Kemper Educational and Charitable Fund
Kemper Educational and Charitable Fund is a private foundation based in Winnetka, Illinois. Established in 1961 by the Hon. James S. Kemper, Sr., it supports organizations in education, health, social services, and humanities, with a preference for grants in the Metropolitan Chicago area.
Kemper Educational and Charitable Fund at a glance
In short: Kemper Educational and Charitable Fund gave $662K across 50 grants in 2024 (avg $13K), mostly in Illinois. 32% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $661,850
- +16.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 50
- +8.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $13,237
- +7.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,500
- Total assets
- $12,039,733
- +1.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 32% first-time grantees (16 of 50, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (90% 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 Kemper Educational and Charitable Fund
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. It states that contributions are made only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1001 Green Bay Road, Winnetka, IL 60093
Phone: (847) 441-2043
Website: https://www.kemperfund.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Kemper Educational and Charitable Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Chicago Youth Centers ($100K). Together the top 10 received $504K.
Grant Size Distribution
240 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 217 grants of 240 (90%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation states a preference for grants from the Metropolitan Chicago area. In 2024, 90% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois; the remaining grants went to recipients in Pennsylvania (4%), Missouri (2%), Michigan (2%), and Wisconsin (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 50 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Kemper Educational and Charitable Fund open to new grantees?
32%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 16 of 50 grantees (32%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $19K. How we count
Medians: $500 first-time, $3K repeat.
- 60% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+13%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 115% 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 $540K (2022) to $662K (2024). In 2024 it made 50 grants totaling $662K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Youth Centers Chicago, IL | Support Program | $100,000 |
| Cristo Rey St Martin College Prep Waukegan, IL | Support Program | $75,000 |
| Revolution Workshop Chicago, IL | Support Program | $51,000 |
| Chicago Jesuit Academy Chicago, IL | Support Program | $50,500 |
| Chicago Public Library Foundation Chicago, IL | Program Support | $50,000 |
| Holy Family Ministries Northfield, IL | Program Support | $50,000 |
| Noble Network's Summer of a Lifetime Chicago, IL | Program Support | $40,000 |
| Bernie's Book Bank Lake Bluff, IL | Program Support | $33,000 |
| Winnetka Community House Winnetka, IL | Program Support | $27,500 |
| Mothers Trust Foundation Lake Forest, IL | Support Program | $26,500 |
Ready to take the next step with Kemper Educational and Charitable Fund?
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 | $12,039,733 | $1,070,061 | $830,659 | $661,850 | 50 | $661,850 | $1,066,329 | $574,449 |
| 2023 | $11,882,638 | $689,594 | $740,502 | $566,021 | 46 | $566,021 | $688,572 | $556,888 |
| 2022 | $11,120,855 | $774,158 | $722,934 | $539,675 | 41 | $539,675 | $774,158 | $604,381 |
| 2021 | $13,859,542 | $896,548 | $776,574 | $583,959 | 45 | $583,959 | $896,343 | $642,905 |
| 2020 | $12,754,235 | $571,544 | $776,481 | $580,440 | 58 | — | $571,544 | $600,940 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Kemper Educational and Charitable Fund reported a distributable amount of $574K 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
The fund’s stated mission is to empower organizations that enhance educational opportunities and improve community welfare. Its website describes grant interests in education, mental health support, and workforce development, within its broader areas of education, health, and social services.
Its 2024 grantees illustrate the range of organizations it supports. Chicago Youth Centers says it provides early learning and out-of-school enrichment in under-resourced neighborhoods. Cristo Rey St Martin College Prep describes its work educating young people of limited economic means through college-preparatory education and work-study. Revolution Workshop says it provides carpentry and woodworking workforce development for unemployed or underemployed people. The Chicago Public Library Foundation describes its work connecting private investment with community-responsive programming across Chicago’s library system.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the fund reported 50 grants totaling $661,850. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $100,000, with a median of $1,500. Among the largest awards were $100,000 to Chicago Youth Centers, $75,000 to Cristo Rey St Martin College Prep, $51,000 to Revolution Workshop, $50,500 to Chicago Jesuit Academy, and $50,000 each to Chicago Public Library Foundation and Holy Family Ministries.
The fund’s website says it partners with other grantmaking organizations to support nonprofits and educational entities. It also says organizations are reviewed for alignment with its mission and potential community impact.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Brian Van Cleave as chairman, John Van Cleave as chairman emeritus, Katie Shook as secretary, Lynn Van Cleave as trustee, and Patti Van Cleave as executive director.
Kemper Educational and Charitable Fund is led by Patti Van Cleave, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 5 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Patti Van Cleave
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$65K (2020) → $65K (2024)
Brian Van Cleave
Chairman
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lynn Van Cleave
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Van Cleave
Chairmen Emeritus
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Katie Shook
Secretary
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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 $65K, to Patti Van Cleave (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Kemper Educational and Charitable Fund
How much does Kemper Educational and Charitable Fund give each year?
Kemper Educational and Charitable Fund gave $662K across 50 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $566K across 46 grants.
What is Kemper Educational and Charitable Fund's typical grant size?
Kemper Educational and Charitable Fund's median grant in 2024 was $1,500, and its average grant was $13,237, across 50 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Kemper Educational and Charitable Fund that year got $2K on average.
Where does Kemper Educational and Charitable Fund give grants?
Kemper Educational and Charitable Fund gives mostly in Illinois: 90% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Winnetka, IL (11 grants), Chicago, IL (9 grants), Northfield, IL (3 grants) and Evanston, IL (2 grants).
Does Kemper Educational and Charitable Fund give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 50 grants with a stated purpose on Kemper Educational and Charitable Fund's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (41 grants) and "Support Program" (9 grants).
Who are Kemper Educational and Charitable Fund's largest grantees?
Kemper Educational and Charitable Fund's largest 2024 grantees include Chicago Youth Centers ($100,000), Cristo Rey St Martin College Prep ($75,000) and Revolution Workshop ($51,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 34% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Kemper Educational and Charitable Fund?
Kemper Educational and Charitable Fund reported $12.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $662K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $574K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Kemper Educational and Charitable Fund fund?
The fund’s stated mission is to empower organizations that enhance educational opportunities and improve community welfare. Its website describes grant interests in education, mental health support, and workforce development, within its broader areas of education, health, and social services. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Kemper Educational and Charitable Fund?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Kemper Educational and Charitable Fund's EIN?
Kemper Educational and Charitable Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-6054499. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Kemper Educational and Charitable Fund 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 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 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS September 7, 2023)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 10, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 29, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Kemper Educational and Charitable Fund funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/kemper-educational-and-charitable-fund-morg_56b5e7c24aca4b5f829887338edadc5e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_366054499_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Kemper Educational and Charitable Fund funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/kemper-educational-and-charitable-fund-morg_56b5e7c24aca4b5f829887338edadc5e},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Kemper Educational and Charitable Fund'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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