Patterson Family Foundation to support organizational sustainability, leadership transition, and program expansion including Kansas Explorers Club growth and Kansas Guidebook Online launch
- Event Revenue: Registration fees for We Kan! Conference ($75), Big Rural Brainstorm ($60), and other educational events for rural community development
- Kansas Sampler Festival: Ticket sales for annual festival celebrating Kansas culture with $5 adult / $3 child admission (discontinued after 2017)
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Single Kansas Explorers Club membership |
| Subscription | Annual | Family Kansas Explorers Club membership |
| One time/ perpetual license | One time/ perpetual license | Kansas Guidebook 2 for Explorers |
| One time/ perpetual license | One time/ perpetual license | 8 Wonders of Kansas Guidebook |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | We Kan! Conference registration |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Big Rural Brainstorm registration |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Kansas Sampler Festival admission |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Kansas Sampler Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Kansas Sampler Foundation publishes statewide Kansas travel guidebooks (print and online) covering all 626 incorporated cities, runs the Kansas Explorers Club membership program with trip-planning tools, and operates rural community showcase events and networking programs (Big Kansas Road Trip, We Kan! Network, 8 Wonders of Kansas) that connect rural community leaders and educate Kansans about their state.
Product overview
The Kansas Sampler Foundation operates a portfolio of programs focused on preserving and sustaining rural Kansas culture through education and community support. The core offerings include the Kansas Guidebook 2 for Explorers (physical book) and the Online Kansas Guidebook (website launched 2026) for exploring Kansas places; the Kansas Explorers Club membership providing newsletter and trip-planning benefits; the Big Kansas Road Trip annual county showcases; the We Kan! Network connecting rural community leaders through conferences, awards, and events; the PowerUp Movement for young rural residents; and the 8 Wonders of Kansas contest/guidebook identifying notable sites across 8 culture elements. The Kansas Sampler Festival (legacy product) ran 1990-2017 before transitioning to the Big Kansas Road Trip format.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Kansas Explorers Club: A membership club created to inspire, educate, and encourage the exploration and appreciation of Kansas with members receiving trip-planning tools, newsletters, and access to the online Kansas Guidebook.
- Big Kansas Road Trip
- We Kan!
- PowerUp Movement
- Kansas Guidebook 2 for Explorers
- 8 Wonders of Kansas
- Rural by Choice
Products and services
- Kansas Guidebook 2 for Explorers A 480-page physical guide covering all 626 incorporated cities in Kansas with 4,500+ entries including 800+ local restaurants, 1,600+ color pictures, directions, hours, and contact information for places across 520 towns. Sold at retail stores and gift shops statewide.
- Online Kansas Guidebook Free-to-explore website at kansasguidebook.org with 5,000+ places and 18,000+ photos across all 105 Kansas counties. Kansas Explorers Club members gain access to enhanced trip-planning tools including Kansas bucket list creation, personal reviews, and curated exploration routes. Updates as places open, close, change hours, or add something new.
- 8 Wonders of Kansas Guidebook Award-winning 272-page hardcover guidebook featuring 216 entries across 8 rural culture elements (architecture, art, commerce, cuisine, customs, geography, history, people) with 800+ photos. Limited copies available for purchase online. Won the 2012 Gold Medal for Media/Travel Guide from the North America Travel Journalists Association.
- Kansas Explorers Club Membership Annual membership program inspiring exploration and appreciation of Kansas. Single membership $18.61/year, Family membership $30/year. Members receive bimonthly newsletter, access to bonus features on the Online Kansas Guidebook (Kansas bucket list creation, personal reviews), and access to member-only content and trip-planning tools.
- Big Kansas Road Trip (Annual Showcase Event) An annual community showcase event open to the public, showcasing designated Kansas counties. Attendees drive back roads, eat at local restaurants, shop, and tour communities as towns simply 'be themselves' with various scheduled activities. Hundreds of adventurers join annually.
- We Kan! Conference Educational conference for rural community leaders, doers, entrepreneurs, and advocates. $75 registration fee includes breakout sessions, networking, and educational content for rural community development. Part of the We Kan! Network program.
- Big Rural Brainstorm Networking event for rural community doers and leaders. $60 registration fee. Part of the We Kan! Network program connecting rural community builders across Kansas through organized brainstorming sessions.
- KSF Apparel and Merchandise Apparel and accessories sold through the Kansas Sampler Foundation e-commerce store, including branded merchandise related to the Big Kansas Road Trip and Kansas Explorers Club programs.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 100,000 votes cast in 8 Wonders of Kansas contests
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Kansas Sampler Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Kansas Sampler Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Kansas Sampler Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Midway Motors of McPhersonminorLoaned GMC Terrain vehicle (ERV - Explorer Research Vehicle) to the research duo for their four-year statewide journey to every Kansas incorporated city for guidebook research. The vehicle accumulated 105,000 miles and survived extensive backroads travel.
