Kennedy Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The filing says the foundation gives only to qualified 501(c) organisations, so an organisation that is not one should not apply.
- Its recorded grants have supported public charities, a nursing school building, professorships, scholarship opportunities, annual campaigns and church upkeep, so a request for one of these purposes is worth considering.
- Half of its grants to organisations were $20,000 or less, and most fall between $5,000 and $200,000, so a modest, specific request sits within its usual pattern.
- About 80% of its grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had funded before, so a new applicant should write a short, clear first note and expect repeat recipients to account for most of its giving.
- The filing gives no deadline and no prescribed form, and no geographic focus is stated, although its grants are shown mainly in Pennsylvania and Tennessee, so that pattern should not be read as a limit on who may apply.
Overview
Kennedy Foundation is a US private foundation based in Chattanooga, TN.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2025, TY2024, TY2023) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The filing says all contributions go to qualified 501(c) organisations. Recorded grants have supported public charities and funded a nursing school building, professorships and scholarship opportunities. Other stated purposes include support for annual campaigns and church upkeep. Its awards therefore encompass public-charity support, higher education and religious upkeep, while the eligibility restriction is that recipients must be qualified 501(c) organisations. The filings do not name a narrower field or describe a distinct programme; the stated purposes range from institutional education to general charitable support and upkeep.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Pennsylvania and Tennessee.
How to apply
No prescribed application form is specified.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2025 filing, 80% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2023 or TY2024 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2023, TY2024 and TY2025 filings, half of its 40 grants to organisations were $20,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2023–2025.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 74% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2025, 80% of grant dollars went to organisations Kennedy Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 74% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 15 grants in tax year 2025 by size
Median $20,000 (tax year 2025)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- University of Chattanooga Foundation · To fund a new building for the nursing school$1,600,0002025 tax year
- Memorial Health Care System Foundation · To support a public charity$200,0002025 tax year
- University of Chattanooga Foundation · To provide funding for a professorship$100,0002025 tax year
- Houston Museum of Decorative Arts · To support a public charity$100,0002025 tax year
- Skyuka Hall · To support a public charity$84,0002025 tax year
- Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center · To support a public charity$50,0002025 tax year
- Friends of Special Children · To support a public charity$25,0002025 tax year
- United Way of Central Georgia · To support a public charity$20,0002025 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Elizabeth K Spratlin — Chairman
- Molly K Kennedy — Secretary & Treasurer
- James D Kennedy III — President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 tax year | $15,958,756 | $15,679,505 | $48,830,196 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $2,421,223 | $2,076,272 | $53,044,998 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
| 2025 tax year | $2,603,215 | $2,262,000 | $56,303,319 | Filing for 2025 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 Kennedy Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (423) 756-5171
- Chattanooga, TN
Applying to Kennedy Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (423) 756-5171
- Chattanooga, TN