The Robert D and Patricia E Kern Family Foundation Inc
Invitation OnlyWaukesha, Wisconsin · EIN 39-1923558 · Private foundation · Website
Grants paid (2024)$66.5M
Organizations funded108
Typical grant$45,000
Total assets$837M
Half of its grants to organizations were between $25,000 and $250,000.
From the return
How to apply
On its return for tax year 2024 the foundation checked the box saying it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
What it funds
Share of grant lines on the latest return, classified from the purpose each grant states.
Where it gives
88% of grants went outside Wisconsin.
Grants paid in tax year 2024
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charter Fund Inc | Denver, CO | Impact-Character-Cte integration | $14,400,000 |
| Mtf Fund | Overland Park, KS | Ongoing operational support | $9,164,400 |
| The Medical College of Wisconsin Inc | Milwaukee, WI | Kern institute - mcw - national transformation network | $7,500,000 |
| Greathearts Foundation | Phoenix, AZ | Network expansion and programming support | $6,500,000 |
| Arizona State University Foundation for a New American University | Tempe, AZ | Embedding em institutionally | $6,245,000 |
| Pbs Foundation | Arlington, VA | Development and promotion of ken burns film | $3,000,000 |
| Wake Forest University | Winstonsalem, NC | Embedding em institutionally; post-doc support | $2,211,875 |
| President and Fellows of Harvard College | Boston, MA | Human flourishing program capacity; pilot to address ethics and character on campus | $1,480,500 |
| British Schools and Universities Foundation Inc | New York, NY | Character initiative; development of character virtues | $1,191,329 |
| In Medias Res | Charlottesville, VA | Support four ongoing initiatives | $1,127,769 |
| Belmont University | Nashville, TN | Develop a framework to form leaders for flourishing at belmont university | $1,000,000 |
| Ohio State University Foundation | Columbus, OH | Embedding em institutionally | $839,375 |
| The Aspen Institute Inc | Washington, DC | Launch the digital leadership development index assessment tool | $817,620 |
| Windrider Institute Inc | Eagle, ID | Support for 2024 windrider forum | $650,000 |
| American Association of Colleges and Universities | Washington, DC | Support for the clte | $600,000 |
| George Washington University | Washington, DC | Embedding em institutionally | $549,000 |
| Milwaukee School of Engineering | Milwaukee, WI | Embedding em institutionally | $525,000 |
| Center for Urban Teaching Inc | Milwaukee, WI | Support leadership development program | $516,384 |
| University of Notre Dame Du Lac | Notre Dame, IN | To facilitate the cultivation of character in education across diverse fields | $500,000 |
| Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty Inc | Milwaukee, WI | General operating support | $500,000 |
| The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois | Champaign, IL | Embedding em institutionally | $495,000 |
| New Schools for Alabama | Birmingham, AL | Support creating and operating charter schools in alabama | $450,000 |
| Duke University | Durham, NC | Embedding em institutionally; implement apdp | $345,000 |
| Yes Every Kid Foundation | Arlington, VA | To support future implementation strategy | $302,500 |
| Parent Choice Inc | Brookfield, WI | Operating expense | $287,676 |
| Rowan University Foundation Inc | Glassboro, NJ | Embedding em institutionally | $251,250 |
| Bes Inc | Boston, MA | Embed virtue ethics character across leadership programs | $250,000 |
| Foundation for Individual Rights in Education Inc | Philadelphia, PA | Capacity building | $250,000 |
| Institute for Justice | Arlington, VA | General operating support | $250,000 |
| Texas Tech Foundation Inc | Lubbock, TX | To expand the capacity of the leader and culture development team at the texas tech university system | $229,000 |
| Colonial Williamsburg Foundation | Williamsburg, VA | General operating support | $200,000 |
| St Augustine Preparatory Academy Inc | Milwaukee, WI | General operating support | $175,000 |
| Teach for America Inc | New York, NY | General operating support | $175,000 |
| University of Missouri | Columbia, MO | Embedding em institutionally; support the center for character & citizenship (ccc) | $166,943 |
| Manhattan Institute for Policy Research Inc | New York, NY | Support steering committee for th ereformation of higher education boards | $150,000 |
| Rocketship Education | Redwood City, CA | Develop a comprehensive approach to character formation | $150,000 |
| Fresno Pacific University | Fresno, CA | Implement apdp | $137,750 |
| Uw-Platteville Foundation Inc | Platteville, WI | Embedding em institutionally | $137,000 |
| The Western Theological Seminary of the Reformed Church in America | Holland, MI | Implement apdp | $125,654 |
| Grand Canyon University | Phoenix, AZ | Embedding em institutionally; implement apdp | $125,000 |
