JKW Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation accepts no unsolicited requests and works by invitation only, so a cold application is unlikely to be the right route; a small charity would do better to seek an introduction before writing anything.
- About 8 in 10 of its grants to organisations fall between $5,000 and $88,000, and the median grant is about $14,000, so a request near that size fits its usual pattern, though that band is typical and not a ceiling.
- The most common recorded purpose is general support, and it funds a varied mix of literary, arts, academic, health and community organisations, so a clear general-support request may suit it better than a narrow project ask.
- Only 4% of its grant dollars in the latest filing went to organisations it had also funded in the two earlier filings, so repeat grantees do not dominate its giving.
- No geographic focus is stated, and the filing shows grants mainly in the United States and New York, which is a pattern to note rather than a rule about who may apply.
Overview
JKW Foundation is a US private foundation based in New York, NY.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2025, TY2024, TY2023) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The filings record grants to varied organisations, including literary and journalism bodies, theatres and arts organisations, academic institutions, health organisations and community groups. The most common recorded purpose is general support. Other grant purposes include arts programming, journalism programmes, fellowships, emergency relief, community projects and capital campaigns. Most recorded grant dollars went to organisations in New York, although the grants reached organisations in many states. The filings show both general support and support for named programmes and campaigns, rather than a single repeated project type.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in the United States and New York.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2025 filing, 4% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2023 or TY2024 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2023, TY2024 and TY2025 filings, half of its 254 grants to organisations were about $14,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2023–2025.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 2%
- The largest single recipient received 40% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2025, 4% of grant dollars went to organisations JKW Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 81% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 53 grants in tax year 2025 by size
Median $10,000 (tax year 2025)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Distracted Globe Foundation · General support$17,497,1872025 tax year
- KAT Charitable Foundation · General support$17,497,1852025 tax year
- PEN American Center · General support$770,0002025 tax year
- St Ann's Warehouse · General support$200,0002025 tax year
- Association for Slavic, East European and Eurasian Studies · General support$88,0002025 tax year
- Asheville Creative Arts · The people's creative institute$75,0002025 tax year
- Zaccho S F · General support$60,0002025 tax year
- Barenboim-Said Foundation (USA) · General support$50,0002025 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Wendy Vanden Heuvel — Trustee
- Katrina Vanden Heuvel — Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 tax year | $3,507,717 | $3,144,741 | $47,520,950 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $4,023,609 | $3,706,548 | $49,453,668 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
| 2025 tax year | $37,250,958 | $1,906,900 | $352,040 | Filing for 2025 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
🎯 You've done the research. Now write an application they can't refuse.
Hinchilla combines funder's specific priorities with your organisation's past successful grants and AI analysis of what reviewers want to see.
Data privacy and security by default
Your organisation's past successful grants and experience
AI analysis of what reviewers want to see
A compelling draft application in 10 minutes instead of 10 hours
Spotted something that needs correcting? Let us know
At a glance
Applying to JKW Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- New York, NY
Applying to JKW Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- New York, NY