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
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
No grants recorded for .
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
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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