Kelben Foundation Inc
Kelben Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Its 2024 filing reports 417 grants totaling $4,906,979, including support for social services, scholarships, college education support, health care, and other causes reflected in its grants.
Kelben Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Kelben Foundation Inc gave $4.9M across 417 grants in 2024 (avg $12K), mostly in Wisconsin. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $4,906,979
- -13.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 417
- +2.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $11,767
- -15.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,500
- Total assets
- $62,688,392
- +12.6% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (98% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Kelben Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
The 2024 filing lists a scholarship application form, a high school transcript, and at least two letters of recommendation. Applicants had to meet the application’s GPA requirement, demonstrate financial need, reside in the City of Milwaukee, and plan to attend an accredited four-year college full time.
- Review Cycle
- March 20, 2024. This deadline is for a past application cycle.
- Deadline
- March 20, 2024.
- Contact
Application contact: Mary Kellner
Mailing address: 790 N Water Street Suite 2175, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Phone: (414) 236-6223
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Kelben Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was United Way ($4.0M). Together the top 10 received $4.2M.
Organizations only. It also paid 356 individual scholarships ($560,996), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
1,977 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1,956 grants of 1,977 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 98% of grant dollars went to recipients in Wisconsin. The filing also reports shares for California (1%), New York (0%), Iowa (0%), and Maryland (0%). The reported grants include recipients in Milwaukee and other Wisconsin communities, as well as recipients in California, New York, and Maryland.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 417 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Kelben Foundation Inc gives
- Giving grew 91% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 124% 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.6M (2021) to $7.5M (2022). In 2024 it made 417 grants totaling $4.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| United Way Milwaukee, WI | Social Services | $4,005,983 |
| Children's Wisconsin Foundation Milwaukee, WI | Donation | $100,000 |
| Lutheran Social Services Milwaukee, WI | Social Service Agency | $30,000 |
| 17 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $76,162 |
| Swim MKE Milwaukee, WI | Donation | $10,500 |
| All-in Milwaukee Milwaukee, WI | College Education Support | $10,000 |
| Ozaukee Family Services Grafton, WI | Social Service Agency | $10,000 |
| Doctors Without Borders Hagerstown, MD | Donation | $9,000 |
| Wisconsin Humane Society Saukville, WI | Animal Welfare | $9,000 |
| Planned Parenthood Federation New York, NY | Social Service Agency | $8,000 |
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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 | $62,688,392 | $19,443,211 | $5,681,909 | $4,906,979 | 417 | $5,212,037 | $9,475,839 | $4,201,035 |
| 2023 | $55,664,834 | $22,747,907 | $6,342,192 | $5,648,339 | 407 | $5,915,047 | $9,450,253 | $3,484,113 |
| 2022 | $46,499,425 | $13,435,949 | $8,169,450 | $7,460,716 | 380 | $7,676,365 | $5,732,334 | $3,331,627 |
| 2021 | $46,313,396 | $17,895,423 | $3,038,482 | $2,569,155 | 392 | $2,706,012 | $6,820,461 | $3,128,607 |
| 2020 | $37,475,302 | $23,196,509 | $5,128,109 | $4,811,570 | 381 | — | $8,908,656 | $2,263,450 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Kelben Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $4.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants include support for organizations working in several areas. For example, ALL-IN MILWAUKEE describes its work as helping high-potential, limited-income, diverse Milwaukee students complete college and build careers. SIXTEENTH STREET COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS says it provides patient-centered health care and works to expand access for underserved populations. The WISCONSIN HUMANE SOCIETY says its mission is to make a difference for animals and the people who love them.
Other supported organizations describe work in family and senior services (OZAUKEE FAMILY SERVICES), education and a WIC clinic (SEEDS OF HEALTH), and living and learning options for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (JOURNEY21). The SURFRIDER FOUNDATION describes its mission as protecting and promoting enjoyment of oceans, waves, and beaches.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 417 grants totaling $4,906,979. Grant amounts ranged from $411 to $4,005,983, with a median of $1,500. The largest reported grant was $4,005,983 to UNITED WAY in Milwaukee for social services. Other notable grants included $100,000 to CHILDREN'S WISCONSIN FOUNDATION, $30,000 to LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES, and $10,000 each to ALL-IN MILWAUKEE and OZAUKEE FAMILY SERVICES. The foundation also reported scholarship grants to individual recipients.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists MARY T KELLNER as president, treasurer, and director; TED D KELLNER as vice president, secretary, and director; and LAURA KELLNER LUECK, KRISTIN KELLNER SCHULTZ, and JACK T KELLNER as directors.
Kelben Foundation Inc is led by Mary T. Kellner, President, Treasurer & Director on every filing since 2020; 3 of 5 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Mary T. Kellner
President, Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
25 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ted D. Kellner
V President, Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jack T. Kellner
Director
On filings since 2020
15 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $45K (2024)
Kristin Kellner Schultz
Director
On filings since 2020
15 hrs/week
$25K (2020) → $45K (2024)
Laura Kellner Lueck
Director
On filings since 2020
15 hrs/week
$25K (2020) → $45K (2024)
Former officers (2)
- Former: Karen Kellner (2020) — Director
- Former: W. David Knox (2020) — Director
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 $45K, to Laura Kellner Lueck (Director). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Kelben Foundation Inc
How much does Kelben Foundation Inc give each year?
Kelben Foundation Inc gave $4.9M across 417 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $5.6M across 407 grants.
What is Kelben Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Kelben Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $1,500, and its average grant was $11,767, across 417 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Kelben Foundation Inc give grants?
Kelben Foundation Inc gives mostly in Wisconsin: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Milwaukee, WI (21 grants), San Franscisco, CA (6 grants), Saukville, WI (3 grants) and Waukesha, WI (3 grants).
Does Kelben Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 417 grants with a stated purpose on Kelben Foundation Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Scholarship" (356 grants), "Donation" (23 grants) and "Social Service Agency" (8 grants).
Who are Kelben Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Kelben Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include United Way ($4,005,983), Children's Wisconsin Foundation ($100,000) and Lutheran Social Services ($35,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 356 individual scholarships ($560,996), which are not listed by name. Together they received 84% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Kelben Foundation Inc?
Kelben Foundation Inc reported $62.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $5.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $4.2M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Kelben Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants include support for organizations working in several areas. For example, ALL-IN MILWAUKEE describes its work as helping high-potential, limited-income, diverse Milwaukee students complete college and build careers. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Kelben Foundation Inc?
The 2024 filing lists a scholarship application form, a high school transcript, and at least two letters of recommendation. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Kelben Foundation Inc's EIN?
Kelben Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-1494625. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
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 November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 2, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 13, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Kelben Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/kelben-foundation-inc-morg_4e0650af480c48149fbef6819d428ef7
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_391494625_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Kelben Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/kelben-foundation-inc-morg_4e0650af480c48149fbef6819d428ef7},
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 Kelben Foundation Inc'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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