Uhl & KK Foundation
UHL & KK Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Costa Mesa, California. Established in 2018, the foundation received its IRS tax exemption ruling in March 2020 and operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public benefit corporation.
Key facts about Uhl & KK Foundation
- EIN
- 83-2941757
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $121,517
- Grants made (2024)
- 27
- Average grant
- $4,501
- Median grant
- $2,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 40% first-time grantees (10 of 25, 2024)
- Total assets
- $1,993,749
- Primary geography
- California (66% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The foundation typically selects grantees rather than accepting unsolicited proposals. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Uhl & KK Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Uhl & KK Foundation's 27 itemized 2024 grants were California (66%), Massachusetts (14%) and District of Columbia (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Irvine, CA (5 grants), Santa Ana, CA (4 grants), Los Angeles, CA (3 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is Uhl & KK Foundation open to new grantees?
40%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 10 of 25 grantees (40%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $5K. How we count
Medians: $750 first-time, $3K repeat.
- 44% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 27% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 125% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). 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 Uhl & KK Foundation
- How to evaluate Uhl & KK Foundation as a funder
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.0M
+5.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$122K
-0.9% YoY
Grant Count
27
+42.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
-30.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Uhl & KK Foundation reported a distributable amount of $97K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's stated purpose is to provide educational scholarships and grants to help students who demonstrate financial need and academic aptitude in pursuing college and other educational programs, including private schools and trade schools.
The foundation maintains a focused approach to grantmaking, concentrating on community projects and educational support. Recent grantmaking reflects support for educational institutions, cultural organizations, and community-based initiatives.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$2,000 (2024); $2,250 (all-time)
Average Grant
$7,000
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Uhl & KK Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation demonstrates a strong California focus, with 67% of grants awarded within the state. Within California, funding concentrates in Los Angeles (26%), Irvine (26%), and Santa Ana (18%).
Beyond California, the foundation has distributed grants across 11 additional locations, including Washington, D.C., Florida, Massachusetts, and New York. The foundation balances regional concentration with broader geographic diversity.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 27 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2024 Financial Summary:
- Total Assets: $1,992,684
- Total Revenue: $38,397
- Total Expenses: $174,033
- Net Income: -$135,636
- Charitable Disbursements: $121,517 (69.8% of expenses)
Revenue Composition (2024):
- Sales of Assets: $37,759 (98.3%)
- Dividends: $638 (1.7%)
- Contributions Received: $0
Historical Giving Trajectory: Annual giving has demonstrated strong growth, with a 71% increase in annual giving over four years, indicating expanding philanthropic capacity. Grantmaking activity peaked in 2021 at $165,000 across 15 grants, with annual giving growing from $71,000 in 2020 to $105,000 in 2022.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,993,749 | $1,894,979 | $1,528,960 |
| Revenue | $38,397 | $196,707 | $-187,191 |
| Expenses | $174,033 | $126,051 | $129,088 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $121,517 | $122,620 | $105,160 |
| Net Investment Income | $38,397 | $196,707 | $21,030 |
| Distributable Amount | $97,483 | $84,473 | $93,030 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- 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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
98 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Apalf ($25,000), Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service ($15,000), Council of Korean Americans ($15,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| APALF San Marino, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION TRAVELING EXHIBITION SERVICE Boston, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| COUNCIL OF KOREAN AMERICANS Washington, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA IRVINE Irvine, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $12,500 |
| OCAPICA Garden Grove, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| KOREAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION New York, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $7,500 |
| MIX ACADEMY Santa Ana, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $6,583 |
| DRAGON KIM FOUNDATION Irvine, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| SHOWER OF GRACE Los Angeles, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| PACIFIC SYMPHONY Irvine, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $3,200 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers:
- Jodee Essensa (Principal Officer)
- Kenneth Kim (Secretary)
- Johanna Kim (Individual Agent)
All officers serve on an unpaid basis.
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unhui Kim | President/Director | — | — |
| Kenneth Kim | Secretary/Director/Treasur | — | — |
Contact Information
Address: 2973 Harbor Boulevard, Suite 150, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Phone: (949) 788-1819
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Uhl & KK Foundation fund?
The foundation's stated purpose is to provide educational scholarships and grants to help students who demonstrate financial need and academic aptitude in pursuing college and other educational programs, including private schools and trade schools. The foundation maintains a focused approach to grantmaking, concentrating on community projects and educational support. Recent grantmaking reflects support for educational institutions, cultural organizations, and community-based initiatives.
How do I apply for a grant from Uhl & KK Foundation?
The foundation typically selects grantees rather than accepting unsolicited proposals. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Uhl & KK Foundation make grants?
The foundation demonstrates a strong California focus, with 67% of grants awarded within the state. Within California, funding concentrates in Los Angeles (26%), Irvine (26%), and Santa Ana (18%). Beyond California, the foundation has distributed grants across 11 additional locations, including Washington, D.C., Florida, Massachusetts, and New York. The foundation balances regional concentration with broader geographic diversity.
What size grants does Uhl & KK Foundation award?
In 2024, Uhl & KK Foundation awarded 27 grants totaling $122K — an average of about $5K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Uhl & KK Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Uhl & KK Foundation reported a distributable amount of $97K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Uhl & KK Foundation's EIN?
Uhl & KK Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-2941757. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.