Kao Family Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $4.1 million (2023)
• Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation-only)
• Decision Time: Not applicable (preselected organizations)
• Grant Range: $10,000 - $1,000,000
• Geographic Focus: National and international

Contact Details

• Website: https://www.kaofamilyfoundation.org/
• Location: Olathe, KS
• EIN: 202014620

Overview

Established in 2004 by Dr. and Mrs. Min H. Kao, the Kao Family Foundation is a private foundation with approximately $98 million in assets that distributes roughly $4.1 million annually in grants. Dr. Kao, co-founder and Executive Chairman of Garmin, created this foundation to support charitable, educational, literary, and scientific purposes. The foundation expanded its focus areas in 2020 and established a sister organization, the Kao Family Education Foundation, in Taiwan in 2019. Operating exclusively through invitation-only grants to preselected organizations, the foundation made 42 grants in 2023 with a median grant size of $49,000.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation provides grants ranging from $10,000 to $1,000,000, with recent major grants including:

• Kao Family Education Foundation: $1,000,000
• World Central Kitchen: $550,000
• Kansas University Endowment Association: $214,000
• Cedars-Sinai Medical Center: $177,000

Priority Areas

• STEM Education: Secondary and higher education programs, particularly in electrical and computer engineering
• Health and Medical: Medical research and healthcare initiatives
• Humanitarian: Disaster relief and social welfare activities
• Arts and Culture: Performing arts, orchestral music, and cultural preservation
• Environmental Sustainability: Sustainable development programs

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant requests and only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations.

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors:

• Min H. Kao (President): Co-founder and Executive Chairman of Garmin, holds advanced degrees in Electrical Engineering
• Jennifer (Jen) Kao: Artist and designer, NYU and Parsons School of Design graduate
• Christina Kao: Chair of Royal Business Bank Board, degrees from Virginia Commonwealth University and Harvard Business School
• Ken Kao: Board member
• Yu-Fan C. Kao: Board member
• Eric Kau: Fellowship-trained urologist specializing in endourology
• Laurie Minard: VP of Human Resources at Garmin International
• Adam Leibsohn: Board member
• Nicolas Gonda: Board member

Dr. Kao has stated: "I am fortunate to be in a position to give back... I hope this will allow other young minds to pursue their dreams, and will further position institutions as gateways for great achievements in engineering and innovation."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. All grants are made on an invitation-only basis.

Getting on Their Radar

As the foundation operates exclusively through preselected organizations, potential grantees must establish relationships through:

• Board member connections, particularly through Garmin-affiliated networks
• Demonstrated excellence in the foundation's priority areas
• Existing relationships with current grant recipients
• Recognition within STEM education, medical research, or arts communities in Kansas

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are awarded at the board's discretion to preselected organizations.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - invitation-only funding model.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's grant history and stated criteria, organizations selected for funding typically demonstrate:

Key Success Measurement Criteria:

• Sustainability: Programs with capacity to succeed beyond the funding period
• Transparency: Open communication between funder and grantee
• Direct Impact: Funding directly addresses the proposed program's need
• Novel Approach: Innovative or unconventional solutions to problems
• Participatory Ethos: Stakeholder-led participation in program design and implementation

The foundation shows preference for:

• Programs with lasting community impact
• Organizations fostering "mutually beneficial relationships"
• Initiatives that align with Dr. Kao's vision of "enriching people's lives" through innovation
• Projects that demonstrate diversity and inclusion, as reflected in Dr. Kao's statement that "diversity is an integral part of who we are"

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Invitation-only funding: Do not submit unsolicited proposals; focus on building relationships with board members or existing grantees
• Kansas connection advantage: Organizations with ties to Kansas institutions or Garmin may have better access
• Innovation matters: The foundation values novel approaches and entrepreneurial thinking in line with Dr. Kao's business philosophy
• Demonstrate sustainability: Show how programs will continue beyond the grant period
• Focus on measurable impact: Align proposals with the foundation's five success measurement criteria
• Consider scale: With grants ranging from $10,000 to $1,000,000, the foundation supports both small and large initiatives
• International scope: Through its Taiwan sister foundation and diverse grantees, the foundation has global reach

References

• Kao Family Foundation Official Website - https://www.kaofamilyfoundation.org/ (Accessed January 2025)
• Kao Family Foundation Grants Page - https://www.kaofamilyfoundation.org/grants/ (Accessed January 2025)
• Kao Family Foundation About Page - https://www.kaofamilyfoundation.org/about/ (Accessed January 2025)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Kao Family Foundation - https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/202014620 (Accessed January 2025)
• Grantmakers.io Profile - https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/202014620-kao-family-foundation/ (Accessed January 2025)
• GrantExec Foundation Profile - https://grantexec.com/foundations/202014620 (Accessed January 2025)
• Min H. Kao Biography - University of Tennessee EECS - https://eecs.utk.edu/overview/min-kao/ (Accessed January 2025)
• Kao Family Foundation Team Page - https://www.kaofamilyfoundation.org/team/ (Accessed January 2025)