William a Kerr Foundation

CHESTERFIELD, MO EIN: 43-1770857

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

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

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

5states

Cities

AMERICAN CANYONBERKELEYCASTRO VALLEYCOLUMBIACONCORDDANVILLELAFAYETTELIVERMOREMARTINEZMONTEREYOAKLANDPHILADELPHIAPLEASANT HILLRIVERSIDEROLLARUTLEDGESACRAMENTOSAN FRANCISCOST LOUISST PETERSBURG

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)
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$0.275$0.55$0.8250000000000001$1.12021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
Distributable Amount

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$210K$420K$630K$840K67 grants202166 grants202262 grants202354 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

BE WELL CAFE$108KMOUNT DIABLO INTERPRETIV…$100KCONGREGATION B'NAI TIKVAH$50KJOHN MUIR LAND TRUST$50KSEED ST LOUIS$40KMISSOURI STATE PARKS FOU…$30KDREAM BUILDERS 4 EQUITY$25KLAS TRAMPAS SCHOOL INC$25KROSATI-KAIN ACADEMY$25KTHE RUTH BANCROFT GARDEN…$25K

Grant Size Distribution

200 grants across all recorded years

184<$50K12$50–100K4$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

No grants recorded for .

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

WILLIAM R SWEETTRUSTEE$58KJOHN H K SWEETTRUSTEE$51K

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
JOHN H K SWEETTRUSTEE30$50,600
WILLIAM R SWEETTRUSTEE10$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

Related Funders

Similar funders by location and focus area

Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

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