Keller Foundation
Keller Foundation is a private foundation based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Its stated purpose is to support innovative programs for Grand Rapids’ core city youth that foster nurturing environments, spark curiosity, expand opportunities for self-sufficiency, and inspire high aspirations.
Keller Foundation at a glance
In short: Keller Foundation gave $416K across 41 grants in 2025 (avg $10K), mostly in Michigan. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $416,000
- +10.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 41
- -4.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $10,146
- +15.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $7,500
- Total assets
- $6,820,147
- +8.0% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Michigan (97% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Keller Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s website provides an online grant application and encourages new applicants to use its online funding request form. Its guidelines say applications should include a cover letter linking the proposal to the foundation’s vision. Supporting documents may include proof of 501(c)(3) status, a list of the organization’s board members, and program and organizational budgets. Trustees generally review most requests in September, with some periodic reviews during the year; they do not conduct applicant interviews except at the foundation’s initiative.
- Review Cycle
- The stated May 15 deadline for September review has passed for 2026. The foundation’s 2024 filing also lists May 15 as the deadline.
- Deadline
- The stated May 15 deadline for September review has passed for 2026.
- Contact
Application contact: Zelene Wilkins
Mailing address: 5225 33Rd St Se, Grand Rapids, MI 49512
Phone: (616) 949-5138
Email: zelene@kellerfoundation.org
Website: https://kellerfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Keller Foundation
Who Keller Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was United Methodist Community House ($62K). Together the top 10 received $250K.
Grant Size Distribution
127 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 123 grants of 127 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website identifies children and families in the community around Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Academy as a key interest, while stating that its giving is not limited to that area. The 2024 filing lists “Core City Grand Rapids, MI” as a restriction on awards. In 2025, 97% of grant dollars went to recipients in Michigan; the remainder went to recipients in Illinois and California, with Massachusetts and Indiana each accounting for a reported 0%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 41 itemized grants.
Cities
How Keller Foundation gives
- 76% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 22% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 82% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $313K (2021) to $530K (2020). In 2025 it made 41 grants totaling $416K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| United Methodist Community House Grand Rapids, MI | Educational and Human Services | $62,000 |
| Mary Free Bed Grand Rapids, MI | Health Services Grant | $52,000 |
| Clark Foundation Grand Rapids, MI | Human Services and Cultural Grants | $30,000 |
| First United Methodist Church Grand Rapids, MI | Education Grant | $16,000 |
| Blandford Nature Center Grand Rapids, MI | Environmental Grants | $15,200 |
| Baxter Community Center Grand Rapids, MI | Human Services Grant | $15,000 |
| Grand Rapids Symphony - MLK Grand Rapids, MI | Cultural Grants | $15,000 |
| Kent School Services Network Grand Rapids, MI | Educational Grants | $15,000 |
| Our Kitchen Table Grand Rapids, MI | Human Services Grant | $15,000 |
| STEM Greenhouse Kentwood, MI | Educational Grants | $15,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Keller Foundation?
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 | $6,820,147 | $1,017,930 | $510,820 | $416,000 | 41 | $416,000 | $207,039 | $504,908 |
| 2024 | $6,313,037 | $248,763 | $478,903 | $377,000 | 43 | $377,000 | $159,393 | $444,681 |
| 2023 | $6,532,641 | $444,552 | $418,070 | $348,150 | 41 | $348,150 | $174,901 | $405,016 |
| 2022 | $6,498,950 | $273,221 | $443,750 | $340,650 | 1 | $396,061 | $27,700 | $475,066 |
| 2021 | $6,778,666 | $365,356 | $408,921 | $313,219 | 1 | — | $187,264 | $436,765 |
| 2020 | $6,671,804 | $222,589 | $585,415 | $530,322 | 1 | — | $200,547 | $375,288 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Keller Foundation reported a distributable amount of $505K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to support innovative programs for Grand Rapids’ core city youth. Its website describes programs involving arts and cultural access, school readiness, tutoring and literacy, safe and nurturing environments for children, after-school enrichment, and effective parenting.
Grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of organizations supported. United Methodist Community House says it strengthens the community across generations through life-changing programs and services. Blandford Nature Center describes education and community programs that help people understand and engage with the environment. Baxter Community Center identifies itself as a neighborhood hub offering child development, health, food and clothing assistance, and educational enrichment. Other 2025 grantees include Our Kitchen Table, which describes work on infant-mortality education and a healthy neighborhood food system, and STEM Greenhouse, which says it works to grow STEM proficiency in vulnerable children.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 41 grants totaling $416,000. The grants ranged from $1,000 to $62,000, with a median of $7,500. Its website says it awards an average of 30 grants each year, with grants ranging from $2,500 to $50,000. It also describes a preference for three-year Impact Grants, generally representing 5%–50% of a program’s budget, with evaluation required for renewal.
Among the largest 2025 grants were $62,000 to United Methodist Community House for educational and human services, $52,000 to Mary Free Bed for health services, and $30,000 to Clark Foundation for human services and cultural grants. Other notable awards included $16,000 to First United Methodist Church for education and $15,200 to Blandford Nature Center for environmental grants.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Kathleen Muir Laidlaw as chairperson, Andrew Keller as vice chair, David F. Muir as treasurer, and Zelene Wilkins as executive director. Listed trustees are Frederick P. Keller, Katherine Connover Keller, William M. Muir, Catherine L. Muir, Leah Ann Muir, and Elizabeth M. Muir.
Keller Foundation is led by Kathleen Muir Laidlaw, Chairperson on every filing since 2020; none of the 19 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Kathleen Muir Laidlaw
Chairperson
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Catherine L. Muir
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Christina Keller
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Elizabeth M. Muir
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Frederick P. Keller
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Jim Muir
Junior Trustee
Junior Trustee → Trustee & Junior Trustee, 2021
Trustee & Junior Trustee → Junior Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Lars Whitman
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Leah Ann Muir
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Lorissa K. Macallister
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Rachel Muir
Junior Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Susan T. K. Whitman
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Wesley Macallister
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
William M. Muir
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Katherine Connover Keller
Trustee
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Paul Macallister
Junior Trustee
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Sara Muir
Junior Trustee
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Zelene Wilkins
Executive Di
Executive Director → Executive Di, 2023
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$31K (2020) → $0 (2025)
Andrew J. Keller
Vice Chair
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
David F. Muir
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2022 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2022 filing was $68K, to Zelene Wilkins (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Keller Foundation
How much does Keller Foundation give each year?
Keller Foundation gave $416K across 41 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $377K across 43 grants.
What is Keller Foundation's typical grant size?
Keller Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $7,500, and its average grant was $10,146, across 41 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Keller Foundation give grants?
Keller Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Grand Rapids, MI (32 grants).
Does Keller Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 41 grants with a stated purpose on Keller Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Human Services Grant" (11 grants), "Human Services" (3 grants) and "Education Grant" (3 grants).
Who are Keller Foundation's largest grantees?
Keller Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include United Methodist Community House ($62,000), Mary Free Bed ($52,000) and Clark Foundation ($30,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 35% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Keller Foundation?
Keller Foundation reported $6.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $416K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $505K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Keller Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to support innovative programs for Grand Rapids’ core city youth. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Keller Foundation?
The foundation’s website provides an online grant application and encourages new applicants to use its online funding request form. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Keller Foundation's EIN?
Keller Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-2331693. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Keller Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Keller Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/keller-foundation-morg_be011508d47e4fe080a8d89ccb69feee
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_382331693_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Keller Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/keller-foundation-morg_be011508d47e4fe080a8d89ccb69feee},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Keller 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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