Kent State University Foundation
The Kent State University Foundation provides leadership, private sector funding and stewardship of gifts to support kent state university, meet its needs and achieve its priorites.
Kent State University Foundation at a glance
In short: Kent State University Foundation gave $17.4M across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $17.4M), mostly in Ohio. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $17,412,751
- -33.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $17,412,751
- -33.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $17,412,751
- Total assets
- $365,185,422
- +9.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Ohio (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Kent State University Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Kent State University ($17.4M).
Grant Size Distribution
5 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was $5M or more: 5 grants of 5 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How Kent State University Foundation gives
- Giving grew 22% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $14.2M (2022) to $26.3M (2024). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $17.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Kent State University Kent, OH | Program Support | $17,412,751 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $365,185,422 | $22,389,795 | $21,243,566 | $17,412,751 | 1 | $3,079,589 |
| 2024 | $333,642,018 | $21,201,534 | $30,127,232 | $26,327,681 | 1 | $2,711,824 |
| 2023 | $315,802,364 | $24,294,118 | $28,135,064 | $24,043,999 | 1 | $4,146,410 |
| 2022 | $298,774,525 | $49,925,385 | $17,601,463 | $14,237,328 | 1 | $5,166,981 |
| 2021 | $301,481,915 | $21,430,947 | $18,582,646 | $15,023,938 | 1 | $3,269,673 |
About Kent State University Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Kent State University Foundation is a public charity focused on Education, based in Kent, OH. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $365.2M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $17.4M. Net investment income was $3.1M.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Kent State University Foundation is led by Valoree Vargo, Chief Executive Officer since 2023 (on filings since 2021); none of the 37 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Valoree Vargo
Chief Executive Officer
Executive Director → Chief Executive Officer, 2023
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michelle Thomas
Board Chair
Director → Board Chair Elect, 2022
Board Chair Elect → Board Chair, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Barry Fetterman
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Candice Hughes
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cathy Hemming
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dale Leppo
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Daniel Wolfe
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Diana Strongosky
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gary Brahler
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Heather Cerbone
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Elliot
Director
Board Chair → Immediate Past Chair, 2022
Immediate Past Chair → Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lawrence Armstrong
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark Lucas
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nora Jacobs
Director
Immediate Past Chair → Director, 2022
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard Frenchie
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard Krumel
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rob Risman
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert Ross
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Scott McKinney
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steffany Matticola Larkins
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephen Milkovich
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Timothy Eippert
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Todd Diacon
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Virginia Addicott
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Valerie Patton George
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Diane Petrella
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Roxia Boykin
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Vicki Haywood Doe
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alexander Evans
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Andrea Gauding
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christian Palich
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kenneth Grunley
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Greg Inna
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gregory Long
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James Bailey
Board Chair Elect
Director → Board Chair Elect, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jessica Vargo
Assistant Treasurer
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Peter Holway
Immediate Past Chair
Board Chair Elect → Board Chair, 2022
Board Chair → Immediate Past Chair, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (12)
- Former: Raj Aggarwal (2021–2025) — Director · Filing note: Deceased
- Former: Judie Fall Lasser (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Mark Polatajko (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Melody Tankersley (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Pamela Bobst (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Barb Smith (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Catherine Hackney (2021–2023) — Board Secretary
- Former: Edmund Cooke (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Versie Johnson Mallard (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Christina Bloebaum (2021) — Director
- Former: Margaret May (2021) — Director
- Former: Stuart Neidus (2021) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 Kent State University Foundation
How much does Kent State University Foundation give each year?
Kent State University Foundation gave $17.4M across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $26.3M across 1 grant.
How large is Kent State University Foundation?
Kent State University Foundation reported $365.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $22.4M.
What is Kent State University Foundation?
Kent State University Foundation is a public charity focused on Education, based in Kent, OH. It holds $365.2M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Kent State University Foundation operate?
Kent State University Foundation has awarded grants in Ohio.
What is Kent State University Foundation's EIN?
Kent State University Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 34-6576307. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 25, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 2, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 7, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 18, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS November 13, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Live grants for the work Kent State University Foundation funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Kent State University Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Kent State University 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.
Kent State University Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?