The Kemper Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois, serving as the philanthropic partner of Kemper Corporation. Established in 1943, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening communities through financial support and employee volunteerism.
Key facts about The Kemper Foundation
- EIN
- 36-6007812
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,000,506
- Grants made (2024)
- 145
- Average grant
- $13,797
- Median grant
- $3,000
- Primary geography
- Illinois (28% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The Kemper Foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated June 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Kemper Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Kemper Foundation's 145 itemized 2024 grants were Illinois (28%), California (13%) and Texas (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Dallas, TX (20 grants), Los Angeles, CA (10 grants), Chicago, IL (8 grants) and La Habra, CA (5 grants). None of its 145 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Read Conmigo Grant" (94 grants), "2024 Donation" (17 grants) and "2024-2025 Kemper Scholars Program" (7 grants).
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$2.0M
-2.2% YoY
Grant Count
145
+38.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$14K
-29.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission centers on improving the quality of life in underserved communities through three primary focus areas:
Education — Inspiring and empowering people of all ages to achieve their full potential and develop the next generation of leaders.
Health — Encouraging accelerated research, addressing patient and caregiver needs, and advancing medical and disease education among leading organizations.
Community Development — Improving access to food and housing, and advancing civil rights and advocacy for underserved Americans.
Grantmaking
The Kemper Foundation makes grants across its three focus areas. Recent grant activity includes:
Grant Range
**: Median grant of approximately $4,900 with maximum grants reaching $200,000
How to Apply
**: The Kemper Foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications.
Ready to take the next step with The Kemper Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $48,867,559
- Total Revenues: $2,054,912
- Total Expenses: $2,056,652
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $45,921,287
- Total Revenues: $1,355,739
- Total Expenses: $2,119,751
- Total Distributions: $2,700,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
463 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from The Kemper Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Northwestern University ($150,000), The University of Chicago ($150,000), University of Notre Dame Du Lac ($150,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY EVANSTON, IL | 2024-2025 KEMPER SCHOLARS PROGRAM | $150,000 |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | 2024-2025 KEMPER SCHOLARS PROGRAM | $150,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME DU LAC NOTRE DAME, IN | 2024-2025 KEMPER SCHOLARS PROGRAM | $150,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN FOUNDATION MILWAUKEE, WI | 2024-2025 KEMPER SCHOLARS PROGRAM | $150,000 |
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION CHICAGO, IL | 2024 PARTNERSHIP | $103,250 |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY CHICAGO, IL | KEMPER'S ACS MATCHING GIFT CAMPAIGN | $94,322 |
| UNIDOSUS WASHINGTON, DC | 2024 PARTNERSHIP | $90,000 |
| MILES COLLEGE FAIRFIELD, AL | 2024-2024 KEMPER SCHOLARS | $85,000 |
| NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE NEW YORK, NY | 2024 PARTNERSHIP | $79,300 |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS RIO GRANDE VALLEY MCALLEN, TX | 2024-2025 KEMPER SCHOLARS PROGRAM | $75,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board of Trustees:
- Tom Evans, Board Chairman
- John Boschelli, Trustee
- Charles Brooks, Trustee
- Brad Camden, Trustee
- Chris Flint, Trustee
- Laura Rock, Trustee
Officers:
- Barbara Ciesemier, President
- Uchenna Hicks, Treasurer
- Bob O'Keefe, Secretary
Additional Leadership:
- Joseph P. Lacher, Jr., Chairman of the Board of Trustees
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOSEPH LACHER | CHAIRMAN | 5 | — |
| BARBARA CIESEMIER | PRESIDENT | 5 | — |
| ROBERT O'KEEFE | SECRETARY | 5 | — |
| UCHENNA HICKS | TREASURER | 5 | — |
| BRAD CAMDEN | TRUSTEE | 5 | — |
| CHARLES BROOKS | TRUSTEE | 5 | — |
| C THOMAS EVANS | TRUSTEE | 5 | — |
| JOHN M BOSCHELLI | TRUSTEE | 5 | — |
| LAURA ROCK | TRUSTEE | 5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Kemper Foundation released its 2024 Community Impact Report and announced the expansion of the Read Conmigo Grant Program to support school-wide dual-language education initiatives. The foundation continues to fund organizations and programs aligned with its three core focus areas across education, health, and community development.
[PDF] The Kemper Foundation''s Read Conmigo Grant Program Awards ...Contact Information
Address: 200 East Randolph Street, Suite 3300 Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: 312-332-3114
Website: thekemperfoundation.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Kemper Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission centers on improving the quality of life in underserved communities through three primary focus areas: **Education** — Inspiring and empowering people of all ages to achieve their full potential and develop the next generation of leaders. **Health** — Encouraging accelerated research, addressing patient and caregiver needs, and advancing medical and disease education among leading organizations. **Community Development** — Improving access to food and housing, and advan…
How do I apply for a grant from The Kemper Foundation?
The Kemper Foundation makes grants across its three focus areas. Recent grant activity includes: • **2024-2025 Kemper Scholars Program**: $150,000 to Northwestern University and $150,000 to The University of Chicago • **2023-2024 Kemper Scholars Program**: $200,000 to The University of Chicago • **Grant volume**: Made 47 grants in the most recent reporting period • **Grant range**: Median grant of approximately $4,900 with maximum grants reaching $200,000 The Kemper Scholars Program provides sc…
What size grants does The Kemper Foundation award?
In 2024, The Kemper Foundation awarded 145 grants totaling $2.0M — an average of about $14K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Kemper Foundation's EIN?
The Kemper Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-6007812. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Does The Kemper Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. The Kemper Foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Kemper 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.