Estelle J Kelsey Foundation
The Estelle J. Kelsey Foundation is a private foundation based in Reno, Nevada. Established in Nevada in 2014, it makes grants for educational, religious, and charitable purposes in the United States, with a stated leaning toward serving Northern Nevada.
Estelle J Kelsey Foundation at a glance
In short: Estelle J Kelsey Foundation gave $1.3M across 36 grants in 2025 (avg $35K), mostly in Nevada. 28% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,250,060
- +4.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 36
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $34,724
- +4.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,875
- Total assets
- $15,034,180
- -3.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 28% first-time grantees (9 of 32, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Nevada (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Estelle J Kelsey Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s filing says solicitations must meet its criteria of being charitable in nature and for a specific project or purpose. It does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Applicants must meet the foundation’s stated eligibility requirements, including holding an IRS determination letter establishing section 501(c)(3) status or other identification establishing eligibility to receive charitable contributions. The filing lists no restrictions on awards.
- Review Cycle
- No specific submission deadlines are in effect, according to the filing.
- Deadline
- No specific submission deadlines are in effect, according to the filing.
- Contact
Application contact: Estelle J Kelsey Foundation
Mailing address: 5008 Lakeridge Terrace East, Reno, NV 89509
Phone: (775) 826-4860
Website: https://ejkfoundation.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Estelle J Kelsey Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Renown Health Foundation ($250K). Together the top 10 received $1.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
152 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 128 grants of 152 (84%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website says grants are limited to purposes in the United States, with a leaning toward serving Northern Nevada. All reported grant dollars in filing year 2025 went to recipients in Nevada.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 36 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Estelle J Kelsey Foundation open to new grantees?
28%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 9 of 32 grantees (28%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $37K; repeat grants $40K. How we count
Medians: $12K first-time, $11K repeat.
- 69% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−4%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 88% 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 (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $900K (2019) to $1.3M (2022). In 2025 it made 36 grants totaling $1.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Renown Health Foundation Reno, NV | Deep Brain Foundation | $250,000 |
| Boys and Girls Club of Truckee Meadows Reno, NV | Education | $200,000 |
| Nevada Museum of Art Reno, NV | Hands on Program | $150,000 |
| University of Nevada Reno Foundation Reno, NV | Public Health Facility | $100,000 |
| University of Nevada Foundation Athletic Department Reno, NV | Field House Construction | $90,000 |
| Nevada State Prison Preservation Society Carson City, NV | Preservation Project | $80,000 |
| Food Bank of Northern Nevada Sparks, NV | Families in Need | $32,200 |
| Food Bank of Northern Nevada Sparks, NV | Food Program | $30,000 |
| Boys and Girls Club of Mason Valley Yerington, NV | Education | $25,000 |
| Boys and Girls Club of Western Nevada Carson City, NV | Education | $25,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Estelle J Kelsey Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $15,034,180 | $804,713 | $1,394,517 | $1,250,060 | 36 | $1,333,154 | $747,954 | $1,513,190 |
| 2024 | $15,623,984 | $540,366 | $1,344,104 | $1,200,000 | 36 | $1,283,028 | $483,734 | $1,401,970 |
| 2023 | $16,427,722 | $264,680 | $1,267,720 | $1,100,000 | 27 | $1,182,461 | $424,372 | $1,205,285 |
| 2022 | $17,430,762 | $1,898,763 | $1,487,228 | $1,300,200 | 28 | $1,381,744 | $1,843,325 | $1,183,485 |
| 2021 | $17,019,227 | $1,913,180 | $1,189,609 | $1,050,010 | 25 | $1,131,210 | $1,858,116 | $1,357,072 |
| 2020 | $16,295,656 | $437,418 | $1,128,458 | $975,800 | 27 | — | $381,566 | $1,135,591 |
| 2019 | $16,986,696 | $1,117,818 | $1,011,788 | $900,000 | 23 | — | $1,075,750 | $1,047,978 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Estelle J Kelsey Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.5M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation states that it is organized and operated for educational, religious, and charitable purposes. Its website describes support for educational programs for youth and adults; civic and cultural projects involving arts, culture, and design; medicine and science; and religion and social services.
