The Kustel Fund is a private foundation based in New York, NY, established in 2019 and designated as a 501(c)(3) organization. It operates as a grantmaking foundation with no employees, managed by uncompensated co-trustees.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$16.7M
+2.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.2M
+23.0% YoY
Grant Count
36
-7.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$34K
+33.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Kustel Fund reported a distributable amount of $950K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not specify particular subject areas of focus in its filings. However, its grantmaking activity demonstrates support across diverse sectors including education, philanthropy and grantmaking, and human services.
Grantmaking
The foundation appears open to new applicants.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports projects across multiple U.S. states and cities, with documented giving in California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Vermont, and Virginia. Major funding areas include New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | Amount (2024) |
|---|---|
| Total Assets | $16,711,590 |
| Total Revenue | $1,787,337 |
| Total Expenses | $1,374,183 |
| Total Liabilities | $0 |
The foundation received a significant asset transfer of $16,855,599 from the Jerome and Lorraine Aresty Charitable Foundation in 2020, which established its current asset base.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $16,711,590 | $16,298,436 | $16,023,069 |
| Revenue | $1,787,337 | $1,370,203 | $192,588 |
| Expenses | $1,374,183 | $1,094,836 | $1,181,524 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,218,000 | $990,000 | $1,055,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,730,646 | $1,259,613 | $133,676 |
| Distributable Amount | $949,851 | $880,967 | $919,144 |
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
197 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Stinson Beach Volunteer Fire Assn ($333,000), Canal Alliance of Marin County ($125,000), Glide Foundation ($125,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 10000 DEGREES SAN RAFAEL, CA | FOR THE USE OF THE DONEE ORGANIZATION | $30,000 |
| ALAMEDA FOOD BANK ALAMEDA, CA | FOR THE USE OF THE DONEE ORGANIZATION | $25,000 |
| AMERICAN INDIA FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | FOR THE USE OF THE DONEE ORGANIZATION | $20,000 |
| BOYS TO MEN MENTORING SPRING VALLEY, CA | FOR THE USE OF THE DONEE ORGANIZATION | $10,000 |
| BRIDGE THE GAP SAUSALITO, CA | FOR THE USE OF THE DONEE ORGANIZATION | $10,000 |
| CALIFORNIA PACIFIC MEDICAL CENTER SAN FRANCISCO, CA | FOR THE USE OF THE DONEE ORGANIZATION | $5,000 |
| CAMPAIGN FOR THE FAIR SENTENCING OF YOUTH WASHINGTON, DC | FOR THE USE OF THE DONEE ORGANIZATION | $10,000 |
| CANAL ALLIANCE OF MARIN COUNTY SAN RAFAEL, CA | FOR THE USE OF THE DONEE ORGANIZATION | $125,000 |
| CARPENTERS SHELTER ALEXANDRIA, VA | FOR THE USE OF THE DONEE ORGANIZATION | $20,000 |
| CERES COMMUNITY PROJECT SANTA ROSA, CA | FOR THE USE OF THE DONEE ORGANIZATION | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is managed by co-trustees Karen Kustel and Robert Kustel, both of whom serve without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KAREN KUSTEL | CO-TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| ROBERT KUSTEL | CO-TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Kustel Fund fund?
The foundation does not specify particular subject areas of focus in its filings. However, its grantmaking activity demonstrates support across diverse sectors including education, philanthropy and grantmaking, and human services.
How do I apply for a grant from The Kustel Fund?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 24 grants in the most recent reporting year • Total giving: $1,218,000 (2024) • Typical award range: $5,000–$333,000 • Recent grantees include Glide Foundation ($125,000), Homeward Bound of Marin ($60,000), San Francisco-Marin Food Bank ($45,000), and Women Helping All People ($10,000) The foundation appears open to new applicants.
Where does The Kustel Fund make grants?
The foundation supports projects across multiple U.S. states and cities, with documented giving in California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Vermont, and Virginia. Major funding areas include New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.
What size grants does The Kustel Fund award?
In 2024, The Kustel Fund awarded 36 grants totaling $1.2M — an average of about $34K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Kustel Fund required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Kustel Fund reported a distributable amount of $950K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Kustel Fund's EIN?
The Kustel Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-3330698. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Kustel Fund'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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