The Kadens Family Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation is dedicated to igniting pathways out of poverty through equitable access to education, so an education-access or poverty-focused small nonprofit has a clear reason to look at it, though no geographic focus is stated.
- It says it does not accept unsolicited requests and works by invitation only, so a cold application is unlikely to be considered; the realistic route is a personal introduction or an existing relationship.
- Half of its 90 grants to organisations were $15,000 or less and about 8 in 10 fall between $2,500 and $100,000, so a modest request fits its typical grant, although its largest grant has been about $2,150,000.
- In its most recent filing, 75% of its grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had also funded in its two previous filings, so a relationship that continues over time is likely to matter more than a one-off request.
- The filing gives no timing guidance, so a grant writer should plan around the foundation's own invitation process rather than a set calendar.
Overview
The Kadens Family Foundation is a US private foundation based in Wilmington, DE.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2025, TY2024, TY2023) and web pages about the foundation (lakeforest.edu), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation is described as dedicated to igniting pathways out of poverty through equitable access to education. Its recorded giving includes educational institutions and scholarship initiatives, as well as community and youth organisations, health charities and cultural institutions. Named grant purposes include college-promise support, diversity in legal practice and a fellowship programme, alongside many unrestricted grants and charitable-event gifts. The public material reviewed does not set out general eligibility rules or explain a wider set of funding themes; the grant record shows a varied portfolio beyond the stated education commitment.
Themes
- Education access
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Illinois, Ohio and Colorado.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2025 filing, 75% 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 90 grants to organisations were $15,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2023–2025.
Grant dollars by state
3 other states: 1%
- The largest single recipient received 54% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2025, 75% of grant dollars went to organisations The Kadens Family Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 2% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 20 grants in tax year 2025 by size
Median $10,625 (tax year 2025)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Aspen Institute · Henry Crown Fellowship$100,0002025 tax year
- Breakthrough T1D · General & Unrestricted$75,0002025 tax year
- Bears Care · General & Unrestricted$60,0002025 tax year
- University of Toledo Foundation · General & Unrestricted$50,0002025 tax year
- National Louis University · General & Unrestricted$30,0002025 tax year
- Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center · General & Unrestricted$25,0002025 tax year
- Chicago Innovation Foundation · Expenditure Responsibility Grant$20,0002025 tax year
- YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago · General & Unrestricted$15,0002025 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Peter Kadens — Director, President
- Amy Kadens — Director, Secretary, Treasurer
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 tax year | $2,572,335 | $2,421,833 | $887,386 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $3,055,577 | $2,956,500 | $285,291 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
| 2025 tax year | $526,731 | $474,750 | $70,132 | 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
🎯 You've done the research. Now write an application they can't refuse.
Hinchilla combines funder's specific priorities with your organisation's past successful grants and AI analysis of what reviewers want to see.
Data privacy and security by default
Your organisation's past successful grants and experience
AI analysis of what reviewers want to see
A compelling draft application in 10 minutes instead of 10 hours
Spotted something that needs correcting? Let us know
At a glance
Applying to The Kadens Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Wilmington, DE
Applying to The Kadens Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Wilmington, DE