The Defne and Muhtar Kent Educational Foundation is a private foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware, established in 2012. As a 501(c)(3) organization, it operates as a family foundation dedicated to supporting educational initiatives.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$1.1M
-3.5% YoY
Grant Count
41
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$26K
-3.5% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation provides funding for scholarships and educational programs. Its grantmaking priorities include Education, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, and Single Organization Support.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 11 grants in 2023 with total giving of $1,103,936. Grant amounts typically range from $500 to $321,544. Recent grantees include the Schwab Charitable Fund, which received an in-kind grant of $321,544 in December 2023.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports educational initiatives across the United States and Canada, with particular activity in California, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. It also funds organizations in numerous other states including Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, and Vermont, as well as major cities such as New York, Los Angeles, and Toronto.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2023:
- Total Assets: $20,140,185
- Total Revenues: $866,812
- Total Expenses: $1,262,428
- Total Liabilities: $0
Revenue sources include investment income and dividends ($713,461) and net gains from sale of non-inventory assets ($153,351).
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
199 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Donor Advised Charitable Giving ($203,090), M Tiryaki ($40,000), E Ozdemir ($30,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A Adiguzel TEMPE, AZ | Scholarship Grant | $15,447 |
| Y Yilmaz BOSTON, MA | Scholarship Grant | $25,145 |
| E Inan BOSTON, MA | Scholarship Grant | $20,000 |
| I Turasi PASADENA, CA | Scholarship Grant | $5,200 |
| DONOR ADVISED CHARITABLE GIVING OMAHA, NE | General & Unrestricted (SEE GENERAL EXPLANATION) | $203,090 |
| D Altaylar PHILADELPHIA, PA | Scholarship Grant | $25,000 |
| E Ozdemir PHILADELPHIA, PA | Scholarship Grant | $30,000 |
| M Yurtseven ATLANTA, GA | Scholarship Grant | $25,000 |
| D Onalir ATLANTA, GA | Scholarship Grant | $5,000 |
| M Tiryaki BALTIMORE, MD | Scholarship Grant | $40,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Muhtar Kent serves as President and Director of the foundation. Defne Kent holds multiple roles including Director, Secretary, and Treasurer. Board members Cem Omer Kent and Selin Ipek Kent serve on a voluntary basis without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cem Omer Kent | Dir | 1 | — |
| Defne Kent | Dir, Sec, Treas | 1 | — |
| Muhtar Kent | Pres, Dir | 1 | — |
| Selin Ipek Kent | Dir | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Defne and Muhtar Kent Educational Foundation fund?
The foundation provides funding for scholarships and educational programs. Its grantmaking priorities include Education, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, and Single Organization Support.
How do I apply for a grant from Defne and Muhtar Kent Educational Foundation?
The foundation made 11 grants in 2023 with total giving of $1,103,936. Grant amounts typically range from $500 to $321,544. Recent grantees include the Schwab Charitable Fund, which received an in-kind grant of $321,544 in December 2023. The foundation appears open to new applicants.
Where does Defne and Muhtar Kent Educational Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports educational initiatives across the United States and Canada, with particular activity in California, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. It also funds organizations in numerous other states including Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, and Vermont, as well as major cities such as New York, Los Angeles, and Toronto.
What size grants does Defne and Muhtar Kent Educational Foundation award?
In 2024, Defne and Muhtar Kent Educational Foundation awarded 41 grants totaling $1.1M — an average of about $26K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Defne and Muhtar Kent Educational Foundation's EIN?
Defne and Muhtar Kent Educational Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-2735138. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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