Kairos Foundation
Kairos Foundation is a private foundation based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Its 2024 filing lists grants to charitable organizations in several states, including organizations working in areas such as community empowerment, public media, environmental protection, and the arts.
Kairos Foundation at a glance
In short: Kairos Foundation gave $13K across 28 grants in 2024 (avg $451.286), mostly in Arizona. 61% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $12,636
- +29.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 28
- +55.6% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $451
- -17.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $125
- Total assets
- $153,563
- -10.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 61% first-time grantees (17 of 28, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Arizona (66% 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 Kairos Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 2626 W River Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN 55406
Phone: (612) 750-6753
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Kairos Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Mountain Vista Unitarian Universali ($4K). Together the top 10 received $11K.
Grant Size Distribution
93 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 93 grants of 93 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, Arizona received 66% of grant dollars, Minnesota 16%, California 8%, New York 5%, and Washington, DC 3%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 28 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Kairos Foundation open to new grantees?
61%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 17 of 28 grantees (61%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $382; repeat grants $559. How we count
Medians: $125 first-time, $100 repeat.
- 39% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 27% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 186% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $10K (2023) to $21K (2022). In 2024 it made 28 grants totaling $13K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Mountain Vista Unitarian Universali Tucson, AZ | Unrestricted | $3,944 |
| Arizona Center for Empowerment Phoenix, AZ | Unrestricted | $3,650 |
| Common Ground Meditation Center Minneapolis, MN | Unrestricted | $1,000 |
| Brennan Center for Justice New York, NY | Unrestricted | $500 |
| Inequality Media Berkeley, CA | Unrestricted | $500 |
| Minnesota Public Radio St. Paul, MN | Unrestricted | $300 |
| The More Than Project Woodbury, MN | Unrestricted | $207 |
| World Central Kitchen Washington, DC | Unrestricted | $200 |
| Monterey Bay Aquarium Monterey, CA | Unrestricted | $200 |
| Sierra Club Foundation Oakland, CA | Unrestricted | $200 |
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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 | $153,563 | $8,461 | $15,148 | $12,636 | 28 | $14,647 | $9,469 | $7,870 |
| 2023 | $171,404 | $13,936 | $12,165 | $9,790 | 18 | $11,815 | $13,933 | $11,545 |
| 2022 | $305,308 | $30,886 | $22,938 | $20,785 | 18 | $22,560 | $30,883 | $15,908 |
| 2021 | $362,776 | $28,127 | $20,862 | $17,226 | 13 | $20,416 | $28,125 | $14,717 |
| 2020 | $250,748 | $9,501 | $10,609 | $10,423 | 16 | — | $9,490 | $12,265 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Kairos Foundation reported a distributable amount of $8K 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for organizations with varied missions. The Arizona Center for Empowerment describes its work as empowering low- to moderate-income Arizona families, especially Latino and immigrant communities, to address social and economic injustice. Inequality Media says it uses digital media to educate and engage the public about inequality and imbalances of power. The Sierra Club Foundation describes efforts to educate and empower people to protect and improve the natural and human environment. Other supported organizations include Minnesota Public Radio, which says it aims to amplify voices to inform, include, and inspire, and the Loft, which advances writers’ and readers’ ability to share stories and build communities.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation made 28 grants totaling $12,636. Grants ranged from $35 to $3,944, with a median of $125. Its largest listed grants were $3,944 to Mountain Vista Unitarian Universali in Tucson, Arizona; $3,650 to the Arizona Center for Empowerment in Phoenix; and $1,000 to Common Ground Meditation Center in Minneapolis. Other listed grants included $500 each to the Brennan Center for Justice and Inequality Media, and $300 to Minnesota Public Radio. The listed grants were designated unrestricted.
The foundation made 18 grants totaling $9,790 in 2023 and 18 grants totaling $20,785 in 2022.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Cheri Desmond May as President, Allen Desmond as Secretary/Treasurer, and Barbara Coffin as Director.
Kairos Foundation is led by Cheri Desmond May, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Cheri Desmond May
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Barbara Coffin
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Allen Desmond
Secretary & Treasurer
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 Kairos Foundation
How much does Kairos Foundation give each year?
Kairos Foundation gave $13K across 28 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $10K across 18 grants.
What is Kairos Foundation's typical grant size?
Kairos Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $125, and its average grant was $451, across 28 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Kairos Foundation that year got $382 on average.
Where does Kairos Foundation give grants?
Kairos Foundation gives mostly in Arizona: 66% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Minnesota (16%) and California (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Tucson, AZ (7 grants), St. Paul, MN (4 grants), New York, NY (3 grants) and Washington, DC (3 grants).
Does Kairos Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Kairos Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (28 of 28) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Kairos Foundation's largest grantees?
Kairos Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Mountain Vista Unitarian Universali ($3,944), Arizona Center for Empowerment ($3,650) and Common Ground Meditation Center ($1,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 68% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Kairos Foundation?
Kairos Foundation reported $154K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $15K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $8K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Kairos Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for organizations with varied missions. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Kairos Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Kairos Foundation's EIN?
Kairos Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-1680791. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Kairos 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 4, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 7, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 6, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 31, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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