The Panzer Foundation
The Ken Panzer Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Pennington, New Jersey. Established in 2016, it operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization dedicated to philanthropic activities in education and higher education.
Key facts about The Panzer Foundation
In short: The Panzer Foundation gave $533K across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $44K), mostly in California. 33% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 81-2423543
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $532,500
- Grants made (2025)
- 12
- Average grant
- $44,375
- Median grant
- $22,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 33% first-time grantees (4 of 12, 2025)
- Primary geography
- California (80% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Quick answers about The Panzer Foundation
How much does The Panzer Foundation give each year?
The Panzer Foundation gave $533K across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $461K across 13 grants.
What is The Panzer Foundation's typical grant size?
The Panzer Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $22,500, and its average grant was $44,375, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Panzer Foundation that year got $28K on average.
Where does The Panzer Foundation give grants?
The Panzer Foundation gives mostly in California: 80% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was North Carolina (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (5 grants).
Does The Panzer Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 92% of The Panzer Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (11 of 12) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Panzer Foundation's largest grantees?
The Panzer Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include UCLA Panzer Fund ($275,000), E4E Relief LLC ($50,000) and Sheriff's Youth Foundation ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 70% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
Is The Panzer Foundation open to new grantees?
33%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 12 grantees (33%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $28K; repeat grants $53K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $20K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with The Panzer Foundation
- How to evaluate The Panzer Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
- Draft an LOI to The Panzer Foundation with AI
AI grant writing that drafts from your organization’s own materials, in your voice.
- Track this opportunity in a free grant tracker
A free Google Sheets or Excel template for deadlines, award terms, and reports due.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$533K
+15.6% YoY
Grant Count
12
-7.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$44K
+25.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation focuses on supporting education and higher education initiatives across the United States. Its primary funding areas include education and higher education programs.
Grantmaking
The foundation maintains significant grantmaking activity with the following characteristics:
Grant Range
** $2,000–$920,461
Ready to take the next step with The Panzer Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports organizations across multiple states:
- California
- Delaware
- New York
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 12 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of fiscal year 2023:
- Total assets: $23,147,700
- Total revenue: $559,660
- Total expenses: $939,558–$940,000
- Total liabilities: $0
- Number of employees: 0
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 1, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 5, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 6, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 3, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 16, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 2, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 7, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
68 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| UCLA PANZER FUND Los Angeles, CA | EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT | $275,000 |
| E4E RELIEF LLC Charlotte, NC | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL | $50,000 |
| SHERIFF'S YOUTH FOUNDATION Los Angeles, CA | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL | $50,000 |
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION INC Dallas, TX | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL | $25,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Los Angeles, CA | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL | $25,000 |
| CITY OF HOPE Duarte, CA | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL | $25,000 |
| CITIZENS OPTIONS UNLIMITED INC Brookville, NY | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL | $20,000 |
| SUGAR RAY LEONARD FDN Woodland Hills, CA | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL | $20,000 |
| THE DOMINGUEZ DREAM Sacramento, CA | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL | $15,000 |
| LOS ANGELES SHERIFFS FOUNDATION Los Angeles, CA | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL | $15,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Kenneth Panzer serves as trustee of the foundation, contributing two hours of service without compensation.
The Panzer Foundation is led by Kenneth Panzer, Trustee on every filing since 2019 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Kenneth Panzer
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In 2017, Ken Panzer made a $3.55 million gift to Penn State University to transform the lacrosse program and name a new lacrosse stadium.
Panzer $3.55 Million Gift to Transform Penn State Lacrosse, Name New LacrosseSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Panzer Foundation fund?
The foundation focuses on supporting education and higher education initiatives across the United States. Its primary funding areas include education and higher education programs.
How do I apply for a grant from The Panzer Foundation?
The foundation maintains significant grantmaking activity with the following characteristics: • **Total giving (2023):** $932,000–$934,000 • **Grant range:** $2,000–$920,461 • **Median grant size:** $25,000 • **Grant count:** 11 grants in recent fiscal year • **Maximum grant:** $710,000 The foundation has funded projects in multiple U.S. cities including Carpinteria, Levittown, Los Angeles, Rockville, Rye Brook, Sacramento, Santa Barbara, Santa Monica, University Park, Upper Arlington, Van Nuys…
What is The Panzer Foundation's EIN?
The Panzer Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-2423543. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Panzer Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Martha & Irv Kaplan Foundation
Pennington, NJ
Assets
—
Grants
23
Total Given
$875K
California Community Foundation
Los Angeles, CA
Assets
$2.3B
Grants
2,174
Total Given
$326.6M
The Chicago Community Trust
Chicago, IL
Assets
$6.0B
Grants
3,976
Total Given
$1.4B
Alfred E Mann Charities Inc
Los Angeles, CA
Assets
$332.3M
Grants
82
Total Given
$19.5M
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Princeton, NJ
Assets
$13.4B
Grants
3,093
Total Given
$622.6M
Community Foundation of New Jersey
Morristown, NJ
Assets
$1.0B
Grants
1,321
Total Given
$93.8M
Crane Fund for Widows and Children
Englewood Cliffs, NJ
Assets
—
Grants
985
Total Given
$4.5M
The Hyde and Watson Foundation
Warren Township, NJ
Assets
$88.2M
Grants
611
Total Given
$6.1M
Princeton Area Community Foundation Inc
Princeton, NJ
Assets
$279.6M
Grants
515
Total Given
$31.3M
Oceanfirst Foundation
Toms River, NJ
Assets
—
Grants
425
Total Given
$1.6M
The Pfizer Foundation Inc
New York, NY
Assets
$255.3M
Grants
9,306
Total Given
$23.2M
Verizon Foundation
Basking Ridge, NJ
Assets
$23.8M
Grants
5,464
Total Given
$7.0M
More Funders in New Jersey
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.