The Kennedy-Herterich Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker Blowing Rock, NC EIN: 81-3277711

The Kennedy-Herterich Foundation is a private foundation established in 2016 and based in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. The foundation is actively involved in grantmaking to nonprofits, with a particular focus on organizations in the High Country region of North Carolina as well as select organizations in South Carolina and other states.

Key facts about The Kennedy-Herterich Foundation

EIN: 81-3277711
Latest 990 filing: Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024): $334,078
Grants made (2024): 19
Average grant: $17,583
Median grant: $15,000
New grantees (estimate): 11% first-time grantees (2 of 19, 2024)
Total assets: $9,112,267
Primary geography: South Carolina (49% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

Who The Kennedy-Herterich Foundation funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Kennedy-Herterich Foundation's 19 itemized 2024 grants were South Carolina (49%), North Carolina (39%) and Mississippi (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Charleston, SC (8 grants), Blowing Rock, NC (4 grants) and Boone, NC (3 grants). 32% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.

Is The Kennedy-Herterich Foundation open to new grantees?

11%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 2 of 19 grantees (11%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $19K. How we count

Medians: $4K first-time, $15K repeat.

89% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−13%). Method
In 2024 it paid out 93% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method

Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Next steps with The Kennedy-Herterich Foundation

How to evaluate The Kennedy-Herterich Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
Draft an LOI to The Kennedy-Herterich Foundation with AI
AI grant writing that drafts from your organization’s own materials, in your voice.
Track this opportunity in a free grant tracker
A free Google Sheets or Excel template for deadlines, award terms, and reports due.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$9.1M

+5.3% YoY

Annual Giving

$334K

+6.5% YoY

Grant Count

-17.4% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$18K

+28.9% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Kennedy-Herterich Foundation reported a distributable amount of $427K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation supports a range of charitable initiatives including:

General operating and operations support
Education support and student scholarships
Support for children with cancer
Winter fuel programs for indigent families
Structural repairs and improvements
Programming restructuring support
Kinship caregiver support and advocacy

Grantmaking

The foundation appears to be open to new applicants.

Grant Range

approximately $14,000-$56,000

Average Grant

approximately $14,000-$56,000

Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with The Kennedy-Herterich Foundation?

Assess fit for your org Draft an LOI Find open RFPs

Fully replaces Grant database subscriptions Instrumentl · Foundation Directory · GrantStation & similar

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation funds initiatives across multiple states and cities, including:

North Carolina: Arden, Blowing Rock, Boone, Charlotte, Greenville
South Carolina: Charleston, Mt. Pleasant, North Charleston
Mississippi: Oxford
New York
Virginia

The foundation has a particular emphasis on High Country nonprofits in North Carolina.

Grant Distribution by State

South Carolina $164K (49%)

North Carolina $130K (39%)

Mississippi $40K (12%)

Share of all 19 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

States

Mississippi North Carolina New York South Carolina Virginia

Cities

CharlestonBooneBlowing RockArdenMt PleasantArlingtonNorth CharlestonOxfordCharlotteGreenvilleN CharlestonNew York

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Assets:

2024: $9,112,267
Prior year: $8,651,459-$8.7 million

Annual Revenue & Expenses:

2024 Total Revenue: $703,625
2024 Total Expenses: $492,033
Expense Ratio: 98.8%

Staffing:

0 employees (foundation operates with volunteer leadership)

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$9,112,267	$8,651,459	$7,850,176
Revenue	$703,625	$456,316	$318,269
Expenses	$492,033	$451,031	$602,710
Qualifying Distributions	$397,865	$373,229	$529,793
Net Investment Income	$618,048	$383,850	$248,867
Distributable Amount	$426,893	$399,150	$437,809

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

March 3, 2026 IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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

