J C Kennedy Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The filing says the foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and makes its contributions to preselected organisations, so an organisation without an existing connection should not apply cold.
- If you do have a way in, keep the request modest: about 8 in 10 grants fall between $5,000 and $100,000, and half of its grants to organisations were $15,000 or less, though this band is typical rather than a ceiling, since its largest grant was about $1,650,000.
- Its grants reach food banks, child and family services, hospitals, schools, religious institutions and conservation bodies, and it mainly gives general operating and program support, so ongoing work is a better fit than a one-off project.
- The filing shows grants mainly in Georgia, Michigan, Tennessee, Mississippi, Oregon and Canada, but no geographic focus is stated, so location alone should not decide whether you approach it.
- Because 49% of its grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had also funded in earlier filings, relationships are likely to matter more than a standalone request.
Overview
J C Kennedy Foundation is a US private foundation based in Atlanta, GA.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) 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 foundation's reported grants reach a broad mix of charitable organisations. Recipients include community food banks and food-assistance organisations, child and family services and foster-care organisations, hospitals and medical research bodies, schools and universities, religious institutions, and conservation and wildlife organisations. Its recorded grant purposes are chiefly general operating support and program support, with additional special-project support and occasional capital-campaign funding. The records therefore show support for both organisations' ongoing work and designated programmes or projects. The foundation's filing says it makes contributions to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Georgia, Michigan, Tennessee, Mississippi, Oregon and Canada.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 49% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 243 grants to organisations were $15,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 11%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 13%
- The largest single recipient received 15% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 49% of grant dollars went to organisations J C Kennedy Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- 9% of grant dollars went directly to organisations outside the US (Canada).
- 2% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 77 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $15,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- University of Michigan · Program support$1,654,0002024 tax year
- Ducks Unlimited · Special project support$400,0002024 tax year
- Wild Salmon Center · Special project support$200,0002024 tax year
- Mia's Miracles Foundation · Program support$105,6002024 tax year
- Delta Waterfowl Foundation · Program support$100,0002024 tax year
- Canine Assistants · General operating support$100,0002024 tax year
- Tallahatchie General Hospital Medical Foundation · Program support$95,0002024 tax year
- City of Charleston · Special project support$56,4802024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- James C Kennedy — President / Trustee
- Clay K Kennedy — Trustee
- Nancy K Rigby — Assistant Secretary
- James C Kennedy Jr — Secretary / Treasurer / Trustee
- Barbara K Harty — Vice President / Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $3,415,648 | $3,064,780 | $69,054,144 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $5,021,106 | $4,440,510 | $93,595,224 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $4,510,187 | $3,848,580 | $100,851,826 | Filing for 2024 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
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At a glance
Applying to J C Kennedy Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Atlanta, GA
Applying to J C Kennedy Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Atlanta, GA