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Denise And Michael Kellen Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$4.0M
Grant Range
$50K - $1.3M
00

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Denise And Michael Kellen Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $4,031,500 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable - invitation only
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: Varies significantly; median $126,300, average $443,700 (2023)
  • Geographic Focus: National (primarily New York, but also California, Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Washington D.C.)
  • Total Assets: Over $592 million

Contact Details

Address: New York, NY

EIN: 47-3440549

Important Note: This foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Applications are not accepted; the foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organisations.

Overview

The Denise And Michael Kellen Foundation Inc is a private family foundation established by Denise T. Kellen (Wellesley College '68) and Michael M. Kellen, son of Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen. The foundation has grown significantly, with assets exceeding $592 million as of recent filings. In 2023, the foundation distributed $4,031,500 through 18 grants, with an average grant size of $443,700 and a median grant of $126,300. The foundation's philanthropic priorities reflect the personal passions of its founders, with a strong emphasis on medical research (particularly melanoma research, given Denise's melanoma diagnosis in 1990), women's empowerment in science, animal welfare, and higher education. The foundation operates as a private grantmaking organisation under 501(c)(3) status, making strategic contributions to organisations aligned with the Kellens' values and interests.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

The foundation does not have formal grant programmes with open applications. Instead, grants are made at the discretion of the trustees to organisations they have selected.

Application Method: Invitation only / preselected organisations

Priority Areas

Based on recent grant activity and publicly announced gifts, the foundation's funding priorities include:

Medical Research

  • Melanoma research and prevention (reflecting Denise's personal experience with melanoma)
  • Women's entrepreneurship in medical science and research translation
  • Cancer research and treatment
  • Medical education and innovation

Education

  • Higher education, particularly women's colleges and institutions supporting women in STEM
  • Support for named professorships and chairs in sciences
  • Programmes advancing women in economics, chemistry, and health sciences

Animal Welfare

  • Veterinary medicine and surgical care
  • Animal medical research and treatment facilities

Women's Empowerment

  • Programmes supporting women in science and business
  • Women's entrepreneurship initiatives
  • Breaking down barriers for women in STEM fields

What They Don't Fund

The foundation has not published explicit exclusions. However, based on their stated policy of only funding preselected organisations, they do not fund:

  • Organisations that apply through unsolicited proposals
  • Organisations without prior relationship to the trustees

Governance and Leadership

Michael M. Kellen - President and Treasurer

  • Son of Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen, whose foundation continues the family's philanthropic legacy
  • Serves as a Rockefeller University trustee (since 2017) and member of the Technology Transfer Committee
  • Has stated that "medical research has always been a strong interest of our family"

Denise T. Kellen - Vice President

  • Wellesley College Class of 1968, B.A. in Economics
  • Former futures arbitrageur with ten years on Wall Street before leaving in 1988
  • Melanoma survivor (diagnosed 1990) and passionate advocate for melanoma research and sun safety
  • Board member of Melanoma Research Alliance, co-chair of MRA Dermatology Council
  • Board member of Weill-Cornell Medicine and Wellesley College
  • Member of Golden Seeds, an angel investing firm focused on women's businesses
  • Co-chair of Rockefeller University's Women & Science Committee and member of the Rockefeller University Council
  • According to the MRA, Denise "brings not only her experience with melanoma to the MRA board, but a passion for encouraging women in the science, patient education, and prevention efforts"

Caroline Kellen - Director

Christopher Kellen - Director

Tracy Tucker-Knox - Director

Maria Szabo-Goessler - Secretary

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process.

According to available information, the foundation "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

Grants are made through:

  • Trustee discretion and personal connections
  • Organisations with which the trustees have pre-existing relationships
  • Strategic initiatives identified by the foundation leadership

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation's giving patterns suggest grants are made to organisations where the trustees have direct involvement or personal connection. Specific pathways that have led to funding include:

Board Service and Leadership Involvement: Denise Kellen serves on multiple boards including the Melanoma Research Alliance, Weill-Cornell Medicine, Wellesley College, and Rockefeller University. Organisations where trustees hold leadership positions appear more likely to receive support.

