KeHE Cares® Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests and works by invitation only, so a small charity should not send a cold application and should look for an introduction instead.
- If your work is with under-resourced communities and is transformational, it matches the foundation's stated aims, since it says it intentionally partners with smaller, grass-roots organisations.
- Across the filings, half of its 262 grants to organisations were $25,000 or less, so a modest request fits its usual pattern; about 8 in 10 grants fall between $2,600 and $155,000, a typical band rather than a ceiling, as its largest grant was about $1,100,000.
- In the filing, 88% of grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had also funded in earlier filings, which suggests existing relationships carry weight.
- The filing states no geographic focus, and its grants mainly fall in Illinois, Texas, Tennessee, Florida, Georgia and the United States, which is a pattern to note rather than a limit on who may apply.
Overview
KeHE Cares® Foundation is a US private foundation based in Naperville, IL.
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
KeHE Cares directs grantmaking to proven partners and projects doing transformational work in under-resourced communities. It intentionally partners with smaller, grass-roots organisations that share its passion for transformational growth and change, and aims to help leaders and organisations flourish. Its wider work combines investment with hands-on service: it supports KeHE employees and their families in times of need and transition, serves local neighbourhoods where employees work and live, and works with domestic and global partners to transform communities. The foundation emphasises close, mutual human connections and a hand-up approach that upholds the dignity, independence and self-worth of those it serves. Its mission is to walk alongside people on a journey to hope and wholeness.
Themes
- Under-resourced communities
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Illinois, Texas, Tennessee, Florida, Georgia 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, 88% 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 262 grants to organisations were $25,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- It intentionally partners with smaller, grass-roots organisations that share its passion for transformational growth and change.
- It funds proven partners and projects doing transformational work in under-resourced communities.
- It roots its work in close, mutual human connections with employees, partners and the people it serves.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 17%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 8%
- The largest single recipient received 9% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 88% of grant dollars went to organisations KeHE Cares® Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- <1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 94 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $23,033 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- New Vision Community Church · Community development$1,076,7852024 tax year
- CEO Forum · Legacy foundation support$517,0002024 tax year
- Mission Lazarus · Community development$402,3462024 tax year
- Provision Bridge · Employee care$396,2012024 tax year
- COFA · Orphans & refugees$266,0002024 tax year
- Male Mogul Initiative · Community development$184,0002024 tax year
- Eight Days of Hope · Disaster relief$161,2062024 tax year
- Restoring Hope Nepal · Orphans & refugees$154,2632024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Greg Lernihan — Director
- Deb Conklin — Director
- Frank Carlson — Secretary
- Joe Schwab — Treasurer
- Jim Hallene — Director
- Tim Wiggins — Director
- Justin Mallot — Secretary
- Bryan Aldridge — Treasurer
- Brad Helmer — Director
- Brandon Barnholt — Director
- Rusty Bland — President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $5,028,577 | $4,716,431 | $10,221,869 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $6,400,411 | $5,542,392 | $14,073,652 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $6,841,993 | $5,776,601 | $14,750,740 | 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 KeHE Cares® Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- outreach@kehecares.org
- Naperville, IL
- kehecares.org
Applying to KeHE Cares® Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- outreach@kehecares.org
- Naperville, IL
- kehecares.org