Kern Foundation Trust
Kern Foundation Trust is a private foundation, based in Po Box Chicago, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $16.3M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 3 grants totaling $1.0M. Net investment income was $1.1M.
Key facts about Kern Foundation Trust
In short: Kern Foundation Trust gave $1.0M across 3 grants in 2024 (avg $349K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 36-6107250
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,046,440
- Grants made (2024)
- 3
- Average grant
- $348,813
- Median grant
- $110,510
- Total assets
- $16,327,316
- Primary geography
- Illinois (89% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$16.3M
-1.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.0M
-2.4% YoY
Grant Count
3
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$349K
-2.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Kern Foundation Trust reported a distributable amount of $1.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
How Kern Foundation Trust gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+7%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 102% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $982K (2021) to $1.1M (2023). In 2024 it made 3 grants totaling $1.0M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Theosophical Society in America ($921K). Together the top 3 received $1.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
17 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 7 grants of 17 (41%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Theosophical Society in America Wheaton, IL | General Support | $920,930 |
| Krotona Institute of Theosophy Ojai, CA | General Support | $110,510 |
| The Theosophical Order of Service USA Wheaton, IL | General Support | $15,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $16,327,316 | $16,486,005 | $18,420,286 |
| Revenue | $1,034,712 | $713,892 | $1,523,683 |
| Expenses | $1,196,103 | $1,236,165 | $1,255,411 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,125,639 | $1,146,354 | $1,146,563 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,106,166 | $643,043 | $646,503 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,099,447 | $1,029,103 | $1,042,746 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 9, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 12, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 5, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Kern Foundation Trust's only listed officer is The Northern Trust Company, Trustee on every filing since 2020 (compensated).
Officers on the 2024 filing
The Northern Trust Company
Trustee
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$93K (2020) → $130K (2024)
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 $130K, to The Northern Trust Company (Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about Kern Foundation Trust
How much does Kern Foundation Trust give each year?
Kern Foundation Trust gave $1.0M across 3 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.1M across 3 grants.
What is Kern Foundation Trust's typical grant size?
Kern Foundation Trust's median grant in 2024 was $110,510, and its average grant was $348,813, across 3 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Kern Foundation Trust give grants?
Kern Foundation Trust gives mostly in Illinois: 89% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was California (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Wheaton, IL (2 grants).
Does Kern Foundation Trust give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Kern Foundation Trust's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (3 of 3) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
How large is Kern Foundation Trust?
Kern Foundation Trust reported $16.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.1M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Kern Foundation Trust's EIN?
Kern Foundation Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-6107250. 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.
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More Funders in Illinois
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