Kanter Family Foundation
The Kanter Family Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) grantmaking foundation established in 1989 and based in Sandy, Utah. The foundation is a family foundation operated by descendants of Burt Kanter, a notable tax attorney. It primarily supports nonprofit organizations through charitable grants.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$8.5M
-2.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$522K
-3.8% YoY
Grant Count
56
-21.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$9K
+21.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Kanter Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $644K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not maintain a published mission statement. However, its funding priorities include:
- Arts and culture
- Education, including higher education
- Social services
- Social justice
- Jewish organizations and temples
- General charitable purposes
Grantmaking
The foundation made 51 grants in the most recent fiscal year (2024), totaling approximately $399,593 in grant distributions.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Kanter Family Foundation primarily supports nonprofit organizations in three metropolitan areas:
- Chicago, Illinois
- Salt Lake City, Utah
- Washington, DC
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending October 2024:
- Total Assets: $8,489,025
- Total Revenues: $367,240
- Total Expenses: $614,146
- Investment Income and Dividends: $191,109
As of Fiscal Year Ending October 2023:
- Total Assets: $8.73 million
- Total Revenues: $953,419
- Total Expenses: $701,225
Tax Status: Tax-exempt since August 1990. The foundation is required to file Form 990-PF annually with the IRS.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $8,489,025 | $8,730,931 | $8,478,737 |
| Revenue | $367,240 | $953,419 | $1,608,653 |
| Expenses | $614,146 | $701,225 | $715,130 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $530,147 | $542,624 | $546,951 |
| Net Investment Income | $289,782 | $842,453 | $1,433,350 |
| Distributable Amount | $643,720 | $469,672 | $568,260 |
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
248 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Hyde Park Art Center ($50,000), Chikaming Open Lands ($50,000), John F Kennedy Center ($47,443).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Crohn's and Colitis Foundation Rockville, MD | Support Charitable Purpose | $12,500 |
| The Langley School McLean, VA | Support Charitable Purpose | $17,500 |
| Tulane University New Orleans, LA | Support Charitable Purpose | $11,000 |
| University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA | Support Charitable Purpose | $5,500 |
| Kenya Education Fund New York City, NY | Support Charitable Purpose | $10,000 |
| ACTBLUE Somerville, MA | Support Charitable Purpose | $5,000 |
| Arena Stage Washington, DC | Support Charitable Purpose | $20,000 |
| Wolf Trap Foundation Vienna, VA | Support Charitable Purpose | $6,000 |
| Temple Rodef Shalom Chantilly, VA | Support Charitable Purpose | $18,500 |
| Lubeznik Center for the Arts Michigan City, IN | Support Charitable Purpose | $36,650 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key leadership includes:
- Joel Kanter — Listed as a key leader and described as a left-leaning wealth advisor and donor
- Josh Kanter — Board member, son of Burt Kanter
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joel S Kanter | Pres / Trea / Director | 5 | — |
| Joshua S Kanter | VP / Sec / Director | 5 | — |
| Janis S Kanter | VP / Director | 5 | — |
| Ricki Kanter | VP / Director | 5 | — |
| Catherine M Kanter | VP / Director | 2 | — |
| Thomas McCormick | VP / Director | 2 | — |
| Phillip J Karmin | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Kanter Family Foundation fund?
The foundation does not maintain a published mission statement. However, its funding priorities include: • Arts and culture • Education, including higher education • Social services • Social justice • Jewish organizations and temples • General charitable purposes
How do I apply for a grant from Kanter Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** The foundation made 51 grants in the most recent fiscal year (2024), totaling approximately $399,593 in grant distributions. **Recent Grants (2024):** • Hyde Park Art Center: $50,000 • Chikaming Open Lands (COL): $50,000 • John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts: $47,443 **Types of Support:** The foundation provides general and project support to eligible organizations.
Where does Kanter Family Foundation make grants?
The Kanter Family Foundation primarily supports nonprofit organizations in three metropolitan areas: • Chicago, Illinois • Salt Lake City, Utah • Washington, DC
What size grants does Kanter Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Kanter Family Foundation awarded 56 grants totaling $522K — an average of about $9K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Kanter Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Kanter Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $644K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Kanter Family Foundation's EIN?
Kanter Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3682199. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Kanter Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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