Melanoma Research Alliance Connection: The foundation sponsors MRA Pilot Awards for melanoma research, including the "Denise and Michael Kellen Foundation – MRA Pilot Award." The foundation also co-underwrites (with the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Foundation) the MRA Dermatology Fellowship programme, which provides $50,000 grants to early-career dermatologists or researchers focused on advancing melanoma prevention or detection.

Wellesley College Network: As a Wellesley alumna, Denise maintains strong ties to her alma mater. The foundation has endowed multiple named professorships at Wellesley, including the "Michael and Denise Kellen '68 Chair in the Sciences," the "Denise Kellen '68 Chair in the Health Sciences," and the "Michael and Denise Kellen '68 Associate Professor of Africana Studies."

Rockefeller University Collaboration: The foundation supplements the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Foundation's major gifts to Rockefeller University, particularly the Women's Entrepreneurship Fund.

Women in Science and Entrepreneurship: Organisations that align with Denise's documented passion for "highlighting and solving the roadblocks for women in the Sciences" may align with funding priorities.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. As grants are made to preselected organisations, there is no standard application-to-decision timeline.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not have a public application process. Organisations that have received grants in the past may receive additional support at the trustees' discretion.

Application Success Factors

While there is no application process, understanding what the foundation values can inform relationship-building strategies:

Personal Connection to Melanoma: Denise's melanoma diagnosis in 1990 has shaped the foundation's commitment to melanoma research. The foundation sponsors MRA Pilot Awards and co-underwrites the MRA Dermatology Fellowship programme. Organisations working on melanoma prevention, early detection, and treatment are central to their mission.

Women in Science and Medicine: The foundation's support of the Women's Entrepreneurship Fund at Rockefeller University demonstrates commitment to helping women "translate their basic science discoveries into novel medications and diagnostics." Programmes that remove barriers for women in STEM align with this priority.

Institutional Excellence: Major grants have gone to prestigious institutions including Rockefeller University, Wellesley College, Mayo Clinic, Weill-Cornell Medicine, and the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center (which houses the Denise and Michael Kellen Institute for Surgical Care, established through a $10 million joint gift with the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Foundation in 2022).

Veterinary Medicine and Animal Care: The foundation's $10 million joint gift (2022) with the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Foundation to the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center established the Denise and Michael Kellen Institute for Surgical Care and supported Charlie's Patient Assistance Fund. The surgical institute features over 7,000 square feet with five state-of-the-art operating rooms as part of a $125 million expansion.

Multi-Year Partnerships: The foundation's agreement to provide "annual spendable funds" to supplement the Rockefeller endowment "until sufficient endowment income is generated" shows willingness to make long-term commitments to strategic priorities.

Family Legacy: The foundation works in coordination with the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Foundation (led by Michael's parents, now continued by Michael and his sister Marina Kellen French), making gifts "at the recommendation of Michael Kellen and his wife Denise." Understanding this family philanthropic ecosystem is important.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: This foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Do not submit applications unless specifically invited to do so.

  • Board Service Matters: Grants appear strongly correlated with organisations where trustees hold board positions or leadership roles, particularly the Melanoma Research Alliance, Wellesley College, Rockefeller University, and Weill-Cornell Medicine.

  • Mission Alignment Is Personal: The foundation's priorities stem directly from the founders' experiences - Denise's melanoma diagnosis, her career experiences as a woman on Wall Street, and the family's multi-generational commitment to medical research.

  • Focus on Women in STEM: Organisations that demonstrate clear commitment to advancing women in science, medicine, and entrepreneurship align with documented foundation priorities.

  • Major Gift Capacity: With assets exceeding $592 million and average grants of $443,700, this foundation has capacity for significant investments in organisations that align with their mission.

  • Geographic Reach: While based in New York and with strong ties to New York institutions, the foundation has supported organisations across multiple states including California, Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, and Massachusetts.

  • Multi-Institutional Strategy: Consider how your organisation might connect through the broader Kellen family philanthropic network, including the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Foundation.

References

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