Kee Kitayama Research Foundation
Kee Kitayama Research Foundation is a private foundation, based in Santa Barbara, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $724K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 2 grants totaling $34K. Net investment income was $56K.
Kee Kitayama Research Foundation at a glance
In short: Kee Kitayama Research Foundation gave $34K across 2 grants in 2025 (avg $17K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $34,000
- +6.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 2
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $17,000
- +6.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $17,000
- Total assets
- $723,813
- +4.4% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Kee Kitayama Research Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Uc Regents ($26K). Together the top 2 received $34K.
Grant Size Distribution
12 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 12 grants of 12 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Kee Kitayama Research Foundation gives
- Giving grew 26% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 127% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $21K (2020) to $34K (2025). In 2025 it made 2 grants totaling $34K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Uc Regents Oakland, CA | - eric gordon middleton sd, orange, la advisor - entomology and ipm- johanna del castillo, uc davis professor and specialist - plant pathology- gerry spinelli sd advisor - ornamentals, irrigation, & controlled environment; and ana pastrana sd, imperial area advisor - plant pathology | $25,500 |
| Uc Cooperative Extension Ventura County Ventura, CA | Emma Volk, Ventura, SB Advisor - Production Horticulture | $8,500 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $723,813 | $65,850 | $55,941 | $34,000 | 2 | $44,543 | $56,382 | $35,061 |
| 2024 | $693,162 | $36,434 | $53,375 | $32,000 | 2 | $34,166 | $21,840 | $34,888 |
| 2023 | $676,918 | $36,235 | $51,771 | $32,000 | 3 | $34,249 | $17,572 | $32,638 |
| 2022 | $644,078 | $26,181 | $50,281 | $27,000 | 2 | $28,885 | $12,852 | $34,243 |
| 2021 | $788,209 | $64,344 | $47,561 | $32,000 | 3 | $34,572 | $17,602 | $38,148 |
| 2020 | $731,195 | $120,634 | $39,215 | $21,000 | 2 | — | $6,179 | $29,737 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Kee Kitayama Research Foundation reported a distributable amount of $35K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Kee Kitayama Research Foundation is led by Michael A. Mellano, Chair on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Michael A. Mellano
Chair
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Kister
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Fred Van Wingerden
Vice Chair
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Kitayama
Treasurer & Secretary
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Stuart Kitayama (2020–2023) — Treasurer & Secretary · Filing note: Resigned 52022
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Kee Kitayama Research Foundation
How much does Kee Kitayama Research Foundation give each year?
Kee Kitayama Research Foundation gave $34K across 2 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $32K across 2 grants.
How large is Kee Kitayama Research Foundation?
Kee Kitayama Research Foundation reported $724K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $45K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $35K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
Where does Kee Kitayama Research Foundation operate?
Kee Kitayama Research Foundation has awarded grants in California, Kentucky, Virginia.
What is Kee Kitayama Research Foundation's EIN?
Kee Kitayama Research Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 68-0312610. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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 June 29, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 19, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 23, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 8, 2026)
Live grants for the work Kee Kitayama Research Foundation funds
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