Keith V Kiernan Foundation
The Keith V Kiernan Foundation is a Form 990-PF private foundation based in New Bern, North Carolina. Its 2024 grants supported charitable organizations working on projects including humanitarian response, education, financial inclusion, housing, water and sanitation, and nutrition.
Keith V Kiernan Foundation at a glance
In short: Keith V Kiernan Foundation gave $960K across 15 grants in 2024 (avg $64K), top state District of Columbia. 27% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $960,000
- +22.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 15
- +25.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $64,000
- -2.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $75,000
- Total assets
- $20,079,568
- +4.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 27% first-time grantees (4 of 15, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (16% 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 Keith V Kiernan 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: 2303 Oakview Dr, New Bern, NC 28562
Phone: (443) 262-6600
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Keith V Kiernan Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was International Rescue Committee ($105K). Together the top 10 received $810K.
Grant Size Distribution
70 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 47 grants of 70 (67%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2024 grants went to recipients in multiple states and the District of Columbia. By recipient state, the largest shares of grant dollars were directed to DC (16%), Georgia (11%), Michigan (11%), Illinois (11%), and New York (10%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Keith V Kiernan Foundation open to new grantees?
27%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 4 of 15 grantees (27%) were first-time recipients. With only 15 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $30K; repeat grants $76K. How we count
Medians: $30K first-time, $75K repeat.
- 67% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 22% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 110% 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 $730K (2020) to $960K (2024). In 2024 it made 15 grants totaling $960K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| International Rescue Committee Albert Lea, MI | Early Childhood Development Project | $105,000 |
| Opportunity International Chicago, IL | Education Finance Tablets | $105,000 |
| Doctors Without Borders New York, NY | Nutrition Programs | $95,000 |
| Catholic Relief Services Baltimore, MD | Emergency Response Sudan & Global Fund Food Crisis | $95,000 |
| University of Nebraska Foundation Lincoln, NE | Keith V. Kiernan Scholarship Fund | $80,000 |
| Grameen Foundation Washington, DC | Women financial inclusion project in west nile region (UGANDA) | $75,000 |
| Habitat for Humanity Americus, GA | Microbuild Fund 2 | $75,000 |
| Waterorg Kansas City, MO | Expanding Wate and Sanitation Access Project in Peru | $75,000 |
| Bergen Family Center Englewood, NJ | General & Unrestricted | $55,000 |
| United Nations Foundation Inc Washington, DC | Girl-up Program in Africa | $50,000 |
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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 | $20,079,568 | $2,139,995 | $1,345,987 | $960,000 | 15 | $1,124,265 | $1,919,036 | $1,022,727 |
| 2023 | $19,285,560 | $415,253 | $1,132,393 | $785,000 | 12 | $932,650 | $248,459 | $930,318 |
| 2022 | $20,120,990 | $1,255,155 | $1,210,100 | $785,000 | 11 | $949,530 | $897,335 | $969,181 |
| 2021 | $20,258,302 | $3,416,167 | $1,199,339 | $790,000 | 14 | $965,186 | $3,269,297 | $1,067,437 |
| 2020 | $18,016,474 | $1,185,599 | $1,066,517 | $730,000 | 18 | — | $1,104,692 | $846,618 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Keith V Kiernan Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.0M 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 an early childhood development project, education finance tablets, nutrition programs, emergency response in Sudan and the global food crisis, a scholarship fund, women’s financial inclusion, microfinance, water and sanitation access, and a program for girls in Africa.
Among its grantees, the International Rescue Committee says it responds to humanitarian crises and helps people affected by conflict and disaster. Opportunity International describes its work as providing financial solutions, support, and training to help people in poverty build sustainable incomes and educate their children. Water.org says it works to bring safe water and sanitation through access to small, affordable loans. Habitat for Humanity says it seeks to eliminate poverty housing and make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation awarded 15 grants totaling $960,000. Grants ranged from $30,000 to $105,000, with a median of $75,000. Notable awards included $105,000 each to the International Rescue Committee for an early childhood development project and Opportunity International for education finance tablets; $95,000 each to Doctors Without Borders for nutrition programs and Catholic Relief Services for emergency response in Sudan and the global fund food crisis; and $80,000 to the University of Nebraska Foundation for the Keith V. Kiernan Scholarship Fund.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Amy Marie Owsley is listed as director, president, and secretary.
Keith V Kiernan Foundation is led by Amy Marie Owsley, Director, President & Secretary on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Amy Marie Owsley
Director, President & Secretary
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$145K (2020) → $161K (2024)
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $161K, to Amy Marie Owsley (DIR, Pres, Sec).
Frequently asked questions about Keith V Kiernan Foundation
How much does Keith V Kiernan Foundation give each year?
Keith V Kiernan Foundation gave $960K across 15 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $785K across 12 grants.
What is Keith V Kiernan Foundation's typical grant size?
Keith V Kiernan Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $75,000, and its average grant was $64,000, across 15 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Keith V Kiernan Foundation that year got $30K on average.
Where does Keith V Kiernan Foundation give grants?
Keith V Kiernan Foundation's top state is District of Columbia, with 16% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Georgia (11%) and Michigan (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (3 grants).
Does Keith V Kiernan Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 33% of Keith V Kiernan Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (5 of 15) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Keith V Kiernan Foundation's largest grantees?
Keith V Kiernan Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include International Rescue Committee ($105,000), Opportunity International ($105,000) and Doctors Without Borders ($95,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 32% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Keith V Kiernan Foundation?
Keith V Kiernan Foundation reported $20.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.0M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Keith V Kiernan Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Keith V Kiernan 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 Keith V Kiernan Foundation's EIN?
Keith V Kiernan Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-0856008. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Keith V Kiernan 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Keith V Kiernan Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/keith-v-kiernan-foundation-morg_ed3dbdc158004428a098d429cde04682
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_260856008_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Keith V Kiernan Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/keith-v-kiernan-foundation-morg_ed3dbdc158004428a098d429cde04682},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Keith V Kiernan Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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