- Mennonite PresscoreNewton-based printer responsible for producing the 8 Wonders of Kansas Guidebook and Kansas Guidebook 2 for Explorers publications.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Kansas Sampler Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Atlas Obscura: Atlas Obscura curates a global database of unique, locally-significant places with editorial content, very similar in spirit to KSF's Online Kansas Guidebook (5,000+ places with photos and traveler reviews). Both monetize via digital content, community contributions, and experiences, and compete for the same curious-explorer audience.
- Roadtrippers: Roadtrippers is a road-trip planning platform that helps travelers discover off-the-beaten-path stops, restaurants, and attractions along driving routes. It is a direct comparable to KSF's Big Kansas Road Trip and online guidebook efforts, both focused on back-road exploration and curating local points of interest.
Broad incumbents
- Fodor's Travel: Fodor's Travel produces travel guidebooks and destination content with a long history, similar to KSF's 8 Wonders of Kansas Guidebook (Gold Medal, 2012) and Kansas Guidebook 2. Comparable product category (state/destination guides) with broader geographic coverage.
- National Geographic Travel: National Geographic Travel produces destination guides, photography-driven content, and curated places-to-visit editorial, paralleling KSF's content library of 18,000+ photos and 5,000+ place entries. Comparable content-led discovery model for travelers seeking authentic experiences.
- Lonely Planet: Lonely Planet is an established global travel guidebook publisher with a digital platform, analogous to KSF's Kansas Guidebook 2 for Explorers and online guidebook. While much larger and broader in scope, the core product (curated travel guidebooks) and business model (book sales plus digital content) closely mirror KSF's approach.
Regional players
- TravelKS (Kansas Department of Commerce): TravelKS is the official state tourism office for Kansas, promoting in-state travel and operating alongside KSF in the same geography. While broader in scope, both organizations share the goal of driving visitation to Kansas communities and often partner on rural tourism initiatives.
- Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks: The state agency manages state parks, wildlife areas, and outdoor recreation across Kansas, overlapping with KSF on encouraging Kansas residents and visitors to explore the state. Both organizations curate place-based content and host events that drive rural visitation.
Others
- Main Street America: Main Street America is a nonprofit that supports preservation-based community development in small towns, with a membership network and annual recognition program comparable to KSF's We Kan! Network and We Kan! Awards. Both organizations serve rural and small-town community leaders across the country.
- The Nature Conservancy (Kansas): The Nature Conservancy operates in Kansas managing natural areas and running outdoor education programs, with adjacent interest in rural land stewardship and getting people to explore Kansas outdoors. Not a direct competitor, but a peer nonprofit in the Kansas conservation and outdoor recreation space.
Emerging players
- Center for Rural Affairs: Center for Rural Affairs is a nonprofit focused on rural community development, sustainable agriculture, and small-town economic vitality, with overlapping mission priorities to KSF's We Kan! Network and PowerUp Movement. Both organizations build networks of rural leaders and advocate for rural sustainability, though CFRA's focus is more on policy and entrepreneurship.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Kansas Sampler Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceKansas Sampler Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kansas Sampler Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Kansas Sampler Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kansas Sampler Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Kansas Sampler Foundation
What does Kansas Sampler Foundation do?
The Kansas Sampler Foundation publishes statewide Kansas travel guidebooks (print and online) covering all 626 incorporated cities, runs the Kansas Explorers Club membership program with trip-planning tools, and operates rural community showcase events and networking programs (Big Kansas Road Trip, We Kan! Network, 8 Wonders of Kansas) that connect rural community leaders and educate Kansans about their state.
Is Kansas Sampler Foundation a public or private company?
Kansas Sampler Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Kansas Sampler Foundation founded?
Kansas Sampler Foundation was founded in 1993. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Kansas Sampler Foundation based?
Kansas Sampler Foundation is headquartered in Inman, United States, in the North America region.
How does Kansas Sampler Foundation make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Membership Fees are the primary driver. The others are book and Merchandise Sales, foundation Grants, event Revenue and kansas Sampler Festival.
Who are Kansas Sampler Foundation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Atlas Obscura and Roadtrippers. Broad incumbents are Fodor's Travel, National Geographic Travel and Lonely Planet. Regional players are TravelKS (Kansas Department of Commerce) and Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. Others are Main Street America and The Nature Conservancy (Kansas). Center for Rural Affairs is listed as an emerging player.
Does Kansas Sampler Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kansas Sampler Foundation.
What industry is Kansas Sampler Foundation in?
Kansas Sampler Foundation's product category is Rural Community Development and Cultural Preservation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAAAGAB, Guided Tours & Interpretive Services (Ranger-Led, Naturalist, Cultural Interpretation), with a secondary code of THAKAGAB, School Group & Curriculum-Led Trips. Its NAICS code is 56152 and its SIC code is 8600.