The KEI Lin Foundation
The Kei Lin Foundation is a private foundation based in Solvang, California. Founded on December 18, 2012, by Margaret Tsai in honor of her mother, Kei Lin, it supports charitable organizations providing services such as housing, food, and medical assistance to senior citizens and veterans, as well as organizations supporting people in need through educational and nutritional well-being programs.
The KEI Lin Foundation at a glance
In short: The KEI Lin Foundation gave $250K across 13 grants in 2025 (avg $19K), mostly in California. 54% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $250,000
- +85.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 13
- +62.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $19,231
- +14.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $6,809,368
- +268.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 54% first-time grantees (7 of 13, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (92% 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 The KEI Lin Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Contact
Mailing address: 1501 Fredensborg Cyn Rd, Solvang, CA 93463
Phone: (805) 688-5816
Website: https://www.keilinfoundation.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 The KEI Lin Foundation
Who The KEI Lin Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was We Support the Troops ($30K). Together the top 10 received $205K.
Grant Size Distribution
35 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 35 grants of 35 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in California (92%) and Indiana (8%). The listed awards include organizations in Solvang, Santa Ynez, Buellton, Los Alamos, Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, and Indianapolis.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The KEI Lin Foundation open to new grantees?
54%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 7 of 13 grantees (54%) were first-time recipients. With only 13 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $19K; repeat grants $19K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $18K repeat.
- 46% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 61% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2021 it paid out 105% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $48K (2020) to $250K (2025). In 2025 it made 13 grants totaling $250K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| We Support the Troops Santa Ynez, CA | Care Packages for Troops | $30,000 |
| Solvang Senior Center Solvang, CA | Senior Care | $25,000 |
| Buellton Senior Center Buellton, CA | Senior Care | $25,000 |
| Valley Haven Solvang, CA | Senior Care | $20,000 |
| Community Partners in Caring Santa Maria, CA | Volunteer Caregiving Program | $20,000 |
| Los Alamos Valley Senior Citizens O Los Alamos, CA | Facility Repairs and Upgrades | $20,000 |
| Servants at Work Inc Indianapolis, IN | Providing Wheelchair Ramps Where Needed | $20,000 |
| Atterdag at Home Solvang, CA | Senior Care | $15,000 |
| Atterdag Village of Solvang Solvang, CA | Senior Care | $15,000 |
| Veggie Rescue Santa Ynez, CA | Provide Food Security for Seniors | $15,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The KEI Lin 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 | $6,809,368 | $5,760,295 | $369,047 | $250,000 | 13 | $369,047 | $69,395 | — |
| 2024 | $1,849,908 | $346,618 | $225,444 | $135,000 | 8 | $225,444 | $301,618 | — |
| 2023 | $1,756,217 | $66,682 | $223,214 | $120,000 | 8 | $223,214 | $66,282 | — |
| 2022 | $1,665,671 | $58,946 | $235,103 | $155,205 | 6 | $235,103 | $58,626 | — |
| 2021 | $2,123,023 | $862,076 | $120,495 | — | — | $98,000 | $821,799 | $93,681 |
| 2020 | $1,048,450 | $3,280 | $117,189 | $47,500 | 5 | — | — | $56,428 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated charitable purposes include supporting existing 501(c)(3) organizations that provide housing, food, and medical assistance to senior citizens and veterans, and organizations offering educational and nutritional well-being programs to people in need.
Its 2025 grants included support for senior care, caregiving, food security for seniors, facility improvements, care packages for troops, wheelchair ramps, and programming for neurodiverse young adults. Among the grantees, Community Partners in Caring describes its work as helping older adults and adults with mild disabilities live independently and age safely in place. Servants at Work says it builds wheelchair ramps for people with permanent disabilities in low-income households. Hidden Wings describes its work as developing the academic and vocational potential of young adults with autism spectrum disorders and supporting their transition from high school to work.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation gave $250,000 through 13 grants. Grants ranged from $15,000 to $30,000, with a median of $20,000. Notable awards included $30,000 to We Support the Troops for care packages; $25,000 each to Solvang Senior Center and Buellton Senior Center for senior care; and $20,000 each to Community Partners in Caring, Valley Haven, Los Alamos Valley Senior Citizens, and Servants at Work.
The foundation’s 2025 filing states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Its website provides a downloadable grant form, but the available information does not specify an application process or deadline for prospective applicants.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Roxanne Russell and Christopher Keffer as trustees. The foundation’s website identifies Roxanne Russell as director and lists Roxanne Russell and Chris Keffer as trustees.
The KEI Lin Foundation's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; 1 of 2 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Roxanne Russell
Trustee
On filings since 2024
4 hrs/week
$27K (2025)
Christopher Keffer
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Carol E. Smith Avila (2022–2024) — Executive Director
- Former: Margaret Tsai (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Aaron Pankratz (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Jason Harvie (2020) — Trustee
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 $27K, to Roxanne Russell (Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about The KEI Lin Foundation
How much does The KEI Lin Foundation give each year?
The KEI Lin Foundation gave $250K across 13 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $135K across 8 grants.
What is The KEI Lin Foundation's typical grant size?
The KEI Lin Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $20,000, and its average grant was $19,231, across 13 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The KEI Lin Foundation that year got $19K on average.
Where does The KEI Lin Foundation give grants?
The KEI Lin Foundation gives mostly in California: 92% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Indiana (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Solvang, CA (5 grants), Santa Ynez, CA (2 grants) and Santa Barbara, CA (2 grants).
Does The KEI Lin Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 13 grants with a stated purpose on The KEI Lin Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Senior Care" (5 grants).
Who are The KEI Lin Foundation's largest grantees?
The KEI Lin Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include We Support the Troops ($30,000), Solvang Senior Center ($25,000) and Buellton Senior Center ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 32% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The KEI Lin Foundation?
The KEI Lin Foundation reported $6.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $5.8M.
What does The KEI Lin Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated charitable purposes include supporting existing 501(c)(3) organizations that provide housing, food, and medical assistance to senior citizens and veterans, and organizations offering educational and nutritional well-being programs to people in need. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The KEI Lin Foundation?
The KEI Lin Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals, according to Grantable's research on its published guidelines. Check keilinfoundation.org for any change to that policy.
What is The KEI Lin Foundation's EIN?
The KEI Lin Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 90-6231023. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The KEI Lin 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
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 5, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The KEI Lin Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The KEI Lin Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The KEI Lin Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-kei-lin-foundation-morg_32961b5b54344ee98b631579fc8f6488
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_906231023_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The KEI Lin Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-kei-lin-foundation-morg_32961b5b54344ee98b631579fc8f6488},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-19. 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 The KEI Lin 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.
The KEI Lin Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?