Denise and Michael Kellen Foundation Inc
The Denise and Michael Kellen Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in New York, NY. Its 2024 grants supported organizations including a college, research and medical institutions, and arts and community organizations.
Denise and Michael Kellen Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Denise and Michael Kellen Foundation Inc gave $18.0M across 13 grants in 2024 (avg $1.4M), mostly in Massachusetts. 31% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $18,000,765
- +346.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 13
- -27.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $1,384,674
- +518.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $127,500
- Total assets
- $624,682,709
- +5.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 31% first-time grantees (4 of 13, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (56% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Denise and Michael Kellen Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1345 Avenue Of The Americas 47Th F, New York, NY 10105
Phone: (212) 269-8628
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Denise and Michael Kellen Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Wellesley College ($10.1M). Together the top 10 received $18.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
60 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 23 grants of 60 (38%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 56% of grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts, 42% to New York, and 2% to Connecticut. The filing also reports 0% for New Jersey.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Denise and Michael Kellen Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
31%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 4 of 13 grantees (31%) were first-time recipients. With only 13 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $1.3M; repeat grants $1.4M. How we count
Medians: $30K first-time, $141K repeat.
- 69% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 326% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 61% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $3.5M (2020) to $18.0M (2024). In 2024 it made 13 grants totaling $18.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Wellesley College Wellesley, MA | General Fund | $10,100,000 |
| The Joan and Sanford I Weill New York, NY | General Fund | $5,000,000 |
| Animal Medical Center New York, NY | General Fund | $1,250,000 |
| Rockefeller University New York, NY | General Fund | $1,000,000 |
| Silver Hill Hospital New Canaan, CT | General Fund | $200,000 |
| Act of Connecticut Ridgefield, CT | General Fund | $140,765 |
| Chapel & York Foundation New York, NY | General Fund | $127,500 |
| Hospital for Special Surgery New York, NY | General Fund | $100,000 |
| Chabad of Iceland Inc Brooklyn, NY | General Fund | $50,000 |
| Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance Ridgefield, CT | General Fund | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $624,682,709 | $55,106,329 | $22,975,982 | $18,000,765 | 13 | $18,117,039 | $40,313,047 | $29,645,841 |
| 2023 | $592,552,362 | $514,375,881 | $4,660,193 | $4,031,500 | 18 | $4,083,464 | $15,191,759 | $17,848,899 |
| 2022 | $82,836,674 | $16,271,490 | $5,824,352 | $5,324,500 | 12 | $5,370,450 | $16,189,377 | $4,557,324 |
| 2021 | $72,389,536 | $2,579,968 | $4,381,057 | $4,227,500 | 7 | $4,273,484 | $2,991,858 | $4,834,883 |
| 2020 | $74,190,625 | $1,319,601 | $4,333,983 | $3,452,000 | 10 | — | $1,217,450 | $4,335,833 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Denise and Michael Kellen Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $29.6M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of organizations. Wellesley College describes its mission as providing an excellent liberal arts education for women. The Rockefeller University describes itself as a center for biomedical and other scientific research and graduate education, with a mission of improving understanding of life for humanity’s benefit. Silver Hill Hospital says its mission is to reduce suffering from mental illness and addiction, while A.C.T. of Connecticut describes its mission as elevating entertainment in Fairfield County and fostering community through the arts.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 13 grants totaling $18,000,765. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $10,100,000, with a median of $127,500. In 2023, it reported 18 grants totaling $4,031,500. Its 2024 filing, the latest on this page, reports 13 grants totaling $18 million.
The largest reported 2024 grants included $10,100,000 to Wellesley College, $5,000,000 to The Joan and Sanford I Weill, $1,250,000 to Animal Medical Center, and $1,000,000 to Rockefeller University. The filing lists each of these grants’ purpose as “general fund.”
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Michael M. Kellen as president/treasurer and Denise T. Kellen as vice-president. It also lists Caroline Kellen, Christopher Kellen, and Tracy Tucker-Knox as directors, and Maria Szabo-Goessler as secretary.
Denise and Michael Kellen Foundation Inc is led by Michael M. Kellen, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2020; 1 of 6 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Michael M. Kellen
President & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Caroline Kellen
Director
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christopher Kellen
Director
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tracy Tucker-Knox
Director
On filings since 2022
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Maria Szabo-Goessler
Secretary
On filings since 2022
0.1 hrs/week
$26K (2022) → $72K (2024)
Denise T. Kellen
Vice President
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Nina M. Gorrissen (2020–2021) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $72K, to Maria Szabo-Goessler (Secretary).
Frequently asked questions about Denise and Michael Kellen Foundation Inc
How much does Denise and Michael Kellen Foundation Inc give each year?
Denise and Michael Kellen Foundation Inc gave $18.0M across 13 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $4.0M across 18 grants.
What is Denise and Michael Kellen Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Denise and Michael Kellen Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $127,500, and its average grant was $1,384,674, across 13 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Denise and Michael Kellen Foundation Inc that year got $1.3M on average.
Where does Denise and Michael Kellen Foundation Inc give grants?
Denise and Michael Kellen Foundation Inc gives mostly in Massachusetts: 56% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (42%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (6 grants) and Ridgefield, CT (3 grants).
Does Denise and Michael Kellen Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Denise and Michael Kellen Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (13 of 13) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Denise and Michael Kellen Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Denise and Michael Kellen Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Wellesley College ($10,100,000), The Joan and Sanford I Weill ($5,000,000) and Animal Medical Center ($1,250,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 91% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Denise and Michael Kellen Foundation Inc?
Denise and Michael Kellen Foundation Inc reported $624.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $18.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $29.6M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Denise and Michael Kellen Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of organizations. Wellesley College describes its mission as providing an excellent liberal arts education for women. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Denise and Michael Kellen Foundation Inc?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Does Denise and Michael Kellen Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Denise and Michael Kellen Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/denise-and-michael-kellen-foundation-inc-morg_e3925c950f8d41179c8938fa1b142406
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_473440549_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Denise and Michael Kellen Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/denise-and-michael-kellen-foundation-inc-morg_e3925c950f8d41179c8938fa1b142406},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Denise and Michael Kellen Foundation Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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