Kern Family Foundation Inc

Private foundation · Grantmaker Erie, PA EIN: 20-3330559

Kern Family Foundation Inc is a private foundation, based in Erie, PA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $3.6M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 7 grants totaling $365K. Net investment income was $130K.

Kern Family Foundation Inc at a glance

In short: Kern Family Foundation Inc gave $365K across 7 grants in 2024 (avg $52K), mostly in Pennsylvania. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$364,925
+37.8% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
7
-22.2% vs 2023
Average grant
$52,132
+77.2% vs 2023
Median grant
$15,000
Total assets
$3,615,477
-5.0% vs 2023
Primary geography
Pennsylvania (93% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing

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

Who Kern Family Foundation Inc funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 7 recipients in 2024

United Way: $275KUnited Way$275KErie Together: $20KErie Together$20KEmmaus Soup Kitchen: $19KEmmaus Soup Kitchen$19KSt Matthew's House: $15KSt Matthew's House$15KMLK Center: $15KMLK Center$15KNeighborhood Health Clinic: $11KNeighborhood Health Clinic$11KHope on Horseback: $10KHope on Horseback$10K

The largest 2024 recipient was United Way ($275K). Together the top 7 received $365K.

Grant Size Distribution

36 grants across all recorded years

31<$50K1$50–100K2$100–250K2$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 31 grants of 36 (86%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

3states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.

Cities

ErieNaplesBostonWaterford

How Kern Family Foundation Inc gives

  • Giving fell 26% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 88% 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$200K$400K$600K12 grants2020 1 grant2021 7 grants2022 9 grants2023 7 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $150K (2022) to $490K (2021). In 2024 it made 7 grants totaling $365K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
United Way Erie, PAUnrestricted Contribution$275,000
Erie Together Erie, PAUnrestricted Contribution$20,000
Emmaus Soup Kitchen Erie, PAUnrestricted Contribution$18,925
St Matthew's House Naples, FLUnrestricted Contribution$15,000
MLK Center Erie, PAUnrestricted Contribution$15,000
Neighborhood Health Clinic Naples, FLUnrestricted Contribution$11,000
Hope on Horseback Waterford, PAUnrestricted Contribution$10,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$3,615,477$329,194$366,491$364,9257$364,925$129,957$413,900
2023$3,804,299$291,821$270,588$264,7719$264,771$44,342$300,961
2022$4,141,830$224,027$150,825$150,0007$150,000$141,797$284,637
2021$4,129,014$807,650$490,927$490,0001$490,000$383,723$315,137
2020$6,065,337$92,281$274,413$273,50012—$15,638$304,630

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Kern Family Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $414K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Kern Family Foundation Inc is led by Bruce Kern Sr., President on every filing since 2020; none of the 6 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Bruce Kern Sr.

    President

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Amy C. Kern

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Bonnie Kern

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Nancy R. Kern

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • B. Scott Kern

    Secretary

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • C. Bruce Kern II

    Treasurer

    On filings since 2020

    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 Kern Family Foundation Inc

How much does Kern Family Foundation Inc give each year?

Kern Family Foundation Inc gave $365K across 7 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $265K across 9 grants.

What is Kern Family Foundation Inc's typical grant size?

Kern Family Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $15,000, and its average grant was $52,132, across 7 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Kern Family Foundation Inc give grants?

Kern Family Foundation Inc gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 93% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Florida (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Erie, PA (4 grants) and Naples, FL (2 grants).

Does Kern Family Foundation Inc give general operating support?

Yes: 100% of Kern Family Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (7 of 7) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Kern Family Foundation Inc's largest grantees?

Kern Family Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include United Way ($275,000), Erie Together ($20,000) and Emmaus Soup Kitchen ($18,925), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 86% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Kern Family Foundation Inc?

Kern Family Foundation Inc reported $3.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $365K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $414K (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 is Kern Family Foundation Inc's EIN?

Kern Family Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-3330559. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

Data update history

(1)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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

Figures come from Kern Family Foundation Inc'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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