Kates Foundation Inc
Kates Foundation Inc was a private foundation based in Asheville, North Carolina. Its 2023 Form 990-PF is marked as a final return: the filing states that the foundation dissolved on December 31, 2023, and distributed its remaining assets. It therefore appears to have wound down and stopped grantmaking.
Kates Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Kates Foundation Inc gave $1.4M across 13 grants in 2023 (avg $105K), mostly in Massachusetts. 31% of 2023 grantees were new. Source: 2023 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2023)
- $1,363,240
- +1027.7% vs 2022
- Grants made (2023)
- 13
- +30.0% vs 2022
- Average grant
- $104,865
- +767.4% vs 2022
- Median grant
- $10,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 31% first-time grantees (4 of 13, 2023; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (87% 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 Kates Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
The filing lists Lisa Kates as the contact and lists no application form or materials. It states that the foundation was filing a final-year return and that all assets had been disbursed to other charitable organizations. The filing also says the foundation did not restrict giving to preselected organizations; it does not provide a current application process.
- Contact
Application contact: Lisa Kates
Mailing address: 57 Robinhood Rd, Asheville, NC 28804
Phone: (941) 544-6693
Website: https://www.kates-foundation.org/
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Kates Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2023
The largest 2023 recipient was Bank of America Charitable Gift Fund ($1.2M). Together the top 10 received $1.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
39 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 37 grants of 39 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2023, 87% of grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts, 11% to North Carolina, and 2% to Florida. The largest grant was to a recipient in Boston, Massachusetts; other listed grants included organizations in Asheville and Cullowhee, North Carolina, and Sarasota, Florida.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2023 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Kates Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
31%
first-time grantees, 2023
In 2023, 4 of 13 grantees (31%) were first-time recipients. With only 13 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $300K; repeat grants $18K. How we count
Medians: $6K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 69% of 2023 grantees were also funded in 2022. Method
- Giving grew 1343% from 2020 to 2023. Method
- In 2023 it paid out well above 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 $94K (2020) to $1.4M (2023). In 2023 it made 13 grants totaling $1.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Bank of America Charitable Gift Fund Boston, MA | Distribution of remaining assets of the organization upon dissolution. | $1,183,567 |
| Ashville Jewish Community Center Asheville, NC | General | $50,000 |
| Vecinos Cullowhee, NC | General | $40,000 |
| Planned Parenthood Sarasota, FL | General | $25,000 |
| Homeward Bound Asheville, NC | General | $10,563 |
| Helpmate Inc Asheville, NC | General | $10,010 |
| Manna Foodbank Asheville, NC | Food Drive | $10,000 |
| Pisgah Legal Services Asheville, NC | General | $7,840 |
| Helping at Risk Kids (Hark) Asheville, NC | General | $6,250 |
| Open Doors Asheville Asheville, NC | General | $5,010 |
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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 | — | $60,731 | $1,386,880 | $1,363,240 | 13 | $1,385,014 | $59,100 | $91,945 |
| 2022 | $1,326,449 | $35,913 | $143,991 | $120,890 | 10 | $124,625 | $31,348 | $110,842 |
| 2021 | $1,434,527 | $174,562 | $122,612 | $99,800 | 8 | $103,161 | $155,483 | $124,701 |
| 2020 | $1,382,577 | $33,570 | $113,599 | $94,477 | 8 | — | $26,774 | $102,602 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Kates Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $92K for 2023 — 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 2023 grants included support for organizations working in areas such as healthcare and wellness, domestic-violence services, legal assistance, and literacy. For example, Vecinos describes its mission as providing equitable, culturally centered healthcare and wellness services. HelpMate says it works with its community to eliminate abuse and fear by providing safety, shelter, and support for people victimized by domestic violence. Pisgah Legal Services describes its work as pursuing justice for low-income people in western North Carolina through legal assistance and advocacy. Literacy Together says it transforms lives and communities through literacy, including free tutoring for youth and adults.
Grantmaking
In 2023, the foundation reported 13 grants totaling $1,363,240. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $1,183,567, with a median of $10,000. The largest grant—$1,183,567 to the Bank of America Charitable Gift Fund—was designated for distribution of the foundation’s remaining assets upon dissolution.
Other notable 2023 grants included $50,000 to Asheville Jewish Community Center, $40,000 to Vecinos, $25,000 to Planned Parenthood in Sarasota, $10,563 to Homeward Bound, and $10,010 to HelpMate.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2023 filing lists Mena Lisa Kates as president/treasurer, Hannah B. Kates as vice-president, Richard Labrie Junior as vice-chairman and secretary, and Christopher Quintero as an officer.
Kates Foundation Inc is led by Mena Lisa Kates, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2023 report compensation.
Officers on the 2023 filing
Mena Lisa Kates
President & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Hannah B. Kates
Vice President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Richard Labrie Junior
Vice Chairman & Secretary
Vice Chairman → Vice Chairman & Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christopher Quintero
Officer
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Cherrie McDonoughdeceased (2020–2021) — Vice Chairman
- Former: Patti Wertheimer (2020–2021) — Secretary
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 Kates Foundation Inc
How much does Kates Foundation Inc give each year?
Kates Foundation Inc gave $1.4M across 13 grants in 2023, according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2022 it gave $121K across 10 grants.
What is Kates Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Kates Foundation Inc's median grant in 2023 was $10,000, and its average grant was $104,865, across 13 grants on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Kates Foundation Inc that year got $300K on average.
Where does Kates Foundation Inc give grants?
Kates Foundation Inc gives mostly in Massachusetts: 87% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was North Carolina (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Asheville, NC (10 grants).
Does Kates Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 85% of Kates Foundation Inc's 2023 grants with a stated purpose (11 of 13) were for general or operating support, per its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Kates Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Kates Foundation Inc's largest 2023 grantees include Bank of America Charitable Gift Fund ($1,183,567), Ashville Jewish Community Center ($50,000) and Vecinos ($40,000), according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 93% of its itemized 2023 grant dollars.
What does Kates Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2023 grants included support for organizations working in areas such as healthcare and wellness, domestic-violence services, legal assistance, and literacy. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Kates Foundation Inc?
The filing lists Lisa Kates as the contact and lists no application form or materials. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
How much is Kates Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2023, Kates Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $92K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Kates Foundation Inc's EIN?
Kates Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 65-0401513. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2023.
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 2020–2023
Live grants for the work Kates Foundation Inc funds
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