The Kelvin Foundation
The Kelvin Foundation is a private foundation, based in Los Altos, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $7.1M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 9 grants totaling $104K. Net investment income was $167K.
The Kelvin Foundation at a glance
In short: The Kelvin Foundation gave $104K across 9 grants in 2024 (avg $12K), mostly in California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $103,572
- -69.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 9
- -60.9% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $11,508
- -21.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $4,154
- Total assets
- $7,082,465
- -2.7% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- California (89% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who The Kelvin Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Stanford University ($73K). Together the top 9 received $104K.
Grant Size Distribution
66 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 57 grants of 66 (86%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Kelvin Foundation gives
- Giving fell 74% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 41% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $104K (2024) to $593K (2022). In 2024 it made 9 grants totaling $104K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Stanford University Stanford, CA | General Support | $72,500 |
| Rancho Mirage Writers Festival Rancho Mirage, CA | General Support | $9,000 |
| Eisenhower Med Center Rancho Mirage, CA | General Support | $5,000 |
| Healthnetwork Pepper Pike, OH | General Support | $5,000 |
| Palm Springs Art Museum Palm Springs, CA | General Support | $4,154 |
| Princeton University Princeton, NJ | General Support | $3,804 |
| Art Horizon International Brooklyn, NY | General Support | $1,725 |
| Palm Springs International Film FES Palm Springs, CA | General Support | $1,352 |
| Princetonians for Free Speech Princeton, NJ | General Support | $1,037 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $7,082,465 | $53,677 | $241,113 | $103,572 | 9 | $186,574 | $167,158 | $451,685 |
| 2023 | $7,277,494 | $188,715 | $474,607 | $338,172 | 23 | $418,005 | $155,143 | $418,762 |
| 2022 | $7,593,566 | $278,314 | $720,600 | $592,920 | 18 | $657,431 | $210,141 | $441,927 |
| 2021 | $7,938,385 | $447,579 | $502,796 | $401,634 | 9 | $443,481 | $261,766 | $523,441 |
| 2020 | $7,994,388 | $337,369 | $496,686 | $373,843 | 7 | — | $254,220 | $442,690 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Kelvin Foundation reported a distributable amount of $452K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Kelvin Foundation is led by Mary Bechmann, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Mary Bechmann
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carol Olsen
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dare Ventresca
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Guyan Tigha
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about The Kelvin Foundation
How much does The Kelvin Foundation give each year?
The Kelvin Foundation gave $104K across 9 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $338K across 23 grants.
What is The Kelvin Foundation's typical grant size?
The Kelvin Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $4,154, and its average grant was $11,508, across 9 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Kelvin Foundation give grants?
The Kelvin Foundation gives mostly in California: 89% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Rancho Mirage, CA (2 grants), Palm Springs, CA (2 grants) and Princeton, NJ (2 grants).
Does The Kelvin Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Kelvin Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (9 of 9) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Kelvin Foundation's largest grantees?
The Kelvin Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Stanford University ($72,500), Rancho Mirage Writers Festival ($9,000) and Eisenhower Med Center ($5,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 84% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Kelvin Foundation?
The Kelvin Foundation reported $7.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $187K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $452K (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 is The Kelvin Foundation's EIN?
The Kelvin Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 77-0528782. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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