The Robert E & Jenny D Kirkland
The Robert E & Jenny D Kirkland Foundation is a private independent foundation established in 2004 and based in Union City, Tennessee. The foundation was created by Robert and Jenny Kirkland following their success in founding Kirkland's, a home decor retail chain. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and serves as a significant philanthropic institution in West Tennessee.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$301.1M
+5.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$11.2M
+9.2% YoY
Grant Count
46
+12.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$244K
-2.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Robert E & Jenny D Kirkland reported a distributable amount of $11.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary focus areas include:
- Education: Supporting educational initiatives and institutions, particularly through Discovery Park of America
- Scholarships: Providing daycare scholarships to qualifying applicants through the Promethean Foundation to increase social, moral, and educational opportunities for children
- Community Services: Supporting service projects in the local community
- Affordable Housing: Funding homes for low-income families
- Sports Accessibility: Supporting tennis initiatives through the Cincinnati Tennis Foundation, with a belief that tennis should be accessible to all
- Global Initiatives: Addressing solutions for the worldwide water crisis
Grantmaking
The foundation makes grants exclusively to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited applications.
Grant Range
$1,000 to $8.1M
Average Grant
Approximately $267,000 to $324,000
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated primarily in:
- Obion County, Tennessee
- Northwest Tennessee
- Tennessee, Kentucky, and Ohio
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $301,097,450
- Annual Revenue: $18,742,183
- Total Expenses: $15,216,896
- Annual Giving: $11,211,385
- Number of Employees: 7
Asset Growth: Total assets have grown significantly from $45.8M in 2011 to $301.1M in 2024.
Historical Giving: Annual giving grew from $8.2M in 2020 to $20.1M in 2022.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $301,097,450 | $285,400,021 | $270,455,265 |
| Revenue | $18,742,183 | $16,870,044 | $10,828,232 |
| Expenses | $15,216,896 | $13,353,299 | $12,865,428 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $11,211,385 | $10,268,774 | $10,041,429 |
| Net Investment Income | $12,413,398 | $9,711,786 | $4,012,537 |
| Distributable Amount | $11,211,385 | $10,277,188 | $10,041,429 |
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
199 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Discovery Park of America ($8,664,085), Charitable - Promethean Foundation ($2,288,300), Union City Rotary Foundation ($59,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Boca Grande Women's Scholarship Club Boca Grande, FL | Make a difference through community service | $12,000 |
| Boys & Girls Club Union City, TN | Outreach for disadvantaged youth | $3,000 |
| Casa of Wilson County Lebanon, TN | Family services | $2,000 |
| Charitable - Promethean Foundation UNION CITY, TN | PROVIDE DAYCARE FOR AT RISK CHILDREN | $2,288,300 |
| Cheekwood Nashville, TN | Botanical Gardens & Art Museum | $1,500 |
| Children of Peru Foundation New York, NY | Building a better future for poor children in Peru | $4,000 |
| Compassionate Hands Lebanon, TN | Housing for Homeless | $1,000 |
| Cumberland University Lebanon, TN | Provide quality/affordable education | $10,000 |
| Discovery Park of America Union City, TN | Education | $8,664,085 |
| Empower Me Daycamp Lebanon, TN | Transform lives of those with special needs through opportunities for growth | $2,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Robert E. Kirkland: Principal officer and founder (deceased 2015)
- Jenny D. Kirkland: Co-founder (deceased 2019)
- The foundation is currently led by their children and governed by 3 officers and trustees
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christopher Kirkland | Pres/Director | 2 | $100,000 |
| Macy D Kirkland | Director | 2 | $100,000 |
| Bedford F Kirkland | Sec/Director | 2 | $100,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**2026 Discovery Awards Gala:**
Robert E. and Jenny D. Discovery Awards Gala benefits Kirkland ScholarshipOn March 21, 2026, Discovery Park of America hosted the annual Robert E. and Jenny D. Kirkland Discovery Awards Gala, welcoming over 200 thought leaders, policymakers, and philanthropists. The event recognized individuals making meaningful impact in their communities while supporting Discovery Park's mission to provide educational access for students across the region. Funds raised help cover admission costs for students from schools where at least 50 percent of the student population qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch.
Robert E. and Jenny D. Kirkland Foundation - HinchillaThe 2026 honorees were Allison DeMarcus, Mike Cox, and Lee Marshall.
**Discovery Park of America:**
The foundation made a transformational $100 million founding gift to create Discovery Park of America, an education center and tourist attraction that opened in Union City in 2013. The park's mission is to enhance children and adults' educational experiences and inspire them to reach their full potential through exhibits and programs focused on nature, science, technology, history, and art.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Robert E & Jenny D Kirkland fund?
The foundation's primary focus areas include: • **Education**: Supporting educational initiatives and institutions, particularly through Discovery Park of America • **Scholarships**: Providing daycare scholarships to qualifying applicants through the Promethean Foundation to increase social, moral, and educational opportunities for children • **Community Services**: Supporting service projects in the local community • **Affordable Housing**: Funding homes for low-income families • **Sports Acce…
How do I apply for a grant from The Robert E & Jenny D Kirkland?
The foundation makes grants exclusively to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited applications. **Grant Activity:** • Total grants made: 143 grants totaling $38.2M (historical data) • Recent grants: 31 grants in 2024 • Grant range: $1,000 to $8.1M • Average grant size: Approximately $267,000 to $324,000 • Median grant: $2,000 **Application Process:** The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizat…
Where does The Robert E & Jenny D Kirkland make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated primarily in: • Obion County, Tennessee • Northwest Tennessee • Tennessee, Kentucky, and Ohio
What size grants does The Robert E & Jenny D Kirkland award?
In 2024, The Robert E & Jenny D Kirkland awarded 46 grants totaling $11.2M — an average of about $244K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Robert E & Jenny D Kirkland required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Robert E & Jenny D Kirkland reported a distributable amount of $11.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Robert E & Jenny D Kirkland's EIN?
The Robert E & Jenny D Kirkland's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-4228589. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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