Kirchgessner Vision Foundation
Kirchgessner Vision Foundation is a private foundation based in Sherman Oaks, California, that supports tax-exempt organizations providing vision services, with an emphasis on vision care and helping people with sight problems become self-sufficient. It seeks to assist economically disadvantaged people, especially children.
Kirchgessner Vision Foundation at a glance
In short: Kirchgessner Vision Foundation gave $598K across 24 grants in 2025 (avg $25K), mostly in California. 21% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $598,300
- -13.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 24
- +4.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $24,929
- -17.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $19,868,606
- +5.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 21% first-time grantees (5 of 24, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (98% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Kirchgessner Vision Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The 2024 filing describes a two-stage process. Applicants should first email an executed letter of intent to the grants coordinator, including contact information and a statement of compliance with the foundation’s grantmaking guidelines; no supporting materials should accompany the initial letter. If the foundation requests a formal, detailed application, additional information will be required. Applicants must be currently qualified as 501(c)(3) organizations and may not be private foundations or supporting organizations. The filing says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
- Review Cycle
- The letter of intent is due October 15 each year; a formal grant application, if requested, is due February 1.
- Deadline
- The letter of intent is due October 15 each year; a formal grant application, if requested, is due February 1.
- Contact
Application contact: Christine Tuthill
Mailing address: 1060 Gavin Lane, Nipomo, CA 93444
Phone: (310) 704-8074
Email: grantscoordinator@kirchgessnerfoundation.org
Website: https://kirchgessnerfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Kirchgessner Vision Foundation
Who Kirchgessner Vision Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Vision to Learn ($105K). Together the top 10 received $405K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($31,500), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
134 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 122 grants of 134 (91%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website defines the an individual recipient Region as an individual recipient, Orange, and Ventura Counties and says organizations serving that region may apply even if headquartered elsewhere. The 2024 filing states that the highest priority is given to nonprofits serving communities in a five-county region: An individual recipient, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura Counties. It also notes that agencies serving an individual recipient but headquartered elsewhere may apply. In 2025, 98% of grant dollars went to California recipients, with 1% each going to Iowa and Minnesota; the reported share for Washington, DC, was 0%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 24 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Kirchgessner Vision Foundation open to new grantees?
21%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 24 grantees (21%) were first-time recipients. With only 24 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $30K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $30K repeat.
- 71% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−5%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 93% 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 (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $598K (2025) to $765K (2023). In 2025 it made 24 grants totaling $598K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Vision to Learn Los Angeles, CA | General Program Support | $105,000 |
| Marshall B Ketchum University Fullerton, CA | For continued support of the university's pediatric low vision program, and expand the scope of the program to provide underserved, pediatric patients with in-person comprehensive exams and care, as well as the low vision devices they need to successfully engage in daily activities. | $45,000 |
| Beyond Blindness Formerly Known as Blind Children's Learning Center Santa Ana, CA | To expand its low vision clinic and community-wide vision screenings. | $40,000 |
| Wayfinder Family Services Los Angeles, CA | For continued support of wayfinders child development services (previously known as early intervention program (the program), which program assists approximately 500 infants and young children, ages 0-6, who have vision loss or multiple disabilities in southern California at no cost to their families. | $35,000 |
| Western University of Health Sciences Pomona, CA | To fund the purchase of advanced technology for use during in-office visits and as part of the independent living skills program assessments conducted by westernu's patient care team. | $35,000 |
| 1 grant to individuals Recipients not named | — | $31,500 |
| Children's Hospital Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | To support small equipment purchases at its vision center throughout the 2025-2026 fiscal year. | $30,000 |
| Family Health Care Centers of Greater Los Angeles Commerce, CA | To directly support vision care services in los Angeles county | $30,000 |
| Healing California Alhambra, CA | To directly support its vision care services in los angeles, orange, ventura, riverside, and/or san Bernardino counties in 2025. | $30,000 |
| Venice Family Clinic Venice, CA | To continue to support the clinics vision care program by funding the rental of retinal cameras that will allow vfc to reach more patients than ever with affordable preventive vision services | $30,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Kirchgessner Vision 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $19,868,606 | $857,539 | $992,979 | $598,300 | 24 | $886,156 | $754,755 | $955,037 |
| 2024 | $18,926,681 | $918,346 | $1,070,088 | $694,150 | 23 | $953,824 | $722,224 | $913,475 |
| 2023 | $18,223,646 | $1,265,921 | $1,158,222 | $764,851 | 28 | $1,040,018 | $1,173,735 | $870,847 |
| 2022 | $17,507,463 | $1,310,962 | $1,031,848 | $628,124 | 31 | $907,187 | $1,200,953 | $1,005,387 |
| 2021 | $21,343,053 | $1,349,717 | $1,027,513 | $600,590 | 28 | — | $1,230,855 | $948,186 |
| 2020 | $16,929,814 | $416,397 | $1,007,578 | $673,463 | 39 | — | $302,296 | $852,740 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Kirchgessner Vision Foundation reported a distributable amount of $955K for 2025 — 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 states that its mission is to support tax-exempt organizations engaged in vision services. Its emphasis is vision care and helping people with sight problems become self-sufficient, particularly economically disadvantaged people and children.
