Jackson Kemper Foundation

HAWTHORN WOODS, IL EIN: 36-4152920

The Jackson Kemper Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1997 in Illinois. Based in Hawthorn Woods, IL, the foundation operates as a grantmaking organization focused on supporting charitable causes across multiple states and program areas.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

Annual Giving

$14.1M

-6.3% YoY

Grant Count

33

-21.4% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$426K

+19.2% YoY

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

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation's grantmaking priorities include:

  • Education
  • Philanthropy and Voluntarism
  • Human Services
  • Health
  • Community and Economic Development
  • Housing Development

Grantmaking

The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. All grants are made by invitation only to preselected organizations.

Grant Range

$5,000 - $3,063,298

How to Apply

**

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation supports organizations primarily in California, New York, and Illinois, while also extending grants to communities across the United States, including major urban centers and smaller communities.

Grant Distribution by State

22states
+14 more states

Cities

ALPHARETTAAPPLE VALLEYBEACONBERKLEYBROOMFIELDCEDAR LAKECEDAR PARKCINCINNATICRYSTAL LAKEDAVENPORTDELAWAREEL DORADOFORT WAYNEFRANKLINFT WAYNEGENEVAGRAND RAPIDSHOLLANDLAKE VILLALEXINGTON

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Assets & Giving (as of 2023)

  • Total assets: $60,317,600
  • Total annual giving: $15,008,802
  • Total revenues: $2,253,390
  • Total expenses: $15,337,289
  • Total liabilities: $0
  • Giving rate: 24.9% of assets

Investment Income

  • Investment income and dividends (2023): $1,698,445
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$0.275$0.55$0.8250000000000001$1.120202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
Distributable Amount

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$4M$8M$11M$15M43 grants202039 grants202131 grants202242 grants202333 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

AMIGOS DE HONDURAS$3.2MFISTULA FOUNDATION$2.2MDOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERSMSF$2.0MSEVA$865KPREDISAN - USA INC$819KHOPE ETHIOPIA$795KHAITI EDUCATION FOUNDATION$500KPROJECT MERCY$500KCHILDREN OF THE NATIONS$400KEMERGENCY USA$296K

Grant Size Distribution

188 grants across all recorded years

40<$50K10$50–100K57$100–250K43$250–500K31$500K–1M7$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Amigos De Honduras ($3,234,328), Fistula Foundation ($2,200,000), Doctors Without Bordersmsf ($2,000,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
ALLENDALE ASSOCIATION LAKE VILLA, ILGRANT TO SUPPORT CAREER & TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS$25,000
AMIGOS DE HONDURAS SEATTLE, WAGRANT TO SUPPORT SCHOOL LUNCHES, HOUSING, AND WATER SYSTEMS WEST HONDURAS$3,234,328
ASSOCIATION FOR A MORE JUST SOCIETY GRAND RAPIDS, MIGRANT TO SUPPORT OPERATIONS$250,000
BUILD A DREAM ROCKFORD, ILGRANT TO SUPPORT EDUCATION, FOOD, AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES$75,000
CHILDREN OF THE NATIONS SILVERDALE, WAGRANT TO SUPPORT HAITI & DR THROUGH FOOD AND EDUCATION$400,000
CLINICIA SAN LUCAS GRACIA HOLLAND, MIGRANT TO SUPPORT THE CLINICA SAN LUCAS$100,000
CURING KIDS CANCER MARIETTA, GAGRANT TO SUPPORT OPERATIONS$10,000
D M STEARNS MISSIONARY FUND NORTH WALES, PAGRANT TO SUPPORT OPERATIONS$25,000
DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERSMSF NEW YORK, NYGRANT TO SUPPORT CARING FOR THE NEXT GENERATION SAHEL$2,000,000
EL AYUDANTE MISSIONS USA RODEO, CAGRANT TO SUPPORT OPERATIONS$100,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

  • Jackson Kemper Jr. (President)
  • Sharon J. Kemper (Secretary/Treasurer)
  • Mark Costa (Director)

The foundation operates with an all-volunteer leadership team that receives no compensation.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
JACKSON KEMPER JRPRESIDENT1
SHARON J KEMPERSECRETARY/TREASURER1
MARK COSTADIRECTOR1

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Jackson Kemper Foundation fund?

The foundation's grantmaking priorities include: • Education • Philanthropy and Voluntarism • Human Services • Health • Community and Economic Development • Housing Development

How do I apply for a grant from Jackson Kemper Foundation?

**Grant Activity (2023)** • Total annual giving: $15,008,802 • Number of grants: 42-43 awards • Grant range: $5,000 - $3,063,298 • Median grant size: $200,000 **Application Process** The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. All grants are made by invitation only to preselected organizations. **Recent Grants (2023)** Notable grants include: • Amigos de Honduras: $3,063,298 (Proyecto Aldea Global support) • Fistula Foundation: $1,000,000 (General operations) • Project Mercy: $500,…

Where does Jackson Kemper Foundation make grants?

The foundation supports organizations primarily in California, New York, and Illinois, while also extending grants to communities across the United States, including major urban centers and smaller communities.

What size grants does Jackson Kemper Foundation award?

In 2024, Jackson Kemper Foundation awarded 33 grants totaling $14.1M — an average of about $426K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

What is Jackson Kemper Foundation's EIN?

Jackson Kemper Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4152920. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in Jackson Kemper 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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