Kimsey Foundation
The Kimsey Foundation is a private foundation based in Washington, DC, established in 1996 by James V. Kimsey. Its primary focus is Washington, emphasizing educational and cultural initiatives and building enduring, livable communities that offer hope and opportunity to youth. It also serves the international community through policy research and humanitarian outreach.
Kimsey Foundation at a glance
In short: Kimsey Foundation gave $945K across 44 grants in 2024 (avg $21K), top state District of Columbia. 32% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $944,850
- +40.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 44
- -20.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $21,474
- +75.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $45,189,974
- +51.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 32% first-time grantees (14 of 44, 2024)
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (42% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Kimsey Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. It states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 900 16Th Street Nw 275, Washington, DC 20006
Phone: (202) 367-1037
Website: https://kimseyfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Kimsey Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was McLean Project for the Arts ($135K). Together the top 10 received $708K.
Grant Size Distribution
244 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 222 grants of 244 (91%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation identifies Washington as its primary focus. Its 2024 grant dollars went primarily to recipients in DC (42%), Virginia (18%), Maryland (18%), and California (15%); Florida received 4%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 44 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Kimsey Foundation open to new grantees?
32%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 14 of 44 grantees (32%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $12K; repeat grants $26K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 66% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+10%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 91% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $673K (2023) to $945K (2024). In 2024 it made 44 grants totaling $945K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| McLean Project for the Arts McLean, VA | General Operating | $135,000 |
| Campbell Hall Episcopal Valley Village, CA | General Operating | $132,800 |
| Aspen Spark Washington, DC | General Operating | $120,000 |
| Fair Chance Silver Spring, MD | General Operating | $85,000 |
| Latino Economic Development Center Washington, DC | General Operating | $50,000 |
| Sibley Memorial Hospital Foundation Washington, DC | General Operating | $50,000 |
| Our Lady of the Woods Corporation (The Woods Academy) Bethesda, MD | General Operating | $40,000 |
| Best Buddies International Miami, FL | General Operating | $35,000 |
| Living Classrooms Foundation Baltimore, MD | General Operating | $35,000 |
| Higher Achievement Program Washington, DC | General Operating | $25,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Kimsey Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $45,189,974 | $2,477,308 | $2,202,817 | $944,850 | 44 | $1,788,008 | $2,113,383 | $1,964,820 |
| 2023 | $29,854,028 | $1,608,896 | $1,849,415 | $672,732 | 55 | $1,478,085 | $1,275,001 | $1,335,838 |
| 2022 | $22,243,824 | $1,164,672 | $1,988,869 | $747,624 | 58 | $1,800,767 | $1,027,922 | $1,227,453 |
| 2021 | $32,019,755 | $1,937,326 | $1,959,737 | $859,800 | 51 | $1,730,358 | $1,747,013 | $1,420,716 |
| 2020 | $24,477,419 | $1,044,250 | $1,690,430 | $749,549 | 36 | — | $957,924 | $1,044,309 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Kimsey Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation says it is committed to educating, strengthening, and serving the world community. Its stated priorities include supporting educational and cultural initiatives for young people, particularly economically disadvantaged youth; building enduring, livable communities at home and abroad; alleviating human suffering; and supporting studies of global interdependencies and the United States’ role as an engaged world leader.
The foundation’s website describes initiatives to improve educational outcomes for Washington, DC children, support leadership and managerial training in education, and expand opportunities to experience and participate in the arts. Its community work includes neighborhood partnerships, youth and family participation, leadership training, and sharing local resource and demographic information.
Grantees’ own descriptions show the range of organizations supported. McLean Project for the Arts, which received $135,000 in 2024, describes its work as connecting art and community through exhibitions, arts education, and instruction. Higher Achievement Program, which received $25,000, says it provides a rigorous after-school learning environment and caring role models for middle-school students. Living Classrooms Foundation, which received $35,000, describes its work as hands-on education and job training, with a special emphasis on at-risk youth. Other 2024 grantees include Sibley Memorial Hospital Foundation, which says it supports health care, patient and family support, and community health services, and Best Buddies International, which describes programs promoting friendships, integrated employment, and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 44 grants totaling $944,850. Awards ranged from $100 to $135,000, with a median grant of $10,000. The largest awards included $135,000 to McLean Project for the Arts, $132,800 to Campbell Hall Episcopal, $120,000 to Aspen Spark, and $85,000 to Fair Chance. Each was listed for general operating support. Other grants included $50,000 each to Latino Economic Development Center and Sibley Memorial Hospital Foundation, and $40,000 to Our Lady of the Woods Corporation (The Woods Academy).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Michael P. Kimsey as president and director, Raymond C. Kimsey as secretary and director, and Mark J. Kimsey as treasurer and director.
Kimsey Foundation is led by Michael P. Kimsey, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Michael P. Kimsey
President & Director
On filings since 2020
15 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark J. Kimsey
Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
15 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Raymond C. Kimsey
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
15 hrs/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 Kimsey Foundation
How much does Kimsey Foundation give each year?
Kimsey Foundation gave $945K across 44 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $673K across 55 grants.
What is Kimsey Foundation's typical grant size?
Kimsey Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $21,474, across 44 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Kimsey Foundation that year got $12K on average.
Where does Kimsey Foundation give grants?
Kimsey Foundation's top state is District of Columbia, with 42% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Virginia (18%) and Maryland (18%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (18 grants), McLean, VA (2 grants), Potomac, MD (2 grants) and Los Angeles, CA (2 grants).
Does Kimsey Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Kimsey Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (44 of 44) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Kimsey Foundation's largest grantees?
Kimsey Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include McLean Project for the Arts ($135,000), Campbell Hall Episcopal ($132,800) and Aspen Spark ($120,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 41% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Kimsey Foundation?
Kimsey Foundation reported $45.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.0M (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 does Kimsey Foundation fund?
The foundation says it is committed to educating, strengthening, and serving the world community. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Kimsey Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Kimsey Foundation's EIN?
Kimsey Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-2007895. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Kimsey Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Kimsey Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/kimsey-foundation-morg_cef1080707a54226b5732743c1972c8e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_522007895_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Kimsey Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/kimsey-foundation-morg_cef1080707a54226b5732743c1972c8e},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Kimsey 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.
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