The James Kerney Foundation
The James Kerney Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) grantmaking foundation based in Lawrence Township, New Jersey. Established in 1970, the foundation operates as a philanthropic organization supporting diverse initiatives across education, arts and culture, community development, and human services.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.8M
+10.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$204K
+45.4% YoY
Grant Count
12
-33.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$17K
+118.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The James Kerney Foundation reported a distributable amount of $193K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission centers on giving primarily for education and Trenton, New Jersey-based capital programs. The foundation supports a broad range of subject areas including:
- Education
- Arts and culture
- Children and youth
- Community and economic development
- Human services and family services
- Child welfare
- Religious initiatives, particularly within Christianity and Catholicism
- Support for economically disadvantaged and homeless populations
Grantmaking
The foundation demonstrates active grantmaking with typical award ranges between $100 and $50,000. Recent financial data shows:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation operates primarily in the United States, with a particular emphasis on New Jersey. Geographic areas of focus include:
- New Jersey (primary focus, particularly Trenton and Princeton)
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- Connecticut
- Florida
- Illinois
- Massachusetts
- Maine
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2024):
- Total Assets: $2,805,955
- Total Giving: $203,705
2023 Financial Data:
- Total Assets: $2.53 million
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Revenue: $403,918
- Expenses: $164,903
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,805,955 | $2,530,758 | $2,292,474 |
| Revenue | $514,808 | $403,918 | $1,501 |
| Expenses | $239,611 | $164,903 | $98,877 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $203,705 | $140,125 | $73,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $488,763 | $384,001 | $52,555 |
| Distributable Amount | $193,259 | $150,809 | $119,219 |
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
83 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Rescue Mission ($50,000), Homefront ($30,000), JR Jalsey Foundation of the Arts ($27,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Homefront Lawrenceville, NJ | General Purpose | $30,000 |
| Rescue Mission Trenton, NJ | General Purpose | $50,000 |
| CYO of Mercer County Trenton, NJ | General Purpose | $20,000 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters Tampa, FL | General Purpose | $20,000 |
| Meals on Wheels of Mercer Ewing, NJ | General Purpose | $10,000 |
| SEA Education Association Falmouth, MA | General Purpose | $400 |
| Womanspace Lawrence Township, NJ | General Purpose | $12,100 |
| Anchor House Trenton, NJ | General Purpose | $10,000 |
| Freedom House Clinton, NJ | General purpose | $5,000 |
| Paul Robeson Charter School Trenton, NJ | General purpose | $18,705 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is managed by a board of trustees, with Sally Kerney Lane serving as President.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sally Kerney Lane | President | 1 | — |
| T Lincoln Kerney | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Barbara Kerney Phelan | Corres. Sec'y | 1 | — |
| James Kernery II | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Henry W Sullivan | Treasurer | 1 | — |
| Jennifer Priory Figge | Recording Sec'y | 1 | — |
| Katie M Kerney | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Laurie Odden Brown | Trustee | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has supported significant capital projects in Trenton, including a $3 million grant for the conversion of a historic church at a landmark Battle of Trenton site into the Steeple Center Project at 120 East State.
Conversion of historic church, a landmark Battle of Trenton site, gets ...Frequently Asked Questions
What does The James Kerney Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission centers on giving primarily for education and Trenton, New Jersey-based capital programs. The foundation supports a broad range of subject areas including: • Education • Arts and culture • Children and youth • Community and economic development • Human services and family services • Child welfare • Religious initiatives, particularly within Christianity and Catholicism • Support for economically disadvantaged and homeless populations
How do I apply for a grant from The James Kerney Foundation?
The foundation demonstrates active grantmaking with typical award ranges between $100 and $50,000. Recent financial data shows: • **2024 Total Giving:** $203,705 • **2023 Total Giving:** $403,918 in revenue with $164,903 in expenses • **2023 Assets:** $2.53 million The foundation maintains efficient financial management with minimal expenses relative to revenue.
Where does The James Kerney Foundation make grants?
The foundation operates primarily in the United States, with a particular emphasis on New Jersey. Geographic areas of focus include: • New Jersey (primary focus, particularly Trenton and Princeton) • New York • Pennsylvania • Connecticut • Florida • Illinois • Massachusetts • Maine
What size grants does The James Kerney Foundation award?
In 2024, The James Kerney Foundation awarded 12 grants totaling $204K — an average of about $17K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The James Kerney Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The James Kerney Foundation reported a distributable amount of $193K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The James Kerney Foundation's EIN?
The James Kerney Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-6055884. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The James Kerney 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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