Grayce B Kerr Fund Inc
Grayce B Kerr Fund Inc is a private family foundation based in Easton, Maryland. The organization was chartered in Oklahoma in 1986 and reincorporated in Maryland in 1993. The foundation operates as an independent philanthropy focused on strategic investment in organizations and innovative programs across multiple states.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$30.5M
+2.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.3M
+11.3% YoY
Grant Count
44
+2.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$29K
+8.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Grayce B Kerr Fund Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation seeks opportunities to invest strategically in the health and viability of organizations whose principal interests include:
- Educational achievement
- Arts and culture
- Life skills
- Research directed toward enhancing the information base available for public-policy making
- Environmental conservation
- Community development
- Sports and recreation
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$31,000
Average Grant
$31,000
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Grayce B Kerr Fund Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Maryland and New England, with particular concentration in:
- Maryland (49% of grants)
- Massachusetts
- Rhode Island
- Maine
- New York
- Virginia
- Pennsylvania
- Tennessee
- Delaware
Approximately 96% of all grants support organizations in Maryland, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets:
- $30,500,282 (most recent reporting)
- $29,840,599 (2023 ledger value)
- $29.8 million (alternative reporting)
Annual Activity:
- Total giving: $1,287,104 (2024)
- Annual income: $2.8 million
- Reported expenses: approximately $1.84 million
- Revenue: $734,567
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $30,500,282 | $29,840,599 | $30,927,311 |
| Revenue | $2,715,294 | $734,567 | $-455,433 |
| Expenses | $2,073,292 | $1,841,681 | $2,165,238 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,771,370 | $1,627,547 | $2,001,146 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,558,069 | $610,245 | — |
| Distributable Amount | $1,692,221 | $1,727,171 | $1,924,098 |
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
210 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Chesapeake Conservancy ($327,500), Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution ($320,000), Cultural Alliance of Medfied Dba Bellforge Arts Center ($250,517).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACADEMY ART MUSEUM EASTON, MD | BUGATTI EXHIBIT | $7,500 |
| ALLEGRO ACADEMY EASTON, MD | MATCHING GIFT | $100 |
| CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF WILMINGTON WILMINGTON, DE | MATCHING GIFT | $100 |
| CHESAPEAKE BAY MARITIME MUSEUM ST MICHAELS, MD | MATCHING GIFT | $100 |
| CHESAPEAKE BAY TRUST ANNAPOLIS, MD | MATCHING GIFT | $2,000 |
| CHESAPEAKE CONSERVANCY ANNAPOLIS, MD | CONSERVATION USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE | $327,500 |
| CLAIBORNE VILLAGE ASSOCIATION CLAIBORNE, MD | MATCHING GIFT | $200 |
| CRITCHLOW ADKINS CHILDREN'S CENTERS EASTON, MD | MATCHING GIFT | $100 |
| CULTURAL ALLIANCE OF MEDFIED DBA BELLFORGE ARTS CENTER MEDFIED, MA | BELLFORGE ARTS CENTER | $250,517 |
| DOVER LAND CONSERVATION TRUST DOVER, MA | ADDITIONAL PROPERTY | $1,021 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- John R. Valliant – President and CEO
- Marcy Kerr Yuknat – Chair
- David A. Yuknat – Secretary/Treasurer
Major Donors:
- Grayce B. Kerr Flynn
- Breene M. Kerr
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN R VALLIANT | PRESIDENT & CEO | 40 | $242,440 |
| MARCY KERR YUKNAT | CHAIR | 1 | — |
| DAVID A YUKNAT | SECRETARY/TREASURER | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation awarded a $1 million grant to Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution for an award program supporting early-career scientists.
WHOI Receives $1 Million Award for Early-Career Scientists from Grayce\Recent grant recipients have included organizations such as:
Grant Recipients Announced for Black Rock Wind Farm\u2019s Annual Community\Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution ($960,000)
Chesapeake Conservancy ($462,500)
Cultural Alliance of Medfield DBA Bellforge Arts Center ($750,000)
Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum (educational programs and cultural preservation)
Eastern Shore Conservation Center (environmental stewardship and sustainable development)
Talbot Mentors (community development and leadership)
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Grayce B Kerr Fund Inc fund?
The foundation seeks opportunities to invest strategically in the health and viability of organizations whose principal interests include: • Educational achievement • Arts and culture • Life skills • Research directed toward enhancing the information base available for public-policy making • Environmental conservation • Community development • Sports and recreation
How do I apply for a grant from Grayce B Kerr Fund Inc?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $100–$500,000 • Average grant size: $31,000 • Median grant: $1,000 • Individual grants have ranged from $100 to $500,000 **Recent Activity:** • 43 grants awarded in 2024 totaling $1,287,104 • Historical grantmaking has ranged between $1.1 million and $3.1 million annually (2020-2023) • Highest grantmaking activity occurred in 2022 with $3.1 million distributed across 90 grants • The foundation has supported 74 unique organizations with a total o…
Where does Grayce B Kerr Fund Inc make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Maryland and New England, with particular concentration in: • Maryland (49% of grants) • Massachusetts • Rhode Island • Maine • New York • Virginia • Pennsylvania • Tennessee • Delaware Approximately 96% of all grants support organizations in Maryland, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.
What size grants does Grayce B Kerr Fund Inc award?
In 2024, Grayce B Kerr Fund Inc awarded 44 grants totaling $1.3M — an average of about $29K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Grayce B Kerr Fund Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Grayce B Kerr Fund Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Grayce B Kerr Fund Inc's EIN?
Grayce B Kerr Fund Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 73-1256124. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Grayce B Kerr Fund Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
The Abell Foundation Inc
BALTIMORE, MD
Assets
$296.4M
Grants
391
Total Given
$13.4M
Rotary Club of Columbia Patuxent
COLUMBIA, MD
Assets
$376K
Grants
1
Total Given
$12K
American Federation for Children Growth
COLUMBIA, MD
Assets
$9.4M
Grants
11
Total Given
$2.4M
Mayfield Scholastic Ltd
BALTIMORE, MD
Assets
—
Grants
1
Total Given
$38K
Baltimore Curriculum Project Inc
BALTIMORE, MD
Assets
$17.3M
Grants
6
Total Given
$2.7M
Government Employees' Benefit
HANOVER, MD
Assets
$3K
Grants
43
Total Given
$108K
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Grayce B Kerr Fund Inc on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching Grayce B Kerr Fund Inc to a real strategy.