The Kroger Co Foundation is a private, company-sponsored grantmaking foundation established in 1987 and based in Cincinnati, Ohio. As the philanthropic arm of The Kroger Co, the foundation distributes grants across the United States to support communities through various charitable initiatives.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$111.4M
-2.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.8M
-31.3% YoY
Grant Count
253
-17.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$19K
-16.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Kroger Co Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6.0M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: "Feed the Human Spirit™ through giving to lift up our associates, customers and communities."
The foundation focuses on supporting nonprofit organizations in the following areas:
- Hunger relief and food security
- Sustainability and waste reduction
- Diversity and inclusion initiatives
- Health and nutrition
- Education and youth development
- Community development and social services
- Local grassroots organizations
Recent grant distribution data shows that approximately 58% of giving supports social and human services, nearly 11% supports education, and 10% supports community development.
Grantmaking
The foundation does not make grants to:
Grant Range
reported at $91 (reflecting the high volume of smaller grants)
Average Grant
reported at $91 (reflecting the high volume of smaller grants)
Ready to take the next step with The Kroger Co Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation has a national scope, distributing grants across the United States. It supports numerous communities including major metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, as well as smaller communities throughout the country.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $114,036,060 to $119,937,604
- Total Revenue: $2,149,867
- Total Expenses: $8,053,911
- Total Giving: $6,936,680
- Number of Employees: 2
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $111,434,488 | $114,036,060 | $119,937,604 |
| Revenue | $3,338,016 | $2,149,867 | $-659,100 |
| Expenses | $5,939,588 | $8,053,911 | $9,149,350 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $5,509,359 | $7,657,417 | $8,675,868 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,221,866 | $4,325,085 | $2,757,139 |
| Distributable Amount | $5,992,326 | $5,872,504 | $6,250,756 |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from The Kroger Co Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include American National Red Cross ($500,000), Congressional Hunger Center ($75,684), American Heart Association ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A NEW LEAF MESA, AZ | ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $10,000 |
| A PRECIOUS CHILD BROOMFIELD, CO | ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $15,000 |
| ADOPT-A-NATIVE-ELDER SOUTH SALT LAKE, UT | ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $5,000 |
| AGUA FRIA FOOD AND CLOTHING BANK AVONDALE, AZ | ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $10,000 |
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION SALT LAKE CITY, UT | ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $50,000 |
| AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS WASHINGTON, DC | ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $500,000 |
| AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS WASHINGTON, DC | ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $50,000 |
| ARKANSAS HUNGER RELIEF ALLIANCE LITTLE ROCK, AR | ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $10,000 |
| ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY MINISTRIES LOUISVILLE, KY | ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $3,000 |
| ASTEGOS INC BOISE, ID | ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Keith Dailey – President and Director
- Patty Leesemann – Executive Director (compensation: $159,632)
- Jody Kalmbach – Director
- Colleen Lindholz – Director
- Tim Massa – Director
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KEITH DAILEY | PRESIDENT & DIRECTOR | — | — |
| JODY KALMBACH | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| COLLEEN LINDHOLZ | SECRETARY & DIRECTOR | — | — |
| TIM MASSA | VICE PRESIDENT & DIRECTOR | — | — |
| JAMIE CARR | FOUNDATION PROGRAM MANAGER | 15 | $115,476 |
| PATTY LEESEMANN | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 15 | $224,249 |
| LAURA GUMP | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| MAFAZ MAHAROOF | TREASURER | — | — |
| ALI BERMAN | FOUNDATION PROGRAM MANAGER | — | $3,442 |
Contact Information
- Address: 1014 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202-1100
- Phone: 513-762-4311
- Website: thekrogerco.com/community
- EIN: 31-1192929
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Kroger Co Foundation fund?
**Mission:** "Feed the Human Spirit™ through giving to lift up our associates, customers and communities." The foundation focuses on supporting nonprofit organizations in the following areas: • Hunger relief and food security • Sustainability and waste reduction • Diversity and inclusion initiatives • Health and nutrition • Education and youth development • Community development and social services • Local grassroots organizations Recent grant distribution data shows that approximately 58% of g…
How do I apply for a grant from The Kroger Co Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • The foundation made 375 grants in 2024, totaling approximately $6.9 million in awards • Typical grant awards range from $500 to $1,000,000 • Average grant size reported at $91 (reflecting the high volume of smaller grants) • Approximately 12% of new applicants receive funding **Recent Grant Examples:** • United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Educational Fund: $500,000 • American National Red Cross: $500,000 • Thurgood Marshall College Fund: $350,000 • Local Initiative…
Where does The Kroger Co Foundation make grants?
The foundation has a national scope, distributing grants across the United States. It supports numerous communities including major metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, as well as smaller communities throughout the country.
What size grants does The Kroger Co Foundation award?
In 2025, The Kroger Co Foundation awarded 253 grants totaling $4.8M — an average of about $19K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Kroger Co Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, The Kroger Co Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6.0M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Kroger Co Foundation's EIN?
The Kroger Co Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1192929. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Kroger Co Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program
SOUTHEASTERN, PA
Assets
$22.2B
Grants
24,269
Total Given
$3.0B
The Blackbaud Giving Fund
CHARLESTON SC, SC
Assets
$52.7M
Grants
1,860
Total Given
$41.4M
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
SAINT LOUIS, MO
Assets
—
Grants
9,499
Total Given
$73.1M
Charities Aid Foundation America
ALEXANDRIA, VA
Assets
$444.9M
Grants
10,157
Total Given
$466.3M
National Philanthropic Trust
JENKINTOWN, PA
Assets
$42.2B
Grants
18,583
Total Given
$5.1B
Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc
INDIANAPOLIS, IN
Assets
$9.1B
Grants
19,253
Total Given
$1.2B
The Kroger Co Zero Hunger Zero
CINCINNATI, OH
Assets
$21.7M
Grants
141
Total Given
$6.1M
Jpmorgan Chase Foundation
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
10,334
Total Given
$202.5M
The Albertsons Companies Foundation
PLEASANTON, CA
Assets
$79.9M
Grants
800
Total Given
$55.8M
Network for Good
WASHINGTON, DC
Assets
$96.2M
Grants
4,733
Total Given
$216.2M
Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$12.7B
Grants
7,424
Total Given
$3.0B
The Cigna Group Foundation
PHILADELPHIA, PA
Assets
$127.2M
Grants
4,075
Total Given
$14.1M
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with The Kroger Co 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 Kroger Co Foundation to a real strategy.