← Back to US Funders Directory

W.K. Kellogg Foundation

Annual Giving
$408.0M
Grant Range
$25K - $0.6M
Decision Time
3mo
0

W.K. Kellogg Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $408 million (FY 2024)
  • Total Assets: $8.8 billion (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: 30 business days (LOI response); 60 business days (final decision)
  • Grant Range: $25,000 - $600,000 (typical); $1,000 - $70 million (full range)
  • Geographic Focus: Priority places in Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico, New Orleans (US); Mexico and Haiti (international)
  • Number of Grants: 1,763 grants awarded in 2024

Contact Details

Website: www.wkkf.org Phone: 269-968-1611 (main); 888-606-5905 (toll-free, US only); +1-269-969-2329 (international) Email: Contact through Concierge Desk via online portal Address: Battle Creek, Michigan Application Portal: Fluxx grants management system (registration required)

Overview

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF) was founded in June 1930 by breakfast cereal pioneer Will Keith Kellogg, initially as the W.K. Kellogg Child Welfare Foundation. Today, it stands as one of the largest philanthropic foundations in the United States with assets of $8.8 billion. Led by President and CEO La June Montgomery Tabron—the foundation's first woman and first African American chief executive—WKKF distributed an estimated $408 million in charitable purposes during fiscal year 2024, with new grant commitments totaling $262 million. The foundation's mission centers on supporting children, families, and communities to create conditions for vulnerable children to thrive and reach their full potential in school, work, and life. In 2007, the Board of Trustees committed WKKF to becoming an effective anti-racist organization that promotes racial equity. The foundation launched the Racial Equity 2030 Challenge in 2020, committing $90 million to fuel innovative solutions for building a more racially equitable future. WKKF places 58% of its grant commitments in priority places with high concentrations of poverty and significant barriers to child success.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation operates on a rolling application basis with no specific grantmaking cycles or deadlines. Applications are accepted year-round through their online Fluxx portal.

Grant Size Distribution:

  • Typical Range: $25,000 - $600,000 (majority of grants)
  • Full Range: $1,000 - $70 million
  • Recent Examples:
    • Grand Valley State University: $10.3 million over three years (2024) for Battle Creek Innovation Hub
    • Association of Children's Museums: $900,000 over three years (2025) for professional development and advocacy
    • University of Hawaii-West Oahu: $1 million for Sustainable Community Food Systems program

Priority Areas

The foundation organizes its work toward three strategic goals:

1. Educated Kids

  • Increasing children reading-and-math proficient by third grade
  • Good early care and education with equitable access to high-quality, culturally affirming programs and schools
  • Education category receives the most funding (778 grants awarded, highest statistical probability)

2. Healthy Kids

  • Increasing children born at a healthy birth weight
  • Ensuring children receive proper care and healthy food
  • Food systems and food security initiatives

3. Secure Families

  • Increasing children and families living at least 200% above poverty level
  • Job opportunities and workforce development
  • Health care access

Cross-Cutting Priorities:

  • Racial Equity and Racial Healing: Central to all grantmaking, addressing racism as a primary obstacle to children and families reaching full potential
  • Community Engagement: Authentic engagement with communities to reform systems, infrastructure, and institutions
  • Leadership Development: Building capacity of community leaders and organizations

Geographic Priorities

Priority Places (58% of grant commitments):

  • United States: Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico, and New Orleans
  • International: Central and southwest Haiti; highlands of Chiapas and Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico

The foundation also supports work beyond priority places that aligns with strategic goals.

What They Don't Fund

WKKF explicitly does not provide funding for:

  • Individuals
  • Capital investments (buildings, infrastructure, equipment)
  • Political parties or candidates
  • Operational phases of established programs (generally)
  • Conferences and workshops (standalone)
  • Films, television, and/or radio programs (standalone)
  • Endowments
  • Development campaigns
  • Research or studies (unless integral part of larger program)
  • Disease-specific projects (e.g., heart disease, renal failure, cancer)
  • Religious purposes
  • General operating support (in most cases)

Governance and Leadership

President and CEO

La June Montgomery Tabron has served as president and CEO since 2014. She joined the Kellogg Foundation in 1987 and has risen to become the organization's first woman and first African American chief executive. Under her leadership, WKKF focuses on supporting thriving children, working families, and equitable communities.

Key Quote from Tabron (2024): "As the leaders of today, we have an obligation to do everything we can to ensure the children of today and tomorrow have the opportunity to reach their full potential, no matter where or to whom they were born."

