Kf Impact Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $1,427,560 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
• Decision Time: Not applicable (preselected organizations)
• Grant Range: Varies significantly (median $58,000; recent grants range from approximately $5,000 to $675,000)
• Geographic Focus: National (primarily northeastern U.S. institutions)
• Total Assets: $50,005,416 (2024)

Contact Details

Location: Hunt Valley, Maryland
EIN: 81-4661085

Note: The foundation does not provide public contact information and does not accept unsolicited funding requests.

Overview

Kf Impact Foundation is a private independent foundation established in May 2017 and based in Hunt Valley, Maryland. With total assets of approximately $50 million and annual giving of $1.4 million in 2024, the foundation operates as a discretionary grantmaker led by Gaurav Kapadia (President/Treasurer) and Sonia Kapadia (Vice President/Secretary). Gaurav Kapadia is the founder and CEO of XN, a long-term focused investment firm based in New York. The foundation makes grants primarily to established institutions in education, arts and culture, medical research, and policy organizations. The foundation has shown significant growth since its inception, with assets increasing from initial establishment to over $50 million within seven years.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Kf Impact Foundation does not operate formal grant programs with published guidelines. All grants are made at the discretion of the foundation's leadership to preselected organizations.

Recent Grant Recipients (2024):

• Fidelity Charitable: $675,000 (General Support)
• Whitney Museum of American Art: $180,000 (General Support)
• Uncommon Schools: $100,000 (General Support)
• Target ALS Foundation: $100,000 (General Support)
• Aspen Institute: $75,000 (General Support)
• Georgetown University: $75,000 (General Support)

Additional recipients include various educational, cultural, and medical research institutions.

Priority Areas

Based on 2024 grantmaking patterns, the foundation supports:

• Arts and Culture: Major gifts to institutions like the Whitney Museum of American Art
• Education: Support for educational institutions including Georgetown University and Uncommon Schools
• Medical Research: Funding for organizations like Target ALS Foundation
• Policy and Think Tanks: Support for organizations like the Aspen Institute
• Donor-Advised Funds: Significant contributions to Fidelity Charitable

What They Don't Fund

As the foundation only makes contributions to preselected organizations, they do not fund:

• Unsolicited applications from any organization
• Organizations not already within their network or identified by trustees

Governance and Leadership

Gaurav Kapadia - President and Treasurer
Gaurav Kapadia is the founder and CEO of XN, a long-term focused investment firm based in New York with assets of $3.4 billion. Known for avoiding publicity throughout his career, Kapadia has built a reputation as a thoughtful investor with a focus on long-term value. He serves on the board of the Whitney Museum of American Art, reflecting his interest in arts and culture philanthropy.

Sonia Kapadia - Vice President and Secretary
Sonia Kapadia serves as Deputy Director of Strategic Initiatives at Equal Justice Initiative, demonstrating a commitment to social justice and equity. She is also actively involved in arts patronage, frequently attending Whitney Museum events alongside Gaurav.

Both officers receive no compensation for their work with the foundation. The foundation operates with minimal overhead, with virtually all expenses going directly to charitable disbursements (98.7% in 2024).

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. Kf Impact Foundation explicitly states that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations" and "does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

All grants are made at the discretion of the foundation's trustees based on their philanthropic priorities and existing relationships. The foundation operates as a private family foundation where grantmaking decisions are made internally without external applications.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable. The foundation makes grants on its own timeline to organizations it has selected.

Success Rates

Not applicable for unsolicited applications, as none are accepted.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable. Organizations cannot apply or reapply as there is no public application process.

Application Success Factors

Since Kf Impact Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, analyzing their grantmaking patterns reveals:

Organizations Likely to Receive Support:

• Established institutions with strong reputations in their fields
• Organizations where trustees have personal connections (e.g., Whitney Museum, where Gaurav Kapadia serves on the board)
• Educational institutions, particularly those focused on underserved communities (Uncommon Schools)
• Medical research organizations addressing specific diseases (Target ALS Foundation)
• Policy organizations and think tanks (Aspen Institute)
• Major universities (Georgetown University)

Grant Characteristics:

• Most grants are designated for "General Support" rather than specific projects
• Median grant size is $58,000, but the foundation makes both smaller grants and major gifts
• The largest single grant in 2024 ($675,000 to Fidelity Charitable) suggests possible use of donor-advised funds for additional grantmaking

Patterns:

• Focus on northeastern U.S. institutions, though not exclusively
• Preference for established organizations rather than startup nonprofits
• Support for institutions aligned with trustees' professional interests and board service

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Public Process: This foundation does not and will not accept unsolicited grant proposals from any organization
• Relationship-Driven: All grantmaking appears tied to trustees' existing relationships, board service, and personal philanthropic interests
• Established Institutions: The foundation favors well-known, established organizations with strong track records
• Flexible Grant Sizes: While the median is $58,000, the foundation makes grants ranging from small amounts to major six-figure gifts
• Arts, Education, and Health Focus: Primary areas of interest include cultural institutions, educational access, medical research, and policy organizations
• Family Foundation Model: Operates as a private family foundation with all decisions made by Gaurav and Sonia Kapadia
• Not a Target for Cold Outreach: Grant writers should not waste time attempting to contact this foundation without a pre-existing relationship with the trustees

References

• Grantmakers.io Profile - Kf Impact Foundation. https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/814661085-kf-impact-foundation/ (Accessed January 18, 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Kf Impact Foundation (EIN 81-4661085). https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/814661085 (Accessed January 18, 2026)
• Form 990-PF filings for tax years 2022, 2023, and 2024
• BFA photo archives showing Gaurav and Sonia Kapadia at Whitney Museum events. https://bfa.com/ (Accessed January 18, 2026)
• Marginal Revolution - Conversation with Gaurav Kapadia. https://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2025/12/my-conversation-with-the-excellent-gaurav-kapadia.html (Accessed January 18, 2026)