Kissick Family Foundation
Opportunities---10-17-2025.html?aid=nyfoAxDbCVQ&soid=1133908141122 type: exa:news title: 'PSOM Update: Funding News & Opportunities - 10/17/2025' type: exa:news title: Kissick Family Foundation, Milken Institute Announce $2 Million in Funding for Frontotemporal Dementia Research and New Call for Proposals | Milken Institute type: exa:news title: Inaugural Kissick Family Foundation FTD Grant Program Awardees and Projects type: exa:news title: Kissick Family Foundation, Milken Institute Announce $3 Million in ...
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$104.9M
+5.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$7.3M
+54.5% YoY
Grant Count
33
-21.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$222K
+96.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Kissick Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $5.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation was established with the principle of running philanthropy "nimbly and creatively, no differently from how a business is run" with a goal to "unite our family and future generations around philanthropy."
The foundation describes itself as supporting "optimists who believe in the potential for a better future by acting boldly and investing generously in ideas that can have catalytic impact." It seeks to provide critical early support for leaders, researchers, and entrepreneurs working on finding cures, repairing environmental damage, and changing entire fields of study.
Primary funding areas include:
- Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) Research — A significant focus area following John Kissick's diagnosis with FTD
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
Grantmaking
How to Apply
** The foundation does not accept or review unsolicited requests for funding.
Ready to take the next step with Kissick Family Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
- International focus for FTD research grants
- Los Angeles area for local grants
- Primary grantmaking in California, Maryland, and District of Columbia
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Total Assets: $104.9 million (2024); $99.3 million (2023)
Annual Giving: $7.3 million (2024); $4.7 million (2023)
Revenue: $9.3 million (2023)
Expenses: $6.8 million (2023)
Total Liabilities: $0 (2023)
Tax-Exempt Status: Since February 1994 (EIN: 95-4443453)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $104,935,521 | $99,302,510 | $97,155,242 |
| Revenue | $20,778,486 | $9,279,072 | $8,643,592 |
| Expenses | $9,814,377 | $6,764,882 | $4,996,149 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $8,107,715 | $5,182,988 | $3,788,927 |
| Net Investment Income | $4,760,317 | $5,780,635 | $4,519,880 |
| Distributable Amount | $5,792,218 | $4,589,614 | $5,043,407 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
178 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include 10000 Brains Neuro Al Inc ($1,000,000), Ocean Visions ($750,000), The Regents of the University of Ca San Francisco ($650,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 10000 BRAINS NEURO AL INC CHESTNUT HILL, MA | CONTRIBUTION | $1,000,000 |
| 1907 FOUNDATION INTERNATIONAL INC NAPLES, FL | CONTRIBUTION | $250,000 |
| AFTD KING OF PRUSSIA, PA | CONTRIBUTION | $100,000 |
| ALLIANCE FOR COLLEDGE READY SCHOOLS LOS ANGELES, CA | CONTRIBUTION | $100,000 |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY LOS ANGELES, CA | CONTRIBUTION | $5,000 |
| BARREL BAG MILL VALLEY, CA | CONTRIBUTION | $58,000 |
| BRICK CITY SPORTS SYLMAR, CA | CONTRIBUTION | $5,000 |
| DIGITAL HARBOR FOUNDATION BALTIMORE, MD | CONTRIBUTION | $500,000 |
| EARTH ENABLE INC WESTON, MA | CONTRIBUTION | $200,000 |
| ECOLE BILINGUE BERKELEY, CA | CONTRIBUTION | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
John Kissick (1942-2024) — Founding President
John Harold Kissick co-founded Apollo Management in 1990 and Ares Management in 1997, retiring in 2019. Prior to these ventures, he was a Senior Executive Vice President at Drexel Burnham Lambert Inc., where he began in 1975 and eventually headed its West Coast Corporate Finance Department. He held a B.A. in Economics from Yale University, served as a Naval Officer during the Vietnam War, and earned an M.B.A. in Finance with highest honors from Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Current Leadership:
- Kasey Kissick Duarte — Co-President
- Ryan Kissick — Co-President
- Kathy Kissick — Vice President & Treasurer
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARY K KISSICK | SECRETARY | 2 | — |
| MICHAEL S WARSAVSKY | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| JOHN R KISSICK | CO-PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| KASEY C DUARTE | CO-PRESIDENT | 2 | $66,667 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Kissick Family Foundation has significantly expanded its focus on frontotemporal dementia research in partnership with the Milken Institute. Recent announcements include multiple rounds of funding for FTD research, with calls for proposals issued for 2025-2026. The foundation awarded $3 million in grant funding to The 10,000 Brains Project in June 2025, supporting the nonprofit's work on targeted therapies for neurodegenerative diseases.
Request for Proposals: Kissick Family Foundation Frontotemporal ...Contact Information
Website: kissickfamilyfoundation.org
Email: contact@kissickfamilyfoundation.org
Phone: 310-201-4139
Address: 15260 Ventura Blvd Ste 1910, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403-5349
FTD Research Grants: ftdgrants@milkeninstitute.org
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Kissick Family Foundation fund?
The foundation was established with the principle of running philanthropy "nimbly and creatively, no differently from how a business is run" with a goal to "unite our family and future generations around philanthropy." The foundation describes itself as supporting "optimists who believe in the potential for a better future by acting boldly and investing generously in ideas that can have catalytic impact." It seeks to provide critical early support for leaders, researchers, and entrepreneurs wor…
How do I apply for a grant from Kissick Family Foundation?
**Grant Amounts:** $10,000 to $500,000 **Annual Giving:** Approximately $4.7 million (2023); $7.3 million (2024) **Decision Timeline:** 5-6 months for FTD research grants **Application Process:** The foundation does not accept or review unsolicited requests for funding. **FTD Research Grant Program:** Administered in partnership with the Milken Institute. Inquiries for this program can be directed to ftdgrants@milkeninstitute.org. **Recent Grant Activity:** The foundation awarded 42 grants in 2…
Where does Kissick Family Foundation make grants?
• International focus for FTD research grants • Los Angeles area for local grants • Primary grantmaking in California, Maryland, and District of Columbia
What size grants does Kissick Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Kissick Family Foundation awarded 33 grants totaling $7.3M — an average of about $222K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Kissick Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Kissick Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $5.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Kissick Family Foundation's EIN?
Kissick Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-4443453. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Kissick Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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