John S Kiewit Memorial Foundation
The John S Kiewit Memorial Foundation is a private foundation based in Santa Barbara, California. Its stated primary purpose is to protect land and other natural resources of California’s Central Coast and neighboring regions of California from development, preserving their open and agricultural character.
John S Kiewit Memorial Foundation at a glance
In short: John S Kiewit Memorial Foundation gave $2.9M across 24 grants in 2024 (avg $120K), mostly in California. 42% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,871,319
- +86.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 24
- +60.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $119,638
- +16.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $65,000
- Total assets
- $57,635,856
- +0.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 42% first-time grantees (10 of 24, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (89% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to John S Kiewit Memorial Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Applicants use the online form provided by the foundation. The application materials ask for organizational and project information, including the project budget, intended use of the grant, expected results, regions and communities served, and any other program funding. A copy of the organization’s most recent IRS tax-exempt status letter is requested. The foundation does not make grants to organizations outside the categories specified in Internal Revenue Code Section 170(b)(1)(a), including private non-operating foundations and disqualified supporting organizations. It considers multi-year grants or pledges of up to three years; grants are typically disbursed within 45 days after approval. Organizations whose applications are denied may reapply in a subsequent year.
- Review Cycle
- The foundation has two grant cycles per year. Applications for the first cycle are due March 31 and are considered in May; applications for the second cycle are due September 30 and are considered in October or early November.
- Deadline
- The foundation has two grant cycles per year.
- Contact
Mailing address: 200 East Carrillo Street Suite 400, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Phone: (302) 793-3290
Website: https://johnskiewitmemorialfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from John S Kiewit Memorial Foundation
Who John S Kiewit Memorial Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was The Trust for Public Land ($500K). Together the top 10 received $2.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
66 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 39 grants of 66 (59%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes its operating region using a watershed-based boundary. It considers projects within that boundary and projects with clear connectivity to the region. Its stated grantmaking purpose focuses on California’s Central Coast and neighboring regions of California. In 2024, 89% of grant dollars went to recipients in California, 7% to Virginia, and 4% to Washington.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 24 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is John S Kiewit Memorial Foundation open to new grantees?
42%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 10 of 24 grantees (42%) were first-time recipients. With only 24 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $77K; repeat grants $150K. How we count
Medians: $38K first-time, $88K repeat.
- 58% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 1777% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 88% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $148K (2020) to $2.9M (2024). In 2024 it made 24 grants totaling $2.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Trust for Public Land Los Angeles, CA | Program Support | $500,000 |
| California Rangeland Trust Sacramento, CA | Program Support | $440,000 |
| The Land Trust for Santa Barbara County Santa Barbara, CA | Program Support | $325,000 |
| Ventura Land Trust Ventura, CA | Program Support | $250,000 |
| The Land Conservancy San Luis Obispo, CA | Program Support | $235,000 |
| The Nature Conservancy Arlington, VA | Program Support | $200,000 |
| National Park Foundation Washington, WA | Program Support | $125,000 |
| Los Padres Forest Watch Santa Barbara, CA | Program Support | $110,000 |
| Regents of Ucsb Santa Barbara, CA | Program Support | $100,000 |
| Ojai Valley Land Conservancy Ojai, CA | Program Support | $75,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $57,635,856 | $3,654,990 | $3,512,098 | $2,871,319 | 24 | $3,007,069 | $1,959,383 | $3,401,265 |
| 2023 | $57,379,870 | $1,337,852 | $2,012,292 | $1,541,771 | 15 | $1,664,769 | $1,084,605 | $2,945,541 |
| 2022 | $59,387,671 | $57,196,567 | $330,514 | $199,700 | 9 | $220,325 | $1,581,759 | $1,847,244 |
| 2021 | $2,525,618 | $312,998 | $173,333 | $153,000 | 9 | $158,313 | $298,053 | $160,372 |
| 2020 | $2,392,390 | $419,172 | $195,622 | $147,500 | 9 | — | $411,323 | $128,763 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, John S Kiewit Memorial Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s primary purpose is to protect land and other natural resources of the California Central Coast and neighboring regions of California from the effects of development. It identifies land purchase, conservation easements, education, and other methods as ways to preserve the region’s open and agricultural character.
Its grantees include organizations whose stated missions cover a range of conservation work. For example, the California Rangeland Trust says it works to conserve California’s working rangelands for land, people, and wildlife. The Land Trust for Santa Barbara County says it conserves natural resources, agricultural land, and open spaces. Channel Islands Restoration says it restores habitat in sensitive natural areas and educates people about native habitat.
Grantmaking
The foundation reports an annual grant budget of approximately $3 million. In 2024, it awarded 24 grants totaling $2,871,319. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $500,000, with a median of $65,000. The foundation generally considers grants of $1,000 to $250,000.
Among its largest 2024 awards were $500,000 to The Trust for Public Land, $440,000 to California Rangeland Trust, $325,000 to The Land Trust for Santa Barbara County, $250,000 to Ventura Land Trust, and $235,000 to The Land Conservancy. The filing lists each of these grants as program support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Eric P Hvolboll as president, Beverly Boise-Cossart as vice president, David W Van Horne as treasurer, Wendy M Edmunds as secretary, and Rick Ridgeway and Lisa Pike Sheehy as trustees.
John S Kiewit Memorial Foundation is led by Eric P. Hvolboll, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 6 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Eric P. Hvolboll
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rick Ridgeway
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Pike Sheehy
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Beverly Boise-Cossart
Vice President
Trustee → Vice President, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David W. Van Horne
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Wendy M. Edmunds
Secretary
Trustee → Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 S Kiewit Memorial Foundation
How much does John S Kiewit Memorial Foundation give each year?
John S Kiewit Memorial Foundation gave $2.9M across 24 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.5M across 15 grants.
What is John S Kiewit Memorial Foundation's typical grant size?
John S Kiewit Memorial Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $65,000, and its average grant was $119,638, across 24 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from John S Kiewit Memorial Foundation that year got $77K on average.
Where does John S Kiewit Memorial Foundation give grants?
John S Kiewit Memorial Foundation gives mostly in California: 89% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Virginia (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Santa Barbara, CA (9 grants), Ventura, CA (3 grants) and Ojai, CA (2 grants).
Does John S Kiewit Memorial Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 24 grants with a stated purpose on John S Kiewit Memorial Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (24 grants).
Who are John S Kiewit Memorial Foundation's largest grantees?
John S Kiewit Memorial Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include The Trust for Public Land ($500,000), California Rangeland Trust ($440,000) and The Land Trust for Santa Barbara County ($325,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 44% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is John S Kiewit Memorial Foundation?
John S Kiewit Memorial Foundation reported $57.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3.4M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does John S Kiewit Memorial Foundation fund?
The foundation’s primary purpose is to protect land and other natural resources of the California Central Coast and neighboring regions of California from the effects of development. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from John S Kiewit Memorial Foundation?
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is John S Kiewit Memorial Foundation's EIN?
John S Kiewit Memorial Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-4794542. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does John S Kiewit Memorial 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). John S Kiewit Memorial Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/john-s-kiewit-memorial-foundation-morg_52b99acead5640dbbdb6976e98b7f1c5
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_954794542_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{John S Kiewit Memorial Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/john-s-kiewit-memorial-foundation-morg_52b99acead5640dbbdb6976e98b7f1c5},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from John S Kiewit Memorial 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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