Koerner Family Foundation
The Koerner Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Penn Valley, Pennsylvania. It supports graduate fellowships for doctoral engineering students who aim for research careers, with the stated goal of helping the United States train and retain engineers.
Key facts about Koerner Family Foundation
In short: Koerner Family Foundation gave $448K across 10 grants in 2025 (avg $45K), top state Pennsylvania. 10% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 20-1804817
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $448,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 10
- Average grant
- $44,800
- Median grant
- $48,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 10% first-time grantees (1 of 10, 2025)
- Total assets
- $5,344,759
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (21% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.3M
+3.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$448K
+13.1% YoY
Grant Count
10
+11.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$45K
+1.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Koerner Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $247K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Koerner Family Foundation open to new grantees?
10%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 10 grantees (10%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $48K; repeat grants $44K. How we count
Medians: $48K first-time, $48K repeat.
- 80% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 29% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 182% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to inspire future generations of research-oriented engineers, encourage them to earn engineering doctorates and stay in the United States, and help maintain U.S. global competitiveness.
It provides graduate fellowships in engineering disciplines through selected universities. Its 2025 filing describes its direct charitable activity as providing graduate fellowships for students pursuing doctoral engineering degrees with research careers as long-term goals.
The 2025 recipients include universities and university-affiliated organizations. Drexel University describes its mission as preparing students for professional and civic lives and advancing knowledge and society. Virginia Commonwealth University describes its supported activities as educational, scientific, and charitable activities of its School of Engineering. Worcester Polytechnic Institute describes its mission as turning knowledge into action, confronting global challenges, and advancing STEM education, projects, and research. Rowan University Foundation says it raises funds and other support for Rowan University and related attractions to enrich student life and educational opportunities.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 10 grants totaling $448,000. Grants ranged from $16,000 to $96,000, with a median grant of $48,000. The largest grants were $96,000 to Drexel University and $48,000 each to the University of Massachusetts, Colorado School of Mines, Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Delaware, WSU Foundation, and UC Riverside Regents. Other listed grants were $32,000 to Lehigh University, $16,000 to Rowan University Foundation, and $16,000 to Worcester Polytechnic Institute. The listed grant purposes were fellowships.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Pennsylvania. In filing year 2025, grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania (21%), Virginia (18%), Massachusetts (14%), Colorado (11%), and Delaware (11%); the other listed recipients were in Washington, California, and New Jersey.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $250K (2020) to $448K (2025). In 2025 it made 10 grants totaling $448K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Drexel University ($96K). Together the top 9 received $400K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($48,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
53 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 44 grants of 53 (83%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Drexel University Philadelphia, PA | Fellowships | $96,000 |
| University of Massachusetts Lowell, MA | Fellowship | $48,000 |
| Colorado School of Mines Golden, CO | Fellowship | $48,000 |
| Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VA | Fellowship | $48,000 |
| University of Delaware Newark, DE | Fellowship | $48,000 |
| WSU Foundation Pullman, WA | Fellowship | $48,000 |
| 1 grant to individuals Recipients not named | — | $48,000 |
| Lehigh University Norfolk, VA | Fellowship | $32,000 |
| Rowan University Foundation Glassboro, NJ | Fellowship | $16,000 |
| Worcester Polytechnic Institute Worcester, MA | Fellowship | $16,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $5,344,759 | $322,344 | $454,635 | $448,000 |
| 2024 | $5,159,114 | $359,383 | $397,461 | $396,000 |
| 2023 | $4,954,549 | $178,216 | $347,136 | $336,000 |
The foundation reported 10 grants in 2025, 9 in 2024, and 15 in 2023.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,344,759 | $5,159,114 | $4,954,549 |
| Revenue | $322,344 | $359,383 | $178,216 |
| Expenses | $454,635 | $397,461 | $347,136 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $448,000 | $396,000 | $344,878 |
| Net Investment Income | $315,344 | $352,383 | $193,508 |
| Distributable Amount | $246,822 | $256,343 | $235,766 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 11, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Michael Koerner as president; Mary Koerner as treasurer; Pauline Limberg as secretary; and George Koerner, Jamie Koerner, and Doug Limberg as vice presidents.
Koerner Family Foundation is led by Michael Koerner, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Michael Koerner
President
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Doug Limberg
Vice President
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
George Koerner
Vice President
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jamie Koerner
Vice President
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mary Koerner
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Pauline Limberg
Secretary
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Pauline Koerner (2019) — Vice President
- Former: Robert Koerner (2019) — Vice President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Mailing address: 627 Moreno Rd, Penn Valley, PA 19072
Phone: (248) 790-4998
Website: https://www.kffoundation.org
Frequently asked questions about Koerner Family Foundation
How much does Koerner Family Foundation give each year?
Koerner Family Foundation gave $448K across 10 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $396K across 9 grants.
What is Koerner Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Koerner Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $48,000, and its average grant was $44,800, across 10 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Koerner Family Foundation that year got $48K on average.
Where does Koerner Family Foundation give grants?
Koerner Family Foundation's top state is Pennsylvania, with 21% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Virginia (18%) and Massachusetts (14%).
Does Koerner Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 10 grants with a stated purpose on Koerner Family Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Fellowship" (9 grants).
Who are Koerner Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Koerner Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Drexel University ($96,000), University of Massachusetts ($48,000) and Colorado School of Mines ($48,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($48,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 43% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Koerner Family Foundation?
Koerner Family Foundation reported $5.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $448K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $247K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Koerner Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to inspire future generations of research-oriented engineers, encourage them to earn engineering doctorates and stay in the United States, and help maintain U.S. global competitiveness. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Koerner Family Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Koerner Family Foundation's EIN?
Koerner Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-1804817. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Koerner Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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