The Kerr Foundation Inc

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK EIN: 73-1256122 Website

The Kerr Foundation Inc is a private family foundation based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, established in 1963 and reincorporated in 1985. The foundation identifies and supports 501(c)(3) organizations and institutions that provide new or enhanced opportunities within its granting areas, with particular emphasis on serving young people.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$21.7M

+16.4% YoY

Annual Giving

$207K

+27.1% YoY

Grant Count

+140.7% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$3K

-47.2% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Kerr Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.2M 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's mission centers on five primary areas:

Education — Particularly higher learning and pre-collegiate organizations, including health science centers and medical research conducted by educational institutions
Arts and Culture — Organizations in visual and performing arts, as well as museums and libraries
Health — Institutions providing health care, medical research, or outreach organizations employing primarily professionals from the allied health field
Human Services — Organizations providing services in diverse areas to the public, with specific focus on the disadvantaged, people with special needs, and the elderly
Public Affairs — Related programs that support community development

Grantmaking

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

While preference is given to Oklahoma organizations and institutions, the foundation accepts grant requests from the following states and regions:

Arkansas
Colorado
Kansas
Missouri
New Mexico
Oklahoma (priority)
Texas
Washington D.C. area (with Oklahoma organizations receiving first priority for available funds)

Grant Distribution by State

Oklahoma $478K (63%)

Missouri $66K (9%)

Colorado $48K (6%)

Texas $45K (6%)

Arkansas $41K (5%)

District of Columbia $38K (5%)

New Mexico $20K (3%)

Kansas $14K (2%)

+5 more states

States

Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut District of Columbia Georgia Kansas Missouri New Mexico New York Oklahoma Texas Virginia

Cities

AlbuquerqueAlexandriaAlpineAnahuacArdmoreAuroraAustinBallwinBartlesvilleBatesvilleBentonvilleBethanyBroken ArrowCarthageClaremoreCleburneColorado SpringsColumbiaDaculaDallas

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Total Assets: $21,675,452
Total Annual Giving: $206,790
Annual Expenses: $1,591,749
Annual Revenue: $1,084,300
EIN: 73-1256122
Tax-Exempt Status: Since January 1986

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$21,675,452	$18,624,951	$19,059,178
Revenue	$1,203,247	$1,084,300	$1,143,095
Expenses	$1,794,783	$1,591,749	$1,642,560
Qualifying Distributions	$1,200,759	$1,200,562	$1,213,675
Net Investment Income	$609,223	$701,112	$719,210
Distributable Amount	$1,161,593	$1,022,002	$1,085,436

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

171 grants across all recorded years

Open Grants

1 open opportunity from The Kerr Foundation Inc

Foundation

Kerr Foundation Grants

THE KERR FOUNDATION INC

Amount

Varies

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Allied Arts of Oklahoma Inc ($15,000), Charles B Goddard Center for the Visual and Performing Arts Inc ($10,000), Dress for Success Oklahoma City ($7,500).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
501TECH TULSA, OK	TO PROVIDE SECURITYPLUS HARDWARE UPGRADES FOR EXISTING CLIENTS AS WELL AS OKLAHOMA NONPROFITS WAITING FOR SERVICE.	$2,500
A SPECIAL PURPOSE BROKEN ARROW, OK	FOR GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT	$2,000
ALLIED ARTS OF OKLAHOMA INC OKLAHOMA CITY, OK	TO SUPPORT THE ALLIED ARTS 2024 CAMPAIGN FOR THE ARTS	$15,000
ARTS LIVE THEATRE INC FAYETTEVILLE, AR	TO HELP PAYFOR SCHOLARSHIPS, VENUE COSTS, AND HIRING A TEACHING ARTIST FOR THE 2024 SEASON	$3,500
BARNABAS FOUNDATION INC SPRINGFIELD, MO	TO SUPPORT SCHOLARSHIPS FOR CAMPERS	$2,500
BEYOND THE SPECTRUM OK EDMOND, OK	TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THERAPY AND CLASSES FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES AND THEIR FAMILIES.	$5,000
BOYS HOPE GIRLS HOPE SAINT LOUIS, MO	TO SUPPORT BHGHSTL COHORT PROGRAMS	$2,500
CAMPS FOR KIDS LIBERTY, MO	TO SUPPORT PARTICIPATING CAMPS TO ENSURE THEIR ACCESSIBILITY TO UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND THOSE WITH PHYSICAL, MEDICAL, AND/OR DEVELOPMENT DISABILITIES IN THE KANSAS CITY AREA	$3,000
CENTRAL OKLAHOMA CAMP AND CONFERENCE CENTER GUTHRIE, OK	TO PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES.	$4,000
CHARLES B GODDARD CENTER FOR THE VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS INC ARDMORE, OK	TO HELP RENOVATE AND REMODEL THE GODDARD CENTER FACILITIES.	$10,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Key personnel include:

Lou C. Kerr — President
Steven S. Kerr
Laura Kerr
Cody T. Kerr
Wilson Kerr
Taylor Dillard

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
LAURA KERR	PRESIDENT(BEGINNING 03/20/2024)	40	$167,623
STEVEN S KERR	CFO	40	$174,124
JACKSON OGLE	TRUSTEE	2	$4,500
JAMES KERR	TRUSTEE	2	$4,207
WILSON KERR	TRUSTEE	2	$7,500
TAYLOR DILLARD	TRUSTEE	2	$8,000
CODY KERR	TRUSTEE	2	$17,600
LOU KERR	PRESIDENT(DECEASED 03/20/2024)	2	$45,176

Contact Information

Website: www.thekerrfoundation.org
Address: 12501 N May Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73120-1948
Telephone: 405-749-2877

Frequently Asked Questions

What does The Kerr Foundation Inc fund?

The foundation's mission centers on five primary areas: 1. **Education** — Particularly higher learning and pre-collegiate organizations, including health science centers and medical research conducted by educational institutions 2. **Arts and Culture** — Organizations in visual and performing arts, as well as museums and libraries 3. **Health** — Institutions providing health care, medical research, or outreach organizations employing primarily professionals from the allied health field 4. **H…

How do I apply for a grant from The Kerr Foundation Inc?

The foundation structures its grants as **challenge grants**, meaning approved organizations must first raise or secure matching grants, donations, and/or pledges in the amount specified by the foundation before receiving payment. The challenge amount is typically dollar-for-dollar. **Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $1,000–$25,000 • Total annual giving: $206,790 (based on recent filings) • Recent grant activity: 27 grants awarded in 2024

Where does The Kerr Foundation Inc make grants?

While preference is given to Oklahoma organizations and institutions, the foundation accepts grant requests from the following states and regions: • Arkansas • Colorado • Kansas • Missouri • New Mexico • Oklahoma (priority) • Texas • Washington D.C. area (with Oklahoma organizations receiving first priority for available funds)

What size grants does The Kerr Foundation Inc award?

In 2024, The Kerr Foundation Inc awarded 65 grants totaling $207K — an average of about $3K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is The Kerr Foundation Inc required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Kerr Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.