Kemper Educational and Charitable Fund
The Kemper Educational and Charitable Fund is a private foundation based in Winnetka, Illinois, established in August 1963. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with tax-exempt status. The foundation makes charitable grants available to other organizations, primarily funding program support and public support initiatives.
Key facts about Kemper Educational and Charitable Fund
- EIN
- 36-6054499
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $661,850
- Grants made (2024)
- 50
- Average grant
- $13,237
- Median grant
- $1,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 40% first-time grantees (20 of 50, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (90% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The foundation does not respond to unsolicited applications for funding. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). 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
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Kemper Educational and Charitable Fund's 50 itemized 2024 grants were Illinois (90%). The most frequent recipient cities were Winnetka, IL (11 grants), Chicago, IL (9 grants), Northfield, IL (3 grants) and Evanston, IL (2 grants). None of its 50 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (41 grants) and "Support Program" (9 grants).
Is Kemper Educational and Charitable Fund open to new grantees?
40%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 20 of 50 grantees (40%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $21K. How we count
Medians: $500 first-time, $10K repeat.
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+13%). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Kemper Educational and Charitable Fund
- How to evaluate Kemper Educational and Charitable Fund as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$662K
Grant Count
50
Avg Grant Size
$13K
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's purpose is to make charitable grants available to other organizations using earned income from interest, dividends, and capital gains. The fund grants to organizations in the metro Chicago area that support underserved populations, with primary focus areas including:
- Education — Support for schools and other educational organizations
- Mental Health Support
- Workforce Development
- Social Services — Program support for organizations improving lives
Grantmaking
Grant Range
is approximately $1,500
Average Grant
amounts range from $100 to $101,015
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Kemper Educational and Charitable Fund?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Metro Chicago area
- Illinois
- Wisconsin
- Pennsylvania
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 50 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $11,882,638
- Total Revenues: $689,594
- Total Expenses: $740,502
- Total Giving: $661,850
- Number of Employees: 1
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $12,039,733
| Metric | 2024 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
194 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Chicago Youth Centers ($100,000), Cristo Rey St Martin College Prep ($75,000), Revolution Workshop ($51,000).
| 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 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Brian Van Cleave — Chairman
- John Van Cleave — Chairman Emeritus
- Katie Shook — Secretary
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Van Cleave | Chairman | 0.5 | — |
| John Van Cleave | Chairmen Emeritus | 0.5 | — |
| Katie Shook | Secretary | 0.5 | — |
| Lynn Van Cleave | Trustee | 0.5 | — |
| Patti Van Cleave | Executive Director | 40 | $64,992 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has been active in supporting bilingual education initiatives through The Kemper Foundation's Read Conmigo Grant Program, which has awarded educator grants and school impact grants in multiple regions including Dallas, Los Angeles, and Miami areas during 2024 and 2025.
The Kemper Foundation Opens Spring 2025 Read Conmigo Grant Applications forFrequently Asked Questions
What does Kemper Educational and Charitable Fund fund?
The foundation's purpose is to make charitable grants available to other organizations using earned income from interest, dividends, and capital gains. The fund grants to organizations in the metro Chicago area that support underserved populations, with primary focus areas including: • **Education** — Support for schools and other educational organizations • **Mental Health Support** • **Workforce Development** • **Social Services** — Program support for organizations improving lives
How do I apply for a grant from Kemper Educational and Charitable Fund?
The foundation does not respond to unsolicited applications for funding. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Kemper Educational and Charitable Fund make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Metro Chicago area • Illinois • Wisconsin • Pennsylvania
What size grants does Kemper Educational and Charitable Fund award?
In 2024, Kemper Educational and Charitable Fund awarded 50 grants totaling $662K — an average of about $13K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
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.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.