John & Elaine Kanas Family Foundation
The John & Elaine Kanas Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Remsenburg, New York. In 2023, it reported grants to charitable organizations in New York, including a college preparatory school, a university, and a medical center foundation.
John & Elaine Kanas Family Foundation at a glance
In short: John & Elaine Kanas Family Foundation gave $2.7M across 21 grants in 2023 (avg $126K), mostly in New York. 38% of 2023 grantees were new. Source: 2023 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2023)
- $2,655,750
- +217.8% vs 2022
- Grants made (2023)
- 21
- -32.3% vs 2022
- Average grant
- $126,464
- +369.1% vs 2022
- Median grant
- $3,600
- Total assets
- $31,629,977
- -5.7% vs 2022
- New grantees (estimate)
- 38% first-time grantees (8 of 21, 2023; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New York (100% of itemized 2023 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2023 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2023; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to John & Elaine Kanas Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Contact
Mailing address: 175 Montauk Highway PO Box 668, Remsenburg, NY 11960
Phone: (305) 231-6672
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who John & Elaine Kanas Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2023
The largest 2023 recipient was Stony Brook School ($1.2M). Together the top 10 received $2.6M.
Grant Size Distribution
111 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 91 grants of 111 (82%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All reported 2023 grant dollars went to recipients in New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2023 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is John & Elaine Kanas Family Foundation open to new grantees?
38%
first-time grantees, 2023
In 2023, 8 of 21 grantees (38%) were first-time recipients. With only 21 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $12K; repeat grants $197K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 48% of 2023 grantees were also funded in 2022. Method
- Giving grew 302% from 2020 to 2023. Method
- In 2023 it paid out 168% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2023). 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 2020 to 2023, annual grant giving ranged from $660K (2020) to $2.7M (2023). In 2023 it made 21 grants totaling $2.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Stony Brook School Stony Brook, NY | For Donee's Exempt Purpose | $1,202,500 |
| Long Island University Brookville, NY | For Donee's Exempt Purpose | $660,000 |
| Peconic Bay Medical Center Foundation Riverhead, NY | For Donee's Exempt Purpose | $611,800 |
| City on the Hill Community Chest Middle Island, NY | For Donee's Exempt Purpose | $75,500 |
| Family Service League East Hampton, NY | For Donee's Exempt Purpose | $40,000 |
| East End Hospice West Hampton Beach, NY | For Donee's Exempt Purpose | $30,500 |
| Rico Memorial Fund East Moriches, NY | For Donee's Exempt Purpose | $5,500 |
| Westhampton Free Library West Hampton Beach, NY | For Donee's Exempt Purpose | $5,100 |
| 9-11 Memorial Museum New York, NY | For Donee's Exempt Purpose | $5,000 |
| New Beginnings Community Center Riverhead, NY | For Donee's Exempt Purpose | $5,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $31,629,977 | $1,585,217 | $2,765,118 | $2,655,750 | 21 | $2,679,299 | $1,470,809 | $1,592,216 |
| 2022 | $33,542,034 | $855,628 | $954,950 | $835,700 | 31 | $853,972 | $761,338 | $1,666,028 |
| 2021 | $33,770,351 | $3,226,558 | $1,875,519 | $1,771,400 | 30 | $1,788,610 | $760,645 | $1,672,232 |
| 2020 | $32,642,169 | $4,206,428 | $756,021 | $660,300 | 29 | — | $1,561,908 | $1,373,308 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, John & Elaine Kanas Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.6M for 2023 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No formal mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2023 grants included support for organizations whose own stated missions span education, health and human services, hospice care, community learning, and environmental stewardship. For example, The Stony Brook School describes its mission as challenging students to grow in knowledge and skill and serve the world through character and leadership; Long Island University describes its mission as providing access to private higher education. East End Hospice says it provides expert care, comfort, and compassion to terminally ill patients and their families. These are the grantees’ missions, not stated missions of the foundation.
Grantmaking
In 2023, the foundation reported 21 grants totaling $2,655,750. Grants ranged from $500 to $1,202,500, with a median of $3,600. Its largest reported grants were $1,202,500 to The Stony Brook School, $660,000 to Long Island University, and $611,800 to Peconic Bay Medical Center Foundation. Other reported grants included $75,500 to City on the Hill Community Chest, $40,000 to Family Service League, and $30,500 to East End Hospice.
The filing states that the foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2023 filing lists John A. Kanas as president, Elaine Kanas as vice president, Kathy Hallinan as secretary, and Patricia Blake as treasurer.
John & Elaine Kanas Family Foundation is led by John A. Kanas, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2023 report compensation.
Officers on the 2023 filing
John A. Kanas
President
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elaine Kanas
Vice Preseident
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kathy Hallinan
Secretary
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Patricia Blake
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2023. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about John & Elaine Kanas Family Foundation
How much does John & Elaine Kanas Family Foundation give each year?
John & Elaine Kanas Family Foundation gave $2.7M across 21 grants in 2023, according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2022 it gave $836K across 31 grants.
What is John & Elaine Kanas Family Foundation's typical grant size?
John & Elaine Kanas Family Foundation's median grant in 2023 was $3,600, and its average grant was $126,464, across 21 grants on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from John & Elaine Kanas Family Foundation that year got $12K on average.
Where does John & Elaine Kanas Family Foundation give grants?
John & Elaine Kanas Family Foundation gives mostly in New York: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were West Hampton Beach, NY (5 grants), New York, NY (3 grants) and Riverhead, NY (2 grants).
Who are John & Elaine Kanas Family Foundation's largest grantees?
John & Elaine Kanas Family Foundation's largest 2023 grantees include Stony Brook School ($1,202,500), Long Island University ($660,000) and Peconic Bay Medical Center Foundation ($611,800), according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 93% of its itemized 2023 grant dollars.
How large is John & Elaine Kanas Family Foundation?
John & Elaine Kanas Family Foundation reported $31.6M in total assets on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.6M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does John & Elaine Kanas Family Foundation fund?
No formal mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2023 grants included support for organizations whose own stated missions span education, health and human services, hospice care, community learning, and environmental stewardship. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from John & Elaine Kanas Family Foundation?
John & Elaine Kanas Family Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals, according to Grantable's research on its published guidelines.
What is John & Elaine Kanas Family Foundation's EIN?
John & Elaine Kanas Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 11-3440709. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2023.
Does John & Elaine Kanas Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2023
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Figures come from John & Elaine Kanas Family 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.
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