Board of Trustees

Chair: Dr. Khan Nedd (Grand Rapids, Michigan) - Became chair in January 2024, trustee since 2016

Recent Additions: Karen Edwards (Palo Alto, California) - Appointed 2025, social entrepreneur and futures strategist at the intersection of technology, media, and child well-being

The board provides fiscal and legal oversight through five standing committees:

  • Audit Committee
  • Board Development Committee
  • Budget Committee
  • CEO Compensation Committee
  • Finance Committee

Foundation Philosophy

WKKF emphasizes a "child-centered approach to philanthropy," working alongside families and communities to reform systems so that children are served first. The foundation is guided by founder Will Keith Kellogg's vision of promoting the health, happiness, and well-being of children.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Step 1: Register in Fluxx Portal

  • Register at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation Portal
  • Concierge Service sends log-in credentials within one business day

Step 2: Submit Letter of Inquiry (LOI)

  • Length: 1,500 characters or less (approximately 250-300 words)
  • Content: Briefly describe your project, addressing:
    • What problem are you trying to solve?
    • What objectives or outcomes do you aim to achieve?
    • What interventions or strategies are you considering?
  • Review Time: 30 business days

Step 3: Formal Proposal (if invited)

  • Full proposal submission through Fluxx portal
  • Foundation may work with you to refine proposal before final decision
  • Review Time: 60 business days for final funding decision

Decision Timeline

  • LOI Response: Within 30 business days via email
  • Final Decision: 80% of final funding decisions made within 60 business days of receiving formal proposal
  • Total Timeline: Approximately 90 business days from LOI to final decision (if invited to full proposal)

Success Rates

The foundation does not publicly disclose specific acceptance rates or success rate percentages. However:

  • 1,763 grants awarded in 2024
  • 1,719 grants awarded in 2023
  • 1,950 grants awarded in 2022
  • Education category has highest number of grants (778), suggesting higher statistical probability in this area

Reapplication Policy

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis year-round. The foundation does not appear to have explicit restrictions on reapplication for unsuccessful applicants. Organizations can submit new LOIs at any time that align with WKKF priorities.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Priorities

Critical Success Factor: "It is crucial that grant seekers confirm whether their work aligns closely with Kellogg's in order to be more likely to get a grant."

Organizations should demonstrate:

  • Direct focus on vulnerable children and families
  • Commitment to racial equity and racial healing
  • Community engagement and authentic partnerships
  • Work in or benefiting priority places (58% of funding goes to these areas)
  • Systemic change approach rather than isolated programs

Innovation and Impact

WKKF seeks to fund "new and exciting things, not more of the same." Successful applications should:

  • Present innovative, actionable, and scalable solutions
  • Address root causes, not just symptoms
  • Demonstrate potential for systemic change
  • Show culturally affirming approaches

Organizational Transparency

The foundation values organizations that:

  • Have published financials or impact reports
  • Demonstrate transparency as leaders in their field
  • Can articulate clear outcomes and evaluation methods

Relationship Building

While the grant cycle is not invitation-only, "it is still important to network with key decision-makers at the foundation, as building these relationships can help move the needle on getting your proposal noticed."

Language and Terminology

Use foundation terminology in your application:

  • "Thriving children"
  • "Vulnerable children"
  • "Racial equity" and "racial healing"
  • "Community engagement"
  • "Culturally affirming"
  • "Systemic change"
  • "Full potential"

Recent Funding Examples

Study these recent awards to understand funding patterns:

  • Grand Valley State University ($10.3M): Educational and workforce development, community collaboration hub
  • Association of Children's Museums ($900K): Professional development, advocacy, research, convenings
  • University of Hawaii-West Oahu ($1M): Food systems sustainability, equity, and resilience

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Geographic Alignment Matters: While national and international applications are accepted, 58% of funding goes to priority places (Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico, New Orleans, Haiti, Mexico). If your work benefits these areas, emphasize this strongly.

  2. Racial Equity is Non-Negotiable: Since 2007, WKKF has committed to being an anti-racist organization. All applications must demonstrate how the work advances racial equity and healing. This is not an add-on—it's central to the foundation's DNA.

  3. Think Beyond Education Alone: While education receives the most grants (778 in recent years), the foundation takes a holistic approach. Strong applications connect education with health, family economic security, and community systems.

  4. LOI is Your Critical Gateway: With only 1,500 characters for the LOI, every word counts. Focus on the problem, outcomes, and strategy. Make the racial equity connection explicit. You have 30 days to hear back—use this time to prepare your full proposal.

  5. Demonstrate Community Partnership: WKKF emphasizes "laboring alongside families and communities." Applications must show authentic community engagement, not top-down solutions. Use phrases like "community-led," "culturally affirming," and show how you're reforming systems.

  6. Innovation Wins: The foundation explicitly seeks "new and exciting" approaches. Don't propose "more of the same." Show how your work represents innovative, scalable solutions to systemic barriers facing vulnerable children.

  7. Timeline Advantage: Rolling applications mean you can apply anytime. Unlike foundations with annual deadlines, you can submit when your project is truly ready. The relatively fast 90-day total timeline (from LOI to decision) means less waiting than many major funders.

References

← Back to US Funders Directory