111 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include High Country Caregivers Foundation ($62,828), Kids on Point ($55,000), Ole Miss Athletic Foundation ($40,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
HIGH COUNTRY CAREGIVERS FOUNDATION Boone, NC	PROGRAMMING RESTRUCTURING SUPPORT	$62,828
KIDS ON POINT Charleston, SC	EDUCATION SUPPORT	$55,000
OLE MISS ATHLETIC FOUNDATION Oxford, MS	OPERATING SUPPORT	$40,000
CHARLESTON GAILLARD CENTER Charleston, SC	OPERATIONS SUPPORT	$25,000
COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON FOUNDATION Charleston, SC	COMPETETIVE EXCELLENCE FUND	$25,000
THE VILLAGE FDT OF BLOWING ROCK Blowing Rock, NC	OPERATIONS SUPPORT	$25,000
CHRIST SCHOOL Arden, NC	EDUCATION	$20,000
COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON ATHLETIC FUND Charleston, SC	GENERAL OPERATING	$16,000
CAMP HAPPY DAYS Charleston, SC	SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN WITH CANCER	$15,000
THE GREEN HEART PROJECT INC Charleston, SC	GENERAL OPERATING	$15,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Karyn Kennedy Herterich — President and founder of the foundation. A member of a South Florida pioneer family (the Kennedy family), she moved to Blowing Rock full-time in 1996. Prior to establishing the Kennedy-Herterich Foundation, she chaired the Ethel & W. George Kennedy Family Foundation for 30 years while living in Florida. She is also an entrepreneur who founded the SouthMarke Shopping Mall in Blowing Rock in 1992 and established Serves You Right! in 1993. She serves as Vice-President of the Board of High Country Caregivers.

Dieter K. Herterich — Vice President of the foundation. A German businessman and husband of Karyn Kennedy Herterich.

Morgan Kennedy Herterich — Secretary/Treasurer of the foundation.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
Karyn Kennedy Herterich	President	20	$36,000
Morgan Kennedy Herterich	Secretary/Tr	20	$36,000
Dieter K Herterich	Vice Preside	5	—

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

The foundation continues to be actively engaged in grantmaking to regional nonprofits. Recent grant recipients include organizations focused on kinship caregiver support, early childhood education, youth programming, and athletic development. The foundation maintains strong ties to the Blowing Rock community and regional charitable organizations.

Charles F. Kettering Foundation Pledges Multiyear Support for Freedom in

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Frequently Asked Questions

What does The Kennedy-Herterich Foundation fund?

The foundation supports a range of charitable initiatives including: • General operating and operations support • Education support and student scholarships • Support for children with cancer • Winter fuel programs for indigent families • Structural repairs and improvements • Programming restructuring support • Kinship caregiver support and advocacy

How do I apply for a grant from The Kennedy-Herterich Foundation?

**Grant Activity:** • Made 22 grants in 2024 • Made 23 grants in 2024 (per alternate source) • Average grant size: approximately $14,000-$56,000 **Recent Grants (2024):** • High Country Caregiver Foundation: $62,828 (Programming Restructuring Support) • Kids on Point: $55,000 (Education Support) • Ole Miss Athletics Foundation: $40,000 (Operating Support) • Lucy Brock Child Development Lab School: $25,000 **Total Annual Giving:** • 2024: $314,000 in grants awarded • 2024: $492,033 in total expe…

Where does The Kennedy-Herterich Foundation make grants?

The foundation funds initiatives across multiple states and cities, including: • **North Carolina:** Arden, Blowing Rock, Boone, Charlotte, Greenville • **South Carolina:** Charleston, Mt. Pleasant, North Charleston • **Mississippi:** Oxford • **New York** • **Virginia** The foundation has a particular emphasis on High Country nonprofits in North Carolina.

What size grants does The Kennedy-Herterich Foundation award?

In 2024, The Kennedy-Herterich Foundation awarded 19 grants totaling $334K — an average of about $18K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is The Kennedy-Herterich Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Kennedy-Herterich Foundation reported a distributable amount of $427K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is The Kennedy-Herterich Foundation's EIN?

The Kennedy-Herterich Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-3277711. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.