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K A H R Foundation

Annual Giving
$10.4M
Grant Range
$1K - $1.6M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $10,378,995
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation-only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $500 - $1,599,757
  • Median Grant: $40,000
  • Geographic Focus: National (primarily United States)
  • Total Assets: $40.4 million

Contact Details

Location: Minnetrista, MN
EIN: 43-2093439
Tax Status: 501(c)(3) Private Independent Foundation

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. All grants are made to preselected charitable organizations.

Overview

The K.A.H.R. Foundation was established in 2005 by Jeannine M. Rivet and Warren G. Herreid II as a family foundation for philanthropic endeavors. The foundation name represents the initials of their surnames and their mothers' maiden surnames: Kahler, Archambault, Herreid, and Rivet. With assets totaling $40.4 million as of 2024, the foundation distributed approximately $10.4 million annually through 63-68 grants. The foundation focuses primarily on supporting initiatives related to military personnel and veterans, education (particularly public health), and health-related causes. The foundation's grantmaking reflects the founders' personal connections and values, particularly Warren G. Herreid II's family legacy of military service spanning WWI, WWII, and Korea, and Jeannine Rivet's background as a 1981 graduate of Boston University School of Public Health.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates as an invitation-only grantmaker with discretionary funding determined by the trustees. Grants range from $500 to over $1.5 million, with a median grant amount of $40,000.

Annual Distribution: Approximately $10.4 million through 63-68 grants per year

Priority Areas

Military and Veterans Support The foundation has demonstrated a strong commitment to honoring military service members through substantial investments in veterans' memorials and military museums. Notable examples include:

  • Rock County Veterans Memorial (approximately $700,000)
  • Herreid Military Museum in Luverne, MN (approximately $4 million of the $4.5 million total cost)
  • Support for organizations serving veterans and active military personnel

Education Significant support for educational institutions, particularly:

  • Boston University School of Public Health (lifetime giving exceeding $1 million)
  • Education programs and initiatives aligned with the founders' values

Health and Healthcare Health-related initiatives and organizations, including:

  • CaringBridge (health journeys support platform)
  • Healthcare access and public health programs

Environmental Conservation and Culture

  • Heritage Museums & Gardens (major capital campaign support, including the K.A.H.R. Foundation Flume Plaza)
  • Minnesota Zoo ($50,000-$99,999 in FY2023 and continued support in FY2024)
  • Cultural preservation and environmental education

Geographic Focus

While based in Minnesota, the foundation operates nationally, funding projects across multiple states including California, Colorado, Florida, and Minnesota.

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and only makes contributions to preselected organizations. Organizations without pre-existing connections to the trustees are unlikely to receive consideration.

Governance and Leadership

Trustees (all serve without compensation):

  • Jeannine M. Rivet - President. A 1981 graduate of Boston University School of Public Health and former executive vice president of UnitedHealth Group. Serves on the Dean's Advisory Board at BU School of Public Health.
  • Warren G. Herreid II - Vice President and Treasurer. Philanthropist with deep family connections to military service spanning multiple generations.
  • Kerri Bawek - Secretary

Leadership Philosophy

Jeannine Rivet has expressed her philanthropic philosophy through her work, stating at the Boston University School of Public Health 40th Anniversary Gala: "I thank the School for what it did for me, I thank the School for what it continues to do for many people all over the world."

The founders' commitment to veterans' causes reflects Warren Herreid II's father's legacy. Warren Herreid Sr. was a WWII veteran who served from 1939-1945 and founded the "Last Man Club" for WWII veterans. In the club's official booklet, he wrote: "This Last Man Club is founded by WWII veterans, members of what has been called the 'Greatest Generation.' Some may call us heroes, but we are just common men who were called to defend our country and our flag."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The K.A.H.R. Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and explicitly does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees based on their philanthropic interests and priorities. Organizations are selected through the trustees' personal knowledge, existing relationships, and strategic philanthropic goals.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. Grant decisions are made by the board of trustees on a discretionary basis throughout the year.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation operates on an invitation-only basis with preselected beneficiaries.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable due to invitation-only grantmaking approach.

Application Success Factors

Since the K.A.H.R. Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, the key factors for potential beneficiaries relate to alignment with the trustees' established philanthropic priorities:

Strong Alignment Areas:

  • Veterans and military-related causes: The foundation has demonstrated exceptional commitment to projects honoring military service, particularly those that educate the public about veterans' contributions and preserve military history.
  • Public health education: Given Jeannine Rivet's background and their million-dollar+ support of Boston University School of Public Health, organizations working in public health education align well with their interests.
  • Major capital projects with lasting impact: The foundation has supported significant capital campaigns (Rock County Veterans Memorial, Herreid Military Museum, Heritage Museums & Gardens Welcome Center), suggesting preference for projects with enduring community benefit.
  • Established institutions with proven track records: The foundation's giving pattern favors well-established organizations with demonstrated impact.
  • Minnesota connections: While the foundation gives nationally, Minnesota-based organizations feature prominently in their giving, particularly in the areas of veterans' support and cultural/environmental conservation.

Key Patterns in Grantmaking:

  • Multi-year commitments to capital campaigns
  • Support for organizations where trustees have personal connections or board involvement
  • Preference for projects that honor service and create educational opportunities
  • Grants that reflect family values and legacy preservation

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process: This foundation exclusively supports preselected organizations and does not review unsolicited proposals.
  • Relationship-driven grantmaking: All funding flows from pre-existing relationships with trustees or organizations they have identified as aligned with their mission.
  • Three core focus areas: Military/veterans, education (especially public health), and health-related causes consistently receive support.
  • Significant capacity for major gifts: With median grants of $40,000 and capacity for grants exceeding $1.5 million, the foundation can support substantial projects.
  • Multi-year commitment pattern: The foundation has demonstrated willingness to make multi-million dollar commitments to major capital projects over several years.
  • Legacy-oriented philanthropy: Funding decisions reflect the personal values, family history, and professional backgrounds of the founders.
  • Geographic flexibility: While Minnesota organizations receive attention, the foundation funds nationally where mission alignment is strong.

References

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