Its 2025 grants included support for organizations whose own missions describe youth development, health and well-being, arts and culture, university education, hunger relief, and medical resources. For example, the Boys and Girls Club of Truckee Meadows says it helps young people develop through diversified programming; the Nevada Museum of Art says it provides a forum for creative ideas and aims to serve as a community cultural resource; and the Food Bank of Northern Nevada says its mission is to feed people facing hunger and work toward solving hunger through community partnership.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 36 grants totaling $1,250,060. Grants ranged from $2,500 to $250,000, with a median of $10,875.
Among the largest reported grants were $250,000 to Renown Health Foundation for “Deep Brain Foundation,” $200,000 to Boys and Girls Club of Truckee Meadows for education, $150,000 to Nevada Museum of Art for a hands-on program, and $100,000 to University of Nevada Reno Foundation for a public health facility. Other grants included $90,000 to University of Nevada Foundation Athletic Department for field house construction, $80,000 to Nevada State Prison Preservation Society for a preservation project, and two grants to Food Bank of Northern Nevada totaling $62,200.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Donald Bernard Sr. as trustee, chairman, and president; Carolyn Bernard as trustee, secretary, and treasurer; and Donald Bernard II as trustee.
Estelle J Kelsey Foundation is led by Donald Bernard Sr., Trustee, Chairman & President on every filing since 2019; all 3 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Donald Bernard Sr.
Trustee, Chairman & President
On filings since 2019
20 hrs/week
$50K (2019) → $65K (2025)
Carolyn Bernard
Trustee, Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
$25K (2019) → $40K (2025)
Donald Bernard II
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$10K (2019) → $15K (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $65K, to Donald Bernard Sr (Trustee/Chairman/President). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Estelle J Kelsey Foundation
How much does Estelle J Kelsey Foundation give each year?
Estelle J Kelsey Foundation gave $1.3M across 36 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.2M across 36 grants.
What is Estelle J Kelsey Foundation's typical grant size?
Estelle J Kelsey Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,875, and its average grant was $34,724, across 36 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Estelle J Kelsey Foundation that year got $37K on average.
Where does Estelle J Kelsey Foundation give grants?
Estelle J Kelsey Foundation gives mostly in Nevada: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Reno, NV (29 grants), Sparks, NV (3 grants) and Carson City, NV (2 grants).
Does Estelle J Kelsey Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 36 grants with a stated purpose on Estelle J Kelsey Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Education" (3 grants).
Who are Estelle J Kelsey Foundation's largest grantees?
Estelle J Kelsey Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Renown Health Foundation ($250,000), Boys and Girls Club of Truckee Meadows ($216,500 across 3 grants) and Nevada Museum of Art ($150,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 49% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Estelle J Kelsey Foundation?
Estelle J Kelsey Foundation reported $15.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.5M (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 Estelle J Kelsey Foundation fund?
The foundation states that it is organized and operated for educational, religious, and charitable purposes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Estelle J Kelsey Foundation?
The foundation’s filing says solicitations must meet its criteria of being charitable in nature and for a specific project or purpose. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Estelle J Kelsey Foundation's EIN?
Estelle J Kelsey Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-3362061. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 14, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 9, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 5, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 7, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 8, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 5, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Live grants for the work Estelle J Kelsey Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Estelle J Kelsey Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Estelle J Kelsey Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/estelle-j-kelsey-foundation-morg_3044e56be2b647be97aa5464647ce4c6
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_463362061_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Estelle J Kelsey Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/estelle-j-kelsey-foundation-morg_3044e56be2b647be97aa5464647ce4c6},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-19. 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 Estelle J Kelsey Foundation'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.
Estelle J Kelsey Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?