| Montana State University | Bozeman, MT | Embedding em institutionally | $123,000 |
| Gordon College | Wenham, MA | Implement apdp | $114,000 |
| Character Lab Inc | Philadelphia, PA | Character focused content and programming | $110,700 |
| Drexel University | Philadelphia, PA | Embedding em institutionally | $100,000 |
| Northwest Nazarene University Inc | Nampa, ID | Implement apdp | $87,000 |
| California Baptist University | Riverside, CA | Implement apdp | $84,000 |
| Lipscomb University | Nashville, TN | Implement apdp | $70,000 |
| Biola University Inc | LA Mirada, CA | Grow apdp | $66,294 |
| James Madison University Foundation Inc | Harrisonburg, VA | Embedding em institutionally | $60,000 |
| North Caroline State University | Raleigh, NC | Embedding em institutionally | $55,000 |
| Gps Education Partners Inc | Waukesha, WI | General operating support | $50,000 |
| Lutheran High School Association of Greater Milwaukee | Milwaukee, WI | General operating support | $50,000 |
| Western New England University | Springfield, MA | Embedding em institutionally | $50,000 |
| Ohio Northern University | Ada, OH | Embedding em institutionally | $47,500 |
| Pennsylvania State University | University Park, PA | Embedding em institutionally | $45,000 |
| Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Terre Haute, IN | Embedding em institutionally | $39,000 |
| Colorado School of Mines | Golden, CO | Embedding em institutionally | $37,500 |
| The Citadel the Military College of South Carolina | Charleston, SC | Embedding em institutionally | $36,875 |
| Carnegie Mellon University | Pittsburgh, PA | Embedding em institutionally | $35,000 |
| Clemson University | Clemson, SC | Embedding em institutionally | $35,000 |
Showing the 60 largest of 108 grants to organizations.
Grants approved for future payment
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mtf Fund | Overland Park, KS | Ongoing operational support | $36,141,800 |
| The Medical College of Wisconsin Inc | Milwaukee, WI | Kern institute - mcw - national transformation network | $35,000,000 |
| Charter Fund Inc | Denver, CO | Impact-Character-Cte integration | $21,600,000 |
| Milwaukee School of Engineering | Milwaukee, WI | Embedding em institutionally | $20,000,000 |
| Arizona State University Foundation for a New American University | Tempe, AZ | Embedding em and pi institutionally | $15,400,000 |
| The Aspen Institute Inc | Washington, DC | Launch the digital leadership development index assessment tool | $7,884,900 |
| British Schools and Universities Foundation Inc | New York, NY | Character initiative; development of character virtues | $3,587,060 |
| Pbs Foundation | Arlington, VA | Development and promotion of ken burns film | $3,500,000 |
| Belmont University | Nashville, TN | Character integration | $3,000,000 |
| Greathearts Foundation | Phoenix, AZ | Network expansion and programming support | $3,000,000 |
| Wake Forest University | Winstonsalem, NC | Embedding em institutionally; post-doc support | $2,193,000 |
| Grand Canyon University | Phoenix, AZ | Embedding em institutionally; implement apdp | $1,591,000 |
| President and Fellows of Harvard College | Boston, MA | Human flourishing program capacity; pilot to address ethics and character on campus | $1,426,000 |
| Bes Inc | Boston, MA | Embed virtue ethics character across leadership programs | $1,140,000 |
| In Medias Res | Charlottesville, VA | Support four ongoing initiatives | $899,220 |
| Ohio State University Foundation | Columbus, OH | Embedding em institutionally | $740,000 |
| Lipscomb University | Nashville, TN | Implement apdp | $597,000 |
| University of Notre Dame Du Lac | Notre Dame, IN | Support vitues & vocations | $500,000 |
| Parent Choice Inc | Brookfield, WI | Operating expense | $487,324 |
| Texas Tech Foundation Inc | Lubbock, TX | Support leader and culture development team | $458,000 |
| The Western Theological Seminary of the Reformed Church in America | Holland, MI | Implement apdp | $251,308 |
| Manhattan Institute for Policy Research Inc | New York, NY | Program for college and university boards | $150,000 |
| Northwest Nazarene University Inc | Nampa, ID | Implement apdp | $98,000 |
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Grant lines |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $66,528,519 | 131 |
| 2023 | $54,002,017 | 185 |
Sources
- IRS Form 990-PF, tax year 2024, filed Nov 14, 2025 - IRS e-file batch, object ID 202533189349104083
- IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search for EIN 39-1923558
- Profile updated Nov 4, 2026
Facts on this page come from the foundation's own IRS Form 990-PF filings as published by the IRS. Grantvello does not know whether a foundation is accepting proposals right now: a past grant is not an open opportunity. Always confirm current guidelines with the funder before applying.