Fm Kirby Foundation Inc
The F. M. Kirby Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1931 by Fred Morgan Kirby, one of the founders of the F.W. Woolworth Co. Based in Morristown, New Jersey, the foundation operates as a family foundation designed to continue in perpetuity through generations of the Kirby family. Since its inception, the foundation has awarded more than $700 million in grants to nonprofit organizations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$310.4M
+2.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$16.8M
+9.0% YoY
Grant Count
264
+3.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$64K
+4.9% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation aims to effectively manage and utilize resources entrusted to it over multiple generations of the Kirby family, making thoughtful and prudent philanthropic commitments to highly selective grantee partners. The foundation's goal is to invest in opportunities that foster self-reliance and create strong, healthy communities.
The foundation supports a wide array of organizations across the following areas of interest:
- Arts and Humanities — with particular emphasis on the transformative power of arts in early education
- Education — including support for academic freedom and free speech in colleges and universities
- Health
- Human Services — including housing insecurity and support for safe, affordable housing
- Environment and Animals
- Public Affairs
- Religion
- Early Literacy — improving early literacy skills for at-risk first grade students
Grantmaking
The foundation demonstrates a strong commitment to long-term partnerships. Over half of its grantees have been partners of the foundation for more than 20 years, reflecting the foundation's philosophy of sustained funding relationships.
Grant Range
$37,500
Average Grant
$57,600
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation maintains a strong commitment to its home region while supporting organizations nationally:
- New Jersey: Over 100 grants totaling more than $5.2 million, with 60 grants (totaling $3.1 million) supporting work in Morris County
- Regional: Additional grants totaling over $9 million support organizations in Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina, regions connected to Kirby family members
- National: Support for national nonprofits, largely based in Washington, D.C.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $310.4 million
- Total Revenue: $27.0 million
- Total Expenses: $20.8 million
- Total Liabilities: $3.2 million
- Number of Employees: 6
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $310,414,266 | $302,891,224 | $309,131,938 |
| Revenue | $27,018,922 | $11,827,483 | $22,400,451 |
| Expenses | $20,758,537 | $18,731,112 | $16,300,711 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $17,960,753 | $16,516,085 | $15,313,551 |
| Net Investment Income | $25,798,453 | $10,851,954 | $21,296,557 |
| Distributable Amount | $17,665,361 | $16,527,828 | $16,555,040 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- S. Dillard Kirby — President/Vice President
- Justin J. Kiczek — Executive Vice President (joined September 2019)
- Jefferson W. Kirby — Vice President
- Helen Benson — Director of Finance
The board includes five Kirby family members spanning two generations, as well as two non-family directors.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JUSTIN J KICZEK | PRESIDENT | 35 | $273,000 |
| HELEN BENSON | DIRECTOR FINANCE/TREASURER/SECRETARY | 35 | $166,400 |
| LAURA H VIRKLER | CHAIRPERSON | 4 | — |
| S DILLARD KIRBY | VICE PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| LEIGH K KLEIN | ASST SECRETARY/DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ELIZABETH M KIRBY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| WILSON M COMPTON MD MPE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SANDRA BROWN SHERMAN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ASHLEY HORTON FREEDMAN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| J WALKER KIRBY JR | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| F MORGAN KIRBY IV | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation continues to expand its grantmaking activity. In early 2025, the foundation announced $8.9 million in grants, followed by the announcement of $17.1 million in grants for the full year 2025. The foundation's 2024 grantees addressed critical needs including expanding access to education, preserving natural spaces, and celebrating the arts. The foundation also launched a five-part webinar series titled "We the People: Reflections at 250" celebrating America's 250th anniversary by exploring enduring principles that shaped the nation's foundation.
Morristown's Kirby Foundation announces $17.1M in grants in 2025 - MorristownRelated Funders
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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