William a Kerr Foundation
The William A. Kerr Foundation is a private family foundation established in May 1998 and fully funded in January 2000. Registered in the State of Washington and currently based in Chesterfield, Missouri, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable organization. The foundation is structured as a private non-operating foundation and is managed by two co-trustees.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$740K
-6.4% YoY
Grant Count
54
-12.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$14K
+7.4% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's stated purpose is "Promoting Knowledge, Cooperation, and Progress."
Primary funding interests include:
- Arts
- Human Services
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Grantmaking is by invitation only.
Grant Range
$5,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Missouri, California, and Florida.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $16,899,277
- Total Revenues: $516,227
- Total Expenses: $1,206,356
- Investment Income and Dividends: $500,578
- Number of Employees: 2
Historical Assets:
- 2024: $16,899,277
- 2023: $17,600,000
- 2022: $18,000,000
Historical Giving:
- 2024: $740,000 (54 grants)
- 2023: $790,000 (61 grants)
- 2022: $840,000 (66 grants)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
200 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Be Well Cafe ($107,500), Mount Diablo Interpretive Association (mdia) ($100,000), Congregation B'nai Tikvah ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ARCH CITY DEFENDERS INC ST LOUIS, MO | CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | $2,000 |
| ARTICA ST LOUIS, MO | CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | $2,500 |
| BE WELL CAFE ST LOUIS, MO | CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | $107,500 |
| BLACK PRIDE ST LOUIS ST LOUIS, MO | CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | $2,000 |
| BRIGHTSIDE ST LOUIS ST LOUIS, MO | CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | $9,500 |
| CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE AND COOPERATIVE CULTURE RUTLEDGE, MO | CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | $2,000 |
| CHARIS THE STL WOMEN'S CHORUS WEBSTER GROVES, MO | CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | $5,000 |
| CHARLOTTE MAXWELL CLINIC OAKLAND, CA | CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | $5,000 |
| CHOICE IN AGING PLEASANT HILL, CA | CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | $5,000 |
| CINEMA ST LOUIS ST LOUIS, MO | CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | $7,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is managed by two co-trustees:
- John H.K. Sweet (St. Louis, Missouri)
- William R. Sweet (Walnut Creek, California)
Both co-trustees are nephews of William A. Kerr.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN H K SWEET | TRUSTEE | 30 | $50,600 |
| WILLIAM R SWEET | TRUSTEE | 10 | $57,600 |
Contact Information
Address: 14805 North Outer 40 Road, Suite 200 Chesterfield, MO 63017-6060
Website: www.wakfoundation.org
Telephone: 314-889-4862
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does William a Kerr Foundation fund?
The foundation's stated purpose is "Promoting Knowledge, Cooperation, and Progress." Primary funding interests include: • Arts • Human Services • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
How do I apply for a grant from William a Kerr Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Annual giving: approximately $740,000 (2024) • Number of grants: 54 grants in 2024 • Median grant size: $5,000 • Grant range: $1,000 to $108,000 • Giving rate: 4.4% of assets **Recent Grants (2024):** • Be Well Cafe: $107,500 • John Muir Land Trust (formerly Muir Heritage Land Trust): $50,000 • Seed St Louis: $40,000 **Application Policy:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Grantmaking is by invitation only.
Where does William a Kerr Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Missouri, California, and Florida.
What size grants does William a Kerr Foundation award?
In 2024, William a Kerr Foundation awarded 54 grants totaling $740K — an average of about $14K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is William a Kerr Foundation's EIN?
William a Kerr Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 43-1770857. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in William a Kerr Foundation'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.