The Rene Kern Family Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Wilmington, DE EIN: 81-4372103

The Rene Kern Family Foundation is a private foundation, based in Wilmington, DE. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $11.3M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 2 grants totaling $850K. Net investment income was $475K.

The Rene Kern Family Foundation at a glance

In short: The Rene Kern Family Foundation gave $850K across 2 grants in 2024 (avg $425K), mostly in California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$850,000
+41.7% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
2
+100.0% vs 2023
Average grant
$425,000
-29.2% vs 2023
Median grant
$425,000
Total assets
$11,304,462
+5.1% vs 2023
Primary geography
California (71% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.

Who The Rene Kern Family Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 2 recipients in 2024

University of California Berkeley Foundation: $600KUniversity of CaliforniaBerkeley Foundation$600KYear up Inc: $250KYear up Inc$250K

The largest 2024 recipient was University of California Berkeley Foundation ($600K). Together the top 2 received $850K.

Grant Size Distribution

20 grants across all recorded years

14<$50K$50–100K$100–250K2$250–500K4$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 14 grants of 20 (70%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

9states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.

Cities

BerkeleyDurhamNew YorkBostonTampaBaltimoreDallasPhiladelphiaRaleighWashington

How The Rene Kern Family Foundation gives

  • Giving grew 35% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 99% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$250K$500K$750K$1M6 grants2020 10 grants2021 1 grant2022 1 grant2023 2 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $308K (2020) to $850K (2024). In 2024 it made 2 grants totaling $850K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
University of California Berkeley Foundation Berkeley, CAThe marie-france kern and rene kern chancellor's chair in entrepreneurship fund$600,000
Year up Inc Boston, MAGeneral & Unrestricted$250,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$11,304,462$1,512,670$961,374$850,0002$923,659$474,713$934,847
2023$10,753,166$1,625,379$692,920$600,0001$651,631$599,990$857,744
2022$9,820,707$926,558$896,986$600,0001$816,058$632,231$732,831
2021$9,791,135$3,853,501$686,669$630,00010$645,025$1,814,668$843,239
2020$6,624,303$1,149,997$332,773$307,5006—$145,154$584,740

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Rene Kern Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $935K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

The Rene Kern Family Foundation is led by Marie-France Kern, Co- President, Director & Secretary on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Marie-France Kern

    Co- President, Director & Secretary

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Rene Kern

    Co- President, Director & Treasurer

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (1)
  • Former: REN Kern (2020–2022) — Co- President, Director & Treasurer

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Frequently asked questions about The Rene Kern Family Foundation

How much does The Rene Kern Family Foundation give each year?

The Rene Kern Family Foundation gave $850K across 2 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $600K across 1 grant.

How large is The Rene Kern Family Foundation?

The Rene Kern Family Foundation reported $11.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $924K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $935K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.

Where does The Rene Kern Family Foundation operate?

The Rene Kern Family Foundation has awarded grants in California, District of Columbia, Florida, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas.

What is The Rene Kern Family Foundation's EIN?

The Rene Kern Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-4372103. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

Data update history

(1)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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