Kehe Cares Foundation Inc
KEHE Cares Foundation Inc is a corporate foundation based in Naperville, Illinois. The foundation is affiliated with KeHE Distributors, a $5.5 billion employee-owned natural and organic food distributor. The foundation was granted tax-exempt status in November 2016 and operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$14.8M
+4.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$5.8M
+4.2% YoY
Grant Count
94
+9.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$61K
-4.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Kehe Cares Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $704K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The primary purpose of KEHE Cares Foundation is the relief of human suffering. The foundation supports organizations in the following areas:
- Hunger relief
- Disaster relief
- Community development
- Victim advocacy
- Rehabilitation support
- Education and scholarships
- Orphan and refugee support
- Elimination of human trafficking
- Medical services
- Domestic violence victim support
- Military support
- Employee care
Grantmaking
The foundation is run by the KeHE Cares Employee Outreach Committee, composed of employees from various departments within KeHE Distributors. The foundation prioritizes organizations where employee-owners are directly involved and committed to serving others through volunteering their time and talents.
Grant Range
$23,000 to $27,000
Average Grant
$58,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds organizations across multiple states and internationally. Primary funding regions include:
- Illinois
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Florida
- Colorado
International funding extends to Honduras, Guatemala, Ecuador, Nepal, India, Uganda, Kenya, and Yemen.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $14,750,740
- Total revenue: $7,340,677
- Total expenses: $6,841,993
- Net income: $498,684
- Total liabilities: $50,900
Asset Growth: Total assets have grown from $5.8 million in 2021 to $14.8 million in 2024.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $14,750,740 | $14,073,652 | $10,221,869 |
| Revenue | $7,340,677 | $10,397,936 | $9,276,774 |
| Expenses | $6,841,993 | $6,400,411 | $5,028,577 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $7,846,993 | $6,148,879 | $5,163,939 |
| Net Investment Income | $417,609 | $235,484 | $159,757 |
| Distributable Amount | $703,996 | $595,004 | $387,718 |
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
244 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include New Vision Community Church ($1,076,785), Ceo Forum Inc ($517,000), Mission Lazarus Inc ($402,346).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A KID'S PLACE OF TAMPA BAY INC BRANDON, FL | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT | $33,750 |
| AGAPE SOURCE INC WINTER GARDEN, FL | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT | $105,000 |
| BETTY GRIFFIN CENTER ST AUGUSTINE, FL | REHABILITATION | $20,000 |
| BLESSINGS IN A BACKPACK LOUISVILLE, KY | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT | $2,632 |
| BRAVEHEARTS THERAPEUTIC RIDING & ED HARVARD, IL | REHABILITATION | $50,000 |
| BREAKTHROUGH ALLIANCE OF COLORADO DENVER, CO | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT | $8,070 |
| BREAKTHROUGH URBAN MINISTRIES CHICAGO, IL | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT | $143,334 |
| BREWER FOUNDATION WASHINGTON, DC | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT | $60,000 |
| BRIDGE HOUSE BOULDER, CO | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT | $12,000 |
| BY THE HAND CLUB FOR KIDS CHICAGO, IL | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT | $35,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board and Officers:
- Rusty Bland — President
- Brandon Barnholt — Director
- Brad Helmer — Director
- Bryan Aldridge — Treasurer
- Justin Mallot — Secretary
- Tim Wiggins — Director
- Jim Hallene — Director
- Joe Schwab — Treasurer
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RUSTY BLAND | PRESIDENT | 20 | — |
| BRANDON BARNHOLT | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| BRAD HELMER | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| BRYAN ALDRIDGE | TREASURER | 0.5 | — |
| JUSTIN MALLOT | SECRETARY | 0.5 | — |
| TIM WIGGINS | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| JIM HALLENE | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| JOE SCHWAB | TREASURER | 0.5 | — |
| FRANK CARLSON | SECRETARY | 40 | — |
| DEB CONKLIN | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| GREG LERNIHAN | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation engages in volunteer activities and meal-packing events. KeHE Cares has partnered with organizations including the Children's Hunger Foundation to pack meals for food-insecure populations. The foundation coordinates volunteer opportunities both domestically and internationally, with employee-owners participating in activities such as serving in soup kitchens, creating healthy meal kits, building and repairing homes, and collecting relief supplies.
KeHE Cares Partners With the Children\u2019s Hunger Foundation In Food Packing\The foundation's philosophy emphasizes moving people "from dependence to dignity" while encouraging employees to move "from a mindset of mere success and toward greater significance."
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Kehe Cares Foundation Inc fund?
The primary purpose of KEHE Cares Foundation is the relief of human suffering. The foundation supports organizations in the following areas: • Hunger relief • Disaster relief • Community development • Victim advocacy • Rehabilitation support • Education and scholarships • Orphan and refugee support • Elimination of human trafficking • Medical services • Domestic violence victim support • Military support • Employee care
How do I apply for a grant from Kehe Cares Foundation Inc?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving: $5.8 million to $6.1 million annually • Median grant size: $23,000 to $27,000 • Grant range: $500 to $1,076,785 • Average grant: $58,000 • Number of grants: 86 to 164 grants annually • Number of unique organizations supported: 82 **Recent Notable Grants (2024):** • New Vision Community Church of Laredo: $1,076,785 • CEO Forum: $517,000 **Grant Structure:** The foundation is run by the KeHE Cares Employee Outreach Committee, composed of employees from various …
Where does Kehe Cares Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation funds organizations across multiple states and internationally. Primary funding regions include: • Illinois • Tennessee • Texas • Florida • Colorado International funding extends to Honduras, Guatemala, Ecuador, Nepal, India, Uganda, Kenya, and Yemen.
What size grants does Kehe Cares Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Kehe Cares Foundation Inc awarded 94 grants totaling $5.8M — an average of about $61K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Kehe Cares Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Kehe Cares Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $704K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Kehe Cares Foundation Inc's EIN?
Kehe Cares Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-4416998. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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