Its guidelines describe grants for specific projects or programs, equipment purchases, seed funding for new initiatives, and—in limited circumstances—operating or general support. The foundation makes grants to eligible 501(c)(3) organizations, not individuals or fundraising campaigns. It also states that applicants’ overhead expenses must be reasonable.
Examples of supported work include services for children with vision loss, vision screenings, clinical vision care, and support for blind or visually impaired students. For example, Vision To Learn describes its mission as providing free eye exams and glasses to students and low-income communities. Wayfinder Family Services says it serves children, youth, and adults facing challenges, and describes its origins in supporting fuller, more independent lives for visually impaired children. An individual recipient City College Foundation describes its work as addressing students’ basic needs so low-income students can enroll, persist, and succeed.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation made 24 grants totaling $598,300. Grants ranged from $300 to $105,000, with a median grant of $25,000. Among the largest awards were $105,000 to Vision To Learn for general program support; $45,000 to Marshall B. Ketchum University for its pediatric low vision program; $40,000 to Beyond Blindness for expansion of its low vision clinic and community-wide screenings; and $35,000 each to Wayfinder Family Services and Western University of Health Sciences for vision-related services and technology.
Ketchum University, Beyond Blindness, and other organizations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Michael Kramer as president and director; Kathleen McGrath Kramer as vice president, treasurer, secretary, and director; and Elizabeth Murray, Ralph Bliquez, Thomas C. Lee, MD, Kathryn Nelson, OD, Angeline Nguyen, MD, and Darryl W. Cluster, Esq. as directors. Christine Tuthill is listed as grants coordinator.
Kirchgessner Vision Foundation is led by Michael Kramer, President & Director on every filing since 2020; 7 of 9 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Michael Kramer
President & Director
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$34K (2020) → $65K (2025)
Elizabeth Murray
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$4K (2020) → $5K (2025)
Kathleen McGrath Kramer
Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary & Director
Vice President, Treasurer & Secretary → Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary & Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$42K (2020) → $74K (2025)
Thomas C. Lee MD
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$2K (2020) → $3K (2025)
Angeline Nguyen MD
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
$3K (2023) → $3K (2025)
Kathryn Nelson Od
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
$3K (2023) → $3K (2025)
Ralph Bliquez
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Darryl W. Cluster Esq.
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christine Tuthill
Grants Coordinator
New on the 2025 filing
15 hrs/week
$70K (2025)
Former officers (5)
- Former: Dayne Crist (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Natalie Fleming (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Alyssa Valles (2024) — Director
- Former: Florencia Murphy Od (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Robert A. Huber (2020–2022) — Senior Vice President & Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $74K, to Kathleen McGrath Kramer (VP/Treasurer/Secretary/Director). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Kirchgessner Vision Foundation
How much does Kirchgessner Vision Foundation give each year?
Kirchgessner Vision Foundation gave $598K across 24 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $694K across 23 grants.
What is Kirchgessner Vision Foundation's typical grant size?
Kirchgessner Vision Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $24,929, across 24 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Kirchgessner Vision Foundation that year got $5K on average.
Where does Kirchgessner Vision Foundation give grants?
Kirchgessner Vision Foundation gives mostly in California: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (8 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does Kirchgessner Vision Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 38% of Kirchgessner Vision Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (9 of 24) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Kirchgessner Vision Foundation's largest grantees?
Kirchgessner Vision Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Vision to Learn ($105,000), Marshall B Ketchum University ($45,000) and Beyond Blindness Formerly Known as Blind Children's Learning Center ($40,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($31,500), which are not listed by name. Together they received 32% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Kirchgessner Vision Foundation?
Kirchgessner Vision Foundation reported $19.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $886K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $955K (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 Kirchgessner Vision Foundation fund?
The foundation states that its mission is to support tax-exempt organizations engaged in vision services. Its emphasis is vision care and helping people with sight problems become self-sufficient, particularly economically disadvantaged people and children. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Kirchgessner Vision Foundation?
The 2024 filing describes a two-stage process. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Kirchgessner Vision Foundation's EIN?
Kirchgessner Vision Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 68-0530356. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Kirchgessner Vision Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/kirchgessner-vision-foundation-morg_f5b13f0912144dddaf189f0fce1d0b42
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_680530356_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Kirchgessner Vision Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/kirchgessner-vision-foundation-morg_f5b13f0912144dddaf189f0fce1d0b42},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Kirchgessner Vision 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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