The Kendeda Fund
The Kendeda Fund was a private foundation that supported the dignity of individuals and the sustainability of communities through investments in transformative leaders and ideas. Its history ran from 1993 through 2023; the fund says it completed its grantmaking and terminated its trust effective December 31, 2023. The filing lists Wilmington, Delaware, as its location, while the fund’s website described it as based in Atlanta, Georgia.
The Kendeda Fund at a glance
In short: The Kendeda Fund gave $60.3M across 208 grants in 2023 (avg $290K), top state Georgia. 26% of 2023 grantees were new. Source: 2023 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2023)
- $60,256,587
- -6.3% vs 2022
- Grants made (2023)
- 208
- -22.7% vs 2022
- Average grant
- $289,695
- +21.2% vs 2022
- Median grant
- $50,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 26% first-time grantees (43 of 167, 2023)
- Primary geography
- Georgia (24% of itemized 2023 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2023 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2023; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Kendeda Fund
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Contact
Mailing address: Foundation Source 501 Silverside Rd, Wilmington, DE 19809-1377
Phone: (800) 839-1754
Website: https://kendedafund.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Kendeda Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2023
The largest 2023 recipient was Industrial Commons ($8.4M across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $32.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
1,038 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 396 grants of 1,038 (38%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The fund’s 2023 grant dollars went to recipients in multiple states. The largest shares were Georgia (24%), Montana (18%), North Carolina (15%), Minnesota (8%), and New Hampshire (8%). Its historical account also describes early investments as focused primarily on the environment and civic life in Atlanta, with national work expanding over time.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2023 grant dollars across all 208 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Kendeda Fund open to new grantees?
26%
first-time grantees, 2023
In 2023, 43 of 167 grantees (26%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $227K; repeat grants $407K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $90K repeat.
- 72% of 2023 grantees were also funded in 2022. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2020 to 2023 (−3%). Method
- In 2023 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2023). 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 2023, annual grant giving ranged from $60.3M (2023) to $66.7M (2021). In 2023 it made 208 grants totaling $60.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial Commons Morganton, NC | Innovation Campus | $8,000,000 |
| American Jewish World Service Inc Etna, NH | Promoting Girls' Rights fund in India, Kenya and the Dominican republic | $4,900,000 |
| National Native American Boarding School Healing C Minneapolis, MN | implementation fund of the 10-year strategic plan | $4,500,000 |
| Bozeman Public Library Foundation Inc Bozeman, MT | library branch in bozeman the design and construction costs fund: energy efficient upgrades in the event a library branch is established in an existing building, or solar panels and installation in the event a new building is constructed | $3,000,000 |
| Georgia Interfaith Power and Light Decatur, GA | General & Unrestricted | $2,300,000 |
| Earthjustice San Francisco, CA | the Northern Rockies region and general support | $2,000,000 |
| Southface Energy Institute Inc Atlanta, GA | GoodUse | $2,000,000 |
| Heart of the Rockies Foundation Missoula, MT | Keep it Connected projects: - Bitterroot Land Trust- Spooner Creek project; Five Valleys Land Trust- Flint Creek project; Flathead Land Trust- Stillwater-Flathead Confluence project; MT Land Reliance- Absarokee/Beartooth Front project; WY Stockgrowers Land Trust- Big Piney Creek project; Teton Regional Land Trust- Darby Canyon Project | $1,537,000 |
| The South Fork Conservancy Incorporated Atlanta, GA | Confluence to Emory Project | $1,500,000 |
| Atlanta Jewish Film Society Inc Atlanta, GA | General & Unrestricted | $1,100,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Amounts are in U.S. dollars.
The fund reported that its 2023 distributions came from assets other than current income and were made in complete liquidation. It said it would make a final $15,143 grant, representing its expected tax refund, to a 501(c)(3) public charity.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | — | $13,093,829 | $64,031,476 | $60,256,587 | 208 | $63,746,695 | $12,943,363 | $967,764 |
| 2022 | $50,691,664 | $10,995,328 | $67,686,258 | $64,300,383 | 269 | $67,289,979 | $10,934,617 | $3,816,853 |
| 2021 | $107,220,402 | $29,360,526 | $70,280,988 | $66,722,917 | 287 | $69,612,615 | $34,594,581 | $6,461,845 |
| 2020 | $148,140,496 | $33,155,123 | $65,525,375 | $62,039,859 | 274 | — | $32,117,347 | $8,143,629 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Kendeda Fund reported a distributable amount of $968K for 2023 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The fund’s stated mission was to support the dignity of individuals and the sustainability of communities through investments in transformative leaders and ideas. Its grantmaking history identifies programs including Atlanta Equity, Girls’ Rights, Gun Violence Prevention, Montana, People, Place and Planet, and Southeast Sustainability.
