Private foundation · Waukesha, WI (gives in Tennessee from out of state)
The Robert D and Patricia E Kern Family Foundation Inc.
In 2024 it gave 3 grants worth $1.1 million to Tennessee groups, 1 of them in Putnam County. A typical grant was $25,000 to $1 million.
Invitation only: it picks who to fund. Don't send a proposal. Look for a connection through its board. See its board and officers below: do you or your board know any of them?
Key facts
- Grants in Tennessee
- 3 totaling $1.1 million · 1 in Putnam County
- Typical grant How we figure this
- $25,000 to $1 million (the middle half of its Tennessee grants)
- A realistic first ask How we figure this
- About $70,000, its middle Tennessee grant. First-time winners usually get less than repeat ones.
- Where it gives
- Davidson County, Putnam County · plus 105 grants outside Tennessee
- Buildings & equipment
- None of its Tennessee grants in this filing were for buildings or equipment
- Funds new groups? How we figure this
- Rarely: every Tennessee group it funded in 2024 had also been funded in 2023. Build a relationship before asking.
- Total giving that year
- $66.5 million
Giving by year
| Tax year | Total grants paid | To Tennessee | Tennessee grants |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $66.5M | $1.1M | 3 |
| 2023 | $54M | $1.4M | 6 |
All grants paid To Tennessee
How to apply
The foundation's filing doesn't describe how to apply. Look for a website, or send a short letter asking whether it accepts requests.
Board and officers
Does your board know anyone here?
Checked in your browser only. The names are kept on this device for other foundation pages and are never sent to GrantMe.
- Bode Kyle RVice president
- Graber RichardDirector
- Hanson GailDirector
- Peterson MarciaDirector & chairman of the board
- Pierson WarrenDirector
- Rahn James CDirector & president
- Ramirez AustinDirector
- Roell StevenDirector
- Senske Michael WCfo & treasurer
- Tabat DawnDirector
As listed in its 2024 IRS filing. Many foundations decide through their board, so a personal connection often matters more than a perfect application.
What it funds most often
- Develop a framework to form leaders for flourishing at belmont university (1 grant)
- Implement apdp (1 grant)
- Embedding em institutionally (1 grant)
Tennessee organizations it funded
Putnam County grants are listed first, then the largest. Past winners are good people to ask what the foundation looks for. Select a group to see who else funds it.
| Past winner | Where | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee Technological University | Cookeville, Putnam County | Embedding em institutionally | $25K |
| Belmont University | Nashville, Davidson County | Develop a framework to form leaders for flourishing at belmont university | $1M |
| Lipscomb University | Nashville, Davidson County | Implement apdp | $70K |
Grants approved for future years
In its tax-year 2024 IRS Form 990-PF the foundation listed grants it had approved but not yet paid: 4 to Tennessee groups totaling $7.2 million. These are multi-year commitments, so they show what it has promised to keep funding. Some may have been paid since.
| Recipient | Where | Purpose | Amount | Tax year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belmont University | Nashville, Davidson County | Character integration | $3M | 2024 |
| Belmont University | Nashville, Davidson County | Character integration | $3M | 2024 |
| Lipscomb University | Nashville, Davidson County | Implement apdp | $597K | 2024 |
| Lipscomb University | Nashville, Davidson County | Implement apdp | $597K | 2024 |
Data: GivingTuesday Data Commons, ODbL
Foundation website All its IRS filings (ProPublica) Sign in to save