The Ethel Kennedy Foundation is a private foundation based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Established in May 1986, it operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization with EIN 11-2768682.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$9.0M

-0.9% YoY

Annual Giving

$601K

+2.7% YoY

Grant Count

44

+10.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$14K

-6.6% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ethel Kennedy Foundation reported a distributable amount of $720K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation's grant-making priorities include:

  • Education
  • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
  • Human Services

Grantmaking

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

21states
+13 more states

Cities

AlbuquerqueAmagansettAmherestAmherstBaltimoreBirminghgamBooneBostonCambridgeCharlotteChicagoChula VistaClintonCopakeCordovaDorchesterEast HamptonFalmouthGambierGlen Rock

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

  • Total Assets: $9,009,826
  • Total Annual Giving: $601,000
  • Tax-Exempt Status: Since May 1986
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$209K$417K$626K$834K20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$9,009,826$9,092,256$9,290,488
Revenue$608,215$459,576$325,718
Expenses$690,645$657,808$758,271
Qualifying Distributions$613,141$596,450$677,197
Net Investment Income$537,657$398,218$256,714
Distributable Amount$720,406$612,990$604,392

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$164K$328K$493K$657K59 grants202048 grants202152 grants202240 grants202344 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

THE LEARNING ALLIANCE$92KGEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY LA…$75KART DEPARTMENT FACULTY D…$45KPLANNED PARENTHOOD$30KSALISBURY SCHOOL - JOHN …$25KUMASS BOSTON EKM SCHOLAR…$25KHABITAT FOR HUMANITY IND…$20KHAMPSHIRE COLLEGE$20KORANGE COUNTY SCHOOL OF …$20KSOUTHAMPTON HOSPITAL FOU…$20K

Grant Size Distribution

232 grants across all recorded years

221<$50K10$50–100K1$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The Learning Alliance ($92,200), Georgetown University Law Center ($75,000), Art Department Faculty Development Fund ($45,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
ACCESS CHALLENGE NEW YORK, NYCHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION$10,000
ALS BOONE, IACHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION$3,000
ART DEPARTMENT FACULTY DEVELOPMENT FUND UTICA, NYCHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION$45,000
BEAGLE FREEDOM PROJECT VALLEY VILLAGE, CACHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION$5,000
BROADWAY HOUSING COMMUNITIES NEW YORK, NYCHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION$5,000
CAMBRIDGE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION CAMBRIDGE, MACHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION$10,000
CAMP HILL VILLAGE COPAKE, NYCHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION$9,000
CHARITY NAVIGATOR HARLAN, IACHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION$500
COLUMBIA BUSINESS SCHOOL NEW YORK, NYCHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION$10,000
DUDLEY STREET NEIGHBORHOOD INITIATIVE ROXBURY, MACHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION$1,200

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
PAUL MARRANPRESIDENT
ELIZABETH MARRANTREASURER
LYNN MARRANSECRETARY

Recent Activity

Recent developments and announcements

The foundation has supported The Kennedy Forum, which received a $400,000 grant to advance change in substance use disorder care.

The Kennedy Forum Receives $400,000 Grant to Propel Change in Substance Use

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Ethel Kennedy Foundation fund?

The foundation's grant-making priorities include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services

How do I apply for a grant from Ethel Kennedy Foundation?

**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $500 to $100,000. **Annual Giving:** The foundation distributed $601,000 in grants based on its most recent filing. **Geographic Focus:** The foundation primarily funds organizations in New York, California, and Massachusetts.

What size grants does Ethel Kennedy Foundation award?

In 2024, Ethel Kennedy Foundation awarded 44 grants totaling $601K — an average of about $14K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Ethel Kennedy Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Ethel Kennedy Foundation reported a distributable amount of $720K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is Ethel Kennedy Foundation's EIN?

Ethel Kennedy Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 11-2768682. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in Ethel Kennedy Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database

Related Funders

Similar funders by location and focus area

Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

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