The Kennedy-herterich Foundation
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.
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
19
-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.
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
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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
Cities
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)
| 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 |
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 include High Country Caregivers Foundation ($62,828), Kids on Point ($55,000), Ole Miss Athletic Foundation ($40,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BLOWING ROCK CIVIC ASSOCIATION BLOWING ROCK, NC | GENERAL OPERATING | $1,500 |
| CAMP HAPPY DAYS CHARLESTON, SC | SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN WITH CANCER | $15,000 |
| CHARLESTON GAILLARD CENTER CHARLESTON, SC | OPERATIONS SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| CHARLESTON JUNIOR GOLF FOUNDATION MT PLEASANT, SC | STRUCTURED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS | $1,500 |
| CHRIST SCHOOL ARDEN, NC | EDUCATION | $20,000 |
| COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON FOUNDATION CHARLESTON, SC | COMPETETIVE EXCELLENCE FUND | $25,000 |
| COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON ATHLETIC FUND CHARLESTON, SC | GENERAL OPERATING | $16,000 |
| DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS BOONE, NC | GENERAL OPERATING | $7,500 |
| HIGH COUNTRY CAREGIVERS FOUNDATION BOONE, NC | PROGRAMMING RESTRUCTURING SUPPORT | $62,828 |
| KIDS ON POINT CHARLESTON, SC | EDUCATION SUPPORT | $55,000 |
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
From 2024 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 inSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Kennedy-herterich 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.
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