Kenneth and Jean Watson Fund

Private foundation · Grantmaker Wilmington, DE EIN: 45-5288107

Kenneth and Jean Watson Fund is a private foundation, based in Wilmington, DE. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $1.2M in total assets. In 2024, it made $15K in qualifying distributions. Net investment income was $121K.

Kenneth and Jean Watson Fund at a glance

Total assets
$1,214,472
+10.8% vs 2023
Revenue (2024)
$152,454
+211.2% vs 2023
Qualifying distributions (2024)
$15,135
-16.2% vs 2023
Expenses (2024)
$34,522
-1.0% vs 2023
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.

Who Kenneth and Jean Watson Fund funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Grant Size Distribution

4 grants across all recorded years

<$50K3$50–100K1$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 3 grants of 4 (75%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

1state

States

Cities

ChicagoPalos Heights

How Kenneth and Jean Watson Fund gives

  • In 2024 it paid out 24% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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

$0$50K$100K$150K2 grants2020 2 grants2021 0 grants2022 0 grants2023 0 grants2024

From 2020 to 2021, annual grant giving ranged from $100K (2020) to $150K (2021). In 2021 it made 2 grants totaling $150K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Depaul University Chicago, ILCollege of Law program$100,000
Trinity Christian College Association Palos Heights, ILBy The Hand Club For Kids$50,000
Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with Kenneth and Jean Watson Fund?

Fully replaces Grant database subscriptions Instrumentl · Foundation Directory · GrantStation & similar

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$1,214,472$152,454$34,522——$15,135$121,091$62,918
2023$1,096,540$48,983$34,864——$18,055$15,622$58,385
2022$1,081,865$-8,945$35,630——$15,947$3,575$58,800
2021$1,126,440$173,212$191,462$150,0002$169,446$151,996$68,094
2020$1,144,690$28,777$141,094$100,0002—$9,151$64,884

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Kenneth and Jean Watson Fund reported a distributable amount of $63K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Kenneth and Jean Watson Fund is led by William W Thorsness, President, Director, Secretary & Treasurer on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • William W Thorsness

    President, Director, Secretary & Treasurer

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/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.

Frequently asked questions about Kenneth and Jean Watson Fund

How large is Kenneth and Jean Watson Fund?

Kenneth and Jean Watson Fund reported $1.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $15K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $63K (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.

Where does Kenneth and Jean Watson Fund operate?

Kenneth and Jean Watson Fund has awarded grants in Illinois.

What is Kenneth and Jean Watson Fund's EIN?

Kenneth and Jean Watson Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-5288107. 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.

Data update history

(6)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 26, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 8, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 12, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
  6. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in Kenneth and Jean Watson Fund's focus areas in our free grants database

Similar Funders

Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Delaware

Ernst & Young Foundation

New York, NY

Ernst & Young Foundation supports higher education through employee and partner matching gifts, as well as educational and special-project grants, including research, education forums, and programs that expand educational opportunity. In 2025, it made 637 grants ranging from $5,056 to $316,005, with a median of $13,525, to recipients across multiple states; the largest shares went to New York, Texas, California, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.

Assets

$47.6M

Grants

637

Total Given

$16.7M

Andrew Family Foundation

Orland Park, IL

The Andrew Family Foundation supports 501(c)(3) organizations working in education, humanitarian efforts, and the arts, with additional emphasis through its Junior Board Grants on youth development and sustainability. Its 2024 grants ranged from $100 to $127,300, with a median of $1,375, and went to organizations in multiple states, including Illinois, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Michigan, and Ohio. It says it funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Assets

$8.5M

Grants

148

Total Given

$730K

Pella Rolscreen Foundation

Pella, IA

The Pella Rolscreen Foundation supports charitable organizations working in education and community betterment, including civic, cultural, social, and physical-environment programs in communities where Pella Corporation employees live. Large grants generally range from $10,000 to $50,000 and typically cover no more than 25% of project costs; its 2024 grants had a median of $1,029. It accepts unsolicited requests from eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofits and government entities in communities where Pella has manufacturing plants.

Assets

$22.4M

Grants

433

Total Given

$1.9M

AbbVie Foundation

North Chicago, IL

The AbbVie Foundation funds health equity, access to care, cancer care, community health, and related community-led programs through partnerships and employee initiatives. Its 2025 grants ranged from $8,000 to $15 million, with a median of $25,000; it supports work worldwide, with the largest share of recent grants going to Illinois. It makes grants only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$265.6M

Grants

65

Total Given

$47.1M

Boyle Family Foundation

Chicago, IL

The Boyle Family Foundation supports a range of organizations, with recent grants benefiting health and medical research, education, hunger relief, and youth development; its 2025 grants ranged from $2,500 to $100,000, with a median of $15,000. Based in Chicago, it gave the largest shares to recipients in Illinois, New York, Minnesota, Tennessee, and Massachusetts. It funds only preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$18.3M

Grants

55

Total Given

$1.1M

Dr Scholl Foundation

Northbrook, IL

The Dr. Scholl Foundation funds nonprofit work in education, social services, healthcare, civic and cultural activities, and the environment, with consideration for other worthwhile projects. Grants average $5,000–$25,000, mostly in the United States; it also considers international requests when a board member has direct knowledge of the applicant.

Assets

$211.9M

Grants

410

Total Given

$8.9M

More similar funders

More Funders in Delaware

The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open

Figures come from Kenneth and Jean Watson 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.

Kenneth and Jean Watson Fund down — hundreds of funders to go?

Want AI to do this for you?