Kresa Family Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- Kresa Family Foundation accepts requests only by invitation, so a grant writer should not send an unsolicited application and should first secure an introduction.
- Its filed grants fall mainly in education and the arts, and no geographic focus is stated, so the Massachusetts and California grants in the filing describe past giving rather than a rule on who may apply.
- The typical band, where about 8 in 10 of its 21 grants fall, runs from $5,000 to $240,000, and half of its grants were $30,000 or less, so a request near $30,000 is a realistic starting point; the largest grant was about $255,000, so this band is not a ceiling.
- Every grant dollar to organisations in the filing went to groups it had also funded in its earlier filings, so its giving is strongly repeat and an existing connection is the most useful route in.
Overview
Kresa Family Foundation is a US private foundation based in Pennington, NJ.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and web pages about the foundation (insidephilanthropy.com), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation is described as maintaining a steady focus on education, including sustained support for MIT, alongside educational and arts organisations across Southern California. Its filed grants include universities and colleges, a museum, an opera company, a policy organisation and local charitable organisations. Most recorded grants are for unrestricted general support, and the filing also groups repeated grants under the purpose center for autonomous. Its giving therefore includes continuing support for educational institutions as well as cultural, civic and other charitable organisations.
Themes
- Education
- Arts
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Massachusetts and California.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 100% 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 21 grants to organisations were $30,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 38% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 100% of grant dollars went to organisations Kresa Family Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 6 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $54,750 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology · Unrestricted general$250,0002024 tax year
- California Institute of Technology · Center for autonomous$240,0002024 tax year
- Wellesley College · Unrestricted general$92,0002024 tax year
- Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation · Unrestricted general$17,5002024 tax year
- Regents University Of California · Unrestricted general$8,7002024 tax year
- Keep Bel Air Beautiful · Unrestricted general$5,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Dr Kiren Kresa-Reahl MD — Secretary
- Kent Kresa — President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $776,442 | $650,700 | $11,388,622 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $799,057 | $688,000 | $11,901,052 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $737,480 | $613,200 | $15,865,826 | 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 Kresa Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Pennington, NJ
Applying to Kresa Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Pennington, NJ