Denise and Michael Kellen Foundation Inc
The Denise and Michael Kellen Foundation Inc is a private family foundation established by Denise T. Kellen (Wellesley College '68) and Michael M. Kellen, son of Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen. Based in New York City, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and private non-operating foundation. The foundation has grown significantly, with total assets exceeding $624 million as of the most recent filings.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$18.0M
+346.5% YoY
Grant Count
13
-27.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$1.4M
+518.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's philanthropic priorities reflect the personal passions of its founders, with emphasis on:
- Medical Research: Particularly melanoma research, reflecting Denise's melanoma diagnosis in 1990
- Women's Empowerment in Science: Supporting advancement of women in scientific fields
- Animal Welfare: Including support for animal medical care and research
- Higher Education: With particular focus on educational institutions
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Applications are not accepted; the foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. This is an invitation-only grantmaking foundation.
Grant Range
$50,000 to $1,300,000
Average Grant
$443,700 (2023)
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation has national scope with primary focus on New York, and secondary presence in California, Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Washington D.C.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | Amount | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $624,682,709 | 2024 |
| Total Revenues | $121,702,630 | 2024 |
| Total Giving | $18,000,765 | 2024 |
| Total Expenses | $22,975,982 | 2024 |
| Annual Giving | $4,031,500 | 2023 |
Tax Status: Tax-exempt since June 2015; contributions are tax-deductible.
Staffing: 1 employee
| 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
60 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Wellesley College ($10,100,000), The Joan and Sanford I Weill ($5,000,000), Animal Medical Center ($1,250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACT OF CONNECTICUT RIDGEFIELD, CT | GENERAL FUND | $140,765 |
| ANIMAL MEDICAL CENTER NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL FUND | $1,250,000 |
| CHAPEL & YORK FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL FUND | $127,500 |
| GLEN ROCK BOOSTER CLUB GLEN ROCK, NJ | GENERAL FUND | $5,000 |
| HOSPITAL FOR SPECIAL SURGERY NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL FUND | $100,000 |
| RIDGEFIELD CONSERVATORY OF DANCE RIDGEFIELD, CT | GENERAL FUND | $10,000 |
| ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITY NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL FUND | $1,000,000 |
| SILVER HILL HOSPITAL NEW CANAAN, CT | GENERAL FUND | $200,000 |
| WELLESLEY COLLEGE WELLESLEY, MA | GENERAL FUND | $10,100,000 |
| CHABAD OF ICELAND INC BROOKLYN, NY | GENERAL FUND | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Michael M. Kellen: President/Treasurer
- Denise T. Kellen: Vice-President
- Caroline Kellen: Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MICHAEL M KELLEN | PRESIDENT/TREASURER | 0.1 | — |
| DENISE T KELLEN | VICE-PRESIDENT | 0.1 | — |
| CAROLINE KELLEN | DIRECTOR | 0.1 | — |
| CHRISTOPHER KELLEN | DIRECTOR | 0.1 | — |
| TRACY TUCKER-KNOX | DIRECTOR | 0.1 | — |
| MARIA SZABO-GOESSLER | SECRETARY | 0.1 | $72,000 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Denise and Michael Kellen Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's philanthropic priorities reflect the personal passions of its founders, with emphasis on: • **Medical Research**: Particularly melanoma research, reflecting Denise's melanoma diagnosis in 1990 • **Women's Empowerment in Science**: Supporting advancement of women in scientific fields • **Animal Welfare**: Including support for animal medical care and research • **Higher Education**: With particular focus on educational institutions
How do I apply for a grant from Denise and Michael Kellen Foundation Inc?
**Grant Activity:** • Annual giving: $4,031,500 (2023); $18,000,765 (2024) • Number of grants: 8-18 grants annually • Grant range: $50,000 to $1,300,000 • Average grant size: $443,700 (2023) • Median grant size: $126,300 (2023) **Application Process:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Applications are not accepted; the foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. This is an invitation-only grantmaking foundation. **Recent Grantees (2…
Where does Denise and Michael Kellen Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation has national scope with primary focus on New York, and secondary presence in California, Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Washington D.C.
What size grants does Denise and Michael Kellen Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Denise and Michael Kellen Foundation Inc awarded 13 grants totaling $18.0M — an average of about $1.4M per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Denise and Michael Kellen Foundation Inc's EIN?
Denise and Michael Kellen Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-3440549. 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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