The KLE Foundation is a family foundation based in Austin, Texas, established in 1997. It operates as a 501(c)(3) private grantmaking foundation focused on education reform in Central Texas. The foundation maintains a low public profile while actively supporting educational initiatives in underserved communities.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$24.6M
-15.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$5.8M
+7.8% YoY
Grant Count
17
+30.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$342K
-17.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Kle Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.6M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The KLE Foundation is dedicated to providing quality educational opportunities to underserved communities. The foundation emphasizes evidence-based programs that deliver measurable results.
The foundation's primary focus areas include:
- Education Reform: Expanding publicly-funded, autonomous, and open-enrollment Pre-K through 12th grade high-quality pathways
- College Access: Supporting low-income scholars to get to and through college successfully
- Computer Science Education: Integrating computational thinking and computer science into the school day
- Personalized Learning: Providing blended or personalized learning environments to promote individual scholar pacing
- STEM and English Education: Prioritizing literacy and job skills development
Grantmaking
The foundation operates several named grant programs:
Grant Range
of approximately $272,093. Notable 2023 grants included:
Average Grant
of approximately $272,093. Notable 2023 grants included:
How to Apply
The foundation maintains a minimal website and provides limited public information about its application timeline and process. Specific application procedures are not widely publicized.
Ready to take the next step with The Kle Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Central Texas, with a particular emphasis on Austin and the surrounding region. However, recent grants indicate some national giving, with recipients located in New York and Washington state, including organizations focused on education reform and reproductive rights.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 31, 2023:
- Total Assets: $29.1 million
- Total Revenues: $4.66 million
- Total Expenses: $4.56 million
- Total Liabilities: $0
Revenue Breakdown (2023):
- Total grants and contributions: $1.2 million
- Investment income and dividends: $208,423
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $2.59 million
- Miscellaneous revenues: $661,564
Tax Status: Tax-exempt since August 1998 (EIN: 74-2860436)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $24,570,121 | $29,131,093 | $29,025,713 |
| Revenue | $4,819,280 | $4,663,696 | $5,444,664 |
| Expenses | $6,010,847 | $4,557,626 | $1,787,879 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $5,843,591 | $5,420,731 | $1,637,804 |
| Net Investment Income | $665,815 | $3,149,570 | $1,722,780 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,637,150 | $1,933,622 | $1,754,742 |
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
50 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Compass Rose Education Inc ($839,980), Kipp Texas Inc ($800,000), Basis Texas Charter Schools Inc ($785,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| EDUCATION REFORM NOW (ERN TEXAS) NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $62,500 |
| TRANSCEND INC HASTINGSONHUDSON, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $743,500 |
| CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $500,000 |
| BASIS TEXAS CHARTER SCHOOLS INC SAN ANTONIO, TX | GENERAL SUPPORT | $785,000 |
| AUSTIN ACHIEVE PUBLIC SCHOOLS INC AUSTIN, TX | GENERAL SUPPORT | $632,250 |
| COMPASS ROSE EDUCATION INC SAN ANTONIO, TX | GENERAL SUPPORT | $839,980 |
| HARMONY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HOUSTON, TX | GENERAL SUPPORT | $396,278 |
| KIPP TEXAS INC HOUSTON, TX | GENERAL SUPPORT | $800,000 |
| SAN MARCOS EDUCATION FOUNDATION SAN MARCOS, TX | GENERAL SUPPORT | $88,788 |
| Texas Charter Schools Association AUSTIN, TX | GENERAL SUPPORT | $125,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The KLE Foundation was founded by Eric Harslem, a Dell and Apple veteran, and his wife Rani Clasquin, a longtime lawyer. Both founders are grandchildren of immigrants who grew up in modest homes. Harslem has stated that the foundation focuses on "evidence-based programs that get results."
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LORRAINE CLASQUIN | CHAIRMAN & PRESIDENT; DIRECTOR | — | — |
| ERIC HARSLEM | VP, SEC. & TREASURER; DIRECTOR | — | — |
| KATE HARSLEM | ASSISTANT SECRETARY; DIRECTOR | — | — |
| KENNETH RAGSDALE | VICE PRES OF FINANCE; DIRECTOR | — | — |
| ANDREW ROBBINS | DIRECTOR | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The KLE Foundation awarded a grant to Blueprint, a nonprofit real estate development firm supporting charter school growth in Austin and Central Texas. The grant provides comprehensive support including direct facility investment, project management services, feasibility assessments, and strategic facilities planning. One school benefiting from this support is Cedars International Academy in Austin, which is working with Blueprint to secure a long-term facility solution to support growth and better serve students and families.
[PDF] HAYS CONSOLIDATED INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT ...Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Kle Foundation fund?
The KLE Foundation is dedicated to providing quality educational opportunities to underserved communities. The foundation emphasizes evidence-based programs that deliver measurable results. The foundation's primary focus areas include: • **Education Reform**: Expanding publicly-funded, autonomous, and open-enrollment Pre-K through 12th grade high-quality pathways • **College Access**: Supporting low-income scholars to get to and through college successfully • **Computer Science Education**: Int…
How do I apply for a grant from The Kle Foundation?
The foundation operates several named grant programs: **Innovation Grants**: Support education innovation in Central Texas, providing up to $1 million for new schools and up to $200,000 for pilots at existing schools pursuing innovations in blended and personalized learning. **CS K12 Pathway Grants**: Support computer science in Central Texas, providing up to $250,000 for vertical teams (elementary, middle, and high schools) to build out computer science pathways accessible to all students duri…
Where does The Kle Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Central Texas, with a particular emphasis on Austin and the surrounding region. However, recent grants indicate some national giving, with recipients located in New York and Washington state, including organizations focused on education reform and reproductive rights.
What size grants does The Kle Foundation award?
In 2024, The Kle Foundation awarded 17 grants totaling $5.8M — an average of about $342K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Kle Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Kle Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.6M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Kle Foundation's EIN?
The Kle Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-2860436. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Kle Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
William Z Hayes Foundation
DALLAS, TX
Assets
$629K
Grants
4
Total Given
$28K
Tr Uw Jane James Cook Item 19
DALLAS, TX
Assets
$861K
Grants
11
Total Given
$41K
Forsyth Fbo Leonard Wood Memorial
DALLAS, TX
Assets
$320K
Grants
1
Total Given
$18K
Teas Foundation
AMARILLO, TX
Assets
$3.0M
Grants
3
Total Given
$138K
Crystelle Waggoner Charitable Trust
DALLAS, TX
Assets
$13.5M
Grants
41
Total Given
$3.9M
Nelson & Debbie Fox Charitable Fdtn
LUBBOCK, TX
Assets
$329K
Grants
9
Total Given
$90K
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with The Kle Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching The Kle Foundation to a real strategy.