The Kern Family Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests, so a small charity without an existing introduction should not send a cold application; the route in is by invitation.
- If you already have a connection, your work fits its focus on education, character and an entrepreneurial mindset for the rising generation, and its stated approach is initiatives with long-term, systemic impact.
- About 8 in 10 of its grants fall between $25,000 and $765,000, and half are about $99,500 or less, so a request near that scale matches its usual giving, though the largest grant is about $14,500,000 and that band is not a ceiling.
- In the filing, 77% of grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had also funded in earlier filings, so an existing relationship appears to matter a great deal.
- No geographic focus is stated, so location alone should not decide whether you approach it.
Overview
The Kern Family Foundation is a US private foundation based in Waukesha, WI.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Kern Family Foundation’s mission is to empower the rising generation of Americans to build flourishing lives anchored in strong character, inspired by quality education, driven by an entrepreneurial mindset, and guided by the desire to create value for others. It focuses on initiatives that have long-term, systemic impact. Its recorded grants include support for universities and colleges, foundations supporting school networks, and other education organisations. Grant purposes include expanding a school network, character education, and work described as institutional embedding. Its stated approach is to pursue initiatives with long-term, systemic impact.
Themes
- Strong character
- Quality education
- Entrepreneurial mindset
- Value for others
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Arizona, Wisconsin, Kansas, Colorado, Virginia and the United States.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 77% 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 368 grants to organisations were about $99,500 or less.
What the foundation says:
- The Foundation focuses on initiatives that have long-term, systemic impact.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 20%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 17%
- The largest single recipient received 10% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 77% of grant dollars went to organisations The Kern Family Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- <1% of grant dollars went directly to organisations outside the US (United Kingdom).
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 108 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $46,250 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Charter Fund · Impact-character-cte integration$14,400,0002024 tax year
- MTF Fund · Ongoing operational support$9,164,4002024 tax year
- Medical College of Wisconsin · Kern institute - mcw - national transformation network$7,500,0002024 tax year
- GreatHearts Foundation · Network expansion and programming support$6,500,0002024 tax year
- Arizona State University Foundation for a New American University · Embedding em institutionally$6,245,0002024 tax year
- PBS Foundation · Development and promotion of ken burns film$3,000,0002024 tax year
- Wake Forest University · Embedding em institutionally; post-doc support$2,211,8752024 tax year
- President and Fellows of Harvard College · Human flourishing program capacity; pilot to address ethics and character on campus$1,480,5002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Tabat Dawn — Director
- Senske Michael W — CFO & Treasurer
- Roell Steven — Director
- Ramirez Austin — Director
- Rahn James C — Director & President
- Pierson Warren — Director
- Peterson Marcia — Director & Chairman Of The Board
- Hanson Gail — Director
- Graber Richard — Director
- Bode Kyle R — Vice President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $48,751,197 | $34,232,766 | $688,020,368 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $80,667,943 | $54,002,017 | $841,791,534 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $97,266,071 | $66,528,519 | $836,952,772 | 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
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to The Kern Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- info@kffdn.org
- Waukesha, WI
- kffdn.org
Applying to The Kern Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- info@kffdn.org
- Waukesha, WI
- kffdn.org