Grants supported organizations working across a range of issues. For example, American Jewish World Service says its mission is to advance human rights and end poverty in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Earthjustice describes its work as using law and partnership to protect health, preserve places and wildlife, advance clean energy, and combat climate change. Southface Energy Institute says it promotes sustainable homes, workplaces, and communities through education, research, advocacy, and technical assistance. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.
The fund also emphasized organizational resilience. It reports creating an operating reserves program that generated $13.2 million in reserves for 34 grantee partners. It says most of its grants were unrestricted or not tied to program-specific requirements and that it made multi-year grants whenever possible.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2023, the fund reported 208 grants totaling $60,256,587. Grant amounts ranged from $10 to $8 million, with a median grant of $50,000.
Among the largest 2023 grants were $8 million to Industrial Commons for an innovation campus; $4.9 million to American Jewish World Service for its Promoting Girls’ Rights fund in India, Kenya, and the Dominican Republic; $4.5 million to the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition for implementation of its 10-year strategic plan; and $3 million to Bozeman Public Library Foundation for library-branch design and construction costs or energy-efficient upgrades. Other large awards included $2.3 million to Georgia Interfaith Power and Light, $2 million each to Earthjustice and Southface Energy Institute, and $1.537 million to Heart of the Rockies Foundation for Keep It Connected projects.
The fund stated that it made contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Diana Blank founded the fund. Duncan Edwards, listed as “CIBC Pvt Wealth mgt,” was identified as a trustee on the 2023 filing.
The Kendeda Fund's only listed officer is Duncan Edwards -CIBC Pvt Wealth mgt, Trustee on every filing since 2022 (compensated).
Officers on the 2023 filing
Duncan Edwards -CIBC Pvt Wealth mgt
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
$141K (2022) → $54K (2023)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Barry Berlin - cibc pvt wealth mgt (2020–2022) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2023. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2023 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2023 filing was $54K, to Duncan Edwards -CIBC Pvt Wealth mgt (Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about The Kendeda Fund
How much does The Kendeda Fund give each year?
The Kendeda Fund gave $60.3M across 208 grants in 2023, according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2022 it gave $64.3M across 269 grants.
What is The Kendeda Fund's typical grant size?
The Kendeda Fund's median grant in 2023 was $50,000, and its average grant was $289,695, across 208 grants on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Kendeda Fund that year got $227K on average.
Where does The Kendeda Fund give grants?
The Kendeda Fund's top state is Georgia, with 24% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Montana (18%) and North Carolina (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were Atlanta, GA (36 grants), Bozeman, MT (20 grants), Missoula, MT (16 grants) and Washington, DC (9 grants).
Does The Kendeda Fund give general operating support?
Yes: 50% of The Kendeda Fund's 2023 grants with a stated purpose (105 of 208) were for general or operating support, per its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Charitable Event" (3 grants) and "for participation in Kendeda's sustainability cohort" (3 grants).
Who are The Kendeda Fund's largest grantees?
The Kendeda Fund's largest 2023 grantees include Industrial Commons ($8,395,000 across 2 grants), American Jewish World Service Inc ($4,904,800 across 2 grants) and National Native American Boarding School Healing C ($4,500,000), according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 30% of its itemized 2023 grant dollars.
What does The Kendeda Fund fund?
The fund’s stated mission was to support the dignity of individuals and the sustainability of communities through investments in transformative leaders and ideas. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Kendeda Fund?
The Kendeda Fund does not accept unsolicited proposals, according to Grantable's research on its published guidelines. Check kendedafund.org for any change to that policy.
How much is The Kendeda Fund required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2023, The Kendeda Fund reported a distributable amount of $968K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Kendeda Fund's EIN?
The Kendeda Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-6881642. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2023.
Does The Kendeda Fund 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2023
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