William a Kerr Foundation
The William A. Kerr Foundation is a private foundation based in Chesterfield, Missouri. It makes grants, chiefly in the St. Louis, Missouri, and Walnut Creek, California, areas, with interests including education, environmental enhancements, health, accessibility, and local arts organizations.
William a Kerr Foundation at a glance
In short: William a Kerr Foundation gave $800K across 50 grants in 2025 (avg $16K), top state California. 30% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $800,000
- +8.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 50
- -7.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $16,000
- +16.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $9,000
- Total assets
- $16,163,145
- -4.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 30% first-time grantees (15 of 50, 2025)
- Primary geography
- California (47% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to William a Kerr Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Invitation Only
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Its grants are by invitation only. It asks organizations to contact a trustee before sending a request; if invited to apply formally, an organization will be told what information is required.
- Contact
Mailing address: 14805 North Outer 40 Rd 200, Chesterfield, MO 63017
Phone: (314) 889-4862
Website: https://www.wakfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who William a Kerr Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Be Well Cafe ($100K). Together the top 10 received $470K.
Grant Size Distribution
299 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 276 grants of 299 (92%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says its activity is chiefly focused on St. Louis, Missouri, and Walnut Creek, California, with occasional exceptions. In 2025, 47% of grant dollars went to recipients in California and 46% to recipients in Missouri; smaller shares went to Florida (3%), Illinois (3%), and Pennsylvania (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 50 itemized grants.
Cities
Is William a Kerr Foundation open to new grantees?
30%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 15 of 50 grantees (30%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $9K; repeat grants $19K. How we count
Medians: $6K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 68% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−5%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 96% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $660K (2021) to $840K (2022). In 2025 it made 50 grants totaling $800K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Be Well Cafe St. Louis, MO | Charitable Foundation | $100,000 |
| Congregation B'nai Tikvah Walnut Creek, CA | Charitable Foundation | $50,000 |
| John Muir Land Trust Martinez, CA | Charitable Foundation | $50,000 |
| Las Trampas School Inc Lafayette, CA | Charitable Foundation | $50,000 |
| Mount Diablo Interpretive Association (Mdia) Walnut Creek, CA | Charitable Foundation | $50,000 |
| The Ruth Bancroft Gardens Inc Walnut Creek, CA | Charitable Foundation | $50,000 |
| Seed St Louis St. Louis, MO | Charitable Foundation | $40,000 |
| Rosati-Kain Academy St. Louis, MO | Charitable Foundation | $30,000 |
| Doorways Interfaith Residence St. Louis, MO | Charitable Foundation | $25,000 |
| Lindsay Wildlife Experience Walnut Creek, CA | Charitable Foundation | $25,000 |
Ready to take the next step with William a Kerr Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $16,163,145 | $839,435 | $1,288,456 | $800,000 | 50 | $993,594 | $543,011 | $1,039,544 |
| 2024 | $16,899,277 | $516,227 | $1,206,356 | $740,000 | 54 | $912,636 | $225,034 | $978,119 |
| 2023 | $17,614,406 | $832,018 | $1,237,084 | $790,815 | 62 | $950,747 | $565,822 | $893,141 |
| 2022 | $18,039,005 | $1,493,825 | $1,253,986 | $840,000 | 66 | $989,092 | $1,235,573 | $939,655 |
| 2021 | $17,816,374 | $1,162,574 | $1,127,072 | $660,000 | 67 | $846,529 | $895,331 | $1,016,146 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, William a Kerr Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.0M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is “Promoting Knowledge, Cooperation, and Progress.” It seeks to help groups working to improve education, enrich the environment, and promote health and accessibility. Its guidelines also identify local arts organizations as an area of interest and say that funding interests may vary from year to year.
Its 2025 grantees illustrate a range of work. Be Well Cafe describes its mission as supporting food purveyors, entrepreneurs, small businesses, job training, community engagement, and food access. John Muir Land Trust works to conserve open spaces, while SEED ST LOUIS describes its work as advancing neighborhood vitality through community food projects, education, wellness, and civic greening. Las Trampas School says it supports adults with developmental disabilities in their homes, at work, and in the community. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 50 grants totaling $800,000. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $100,000, with a median of $9,000. Notable grants included $100,000 to Be Well Cafe; $50,000 each to Congregation B’Nai Tikvah, John Muir Land Trust, Las Trampas School, Mount Diablo Interpretive Association, and The Ruth Bancroft Gardens; and $40,000 to SEED ST LOUIS.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists John H. K. Sweet and William R. Sweet as trustees. The foundation identifies them as co-trustees and nephews of William A. Kerr.
William a Kerr Foundation's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; all 2 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
John H. K. Sweet
Trustee
On filings since 2021
30 hrs/week
$59K (2021) → $41K (2025)
William R. Sweet
Trustee
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
$59K (2021) → $41K (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $41K, to John H K Sweet (Trustee). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about William a Kerr Foundation
How much does William a Kerr Foundation give each year?
William a Kerr Foundation gave $800K across 50 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $740K across 54 grants.
What is William a Kerr Foundation's typical grant size?
William a Kerr Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $9,000, and its average grant was $16,000, across 50 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from William a Kerr Foundation that year got $9K on average.
Where does William a Kerr Foundation give grants?
William a Kerr Foundation's top state is California, with 47% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest state was Missouri (46%). The most frequent recipient cities were St. Louis, MO (25 grants), Walnut Creek, CA (9 grants) and St Petersburg, FL (3 grants).
Does William a Kerr Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 50 grants with a stated purpose on William a Kerr Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable Foundation" (50 grants).
Who are William a Kerr Foundation's largest grantees?
William a Kerr Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Be Well Cafe ($100,000), Congregation B'nai Tikvah ($50,000) and John Muir Land Trust ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 25% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is William a Kerr Foundation?
William a Kerr Foundation reported $16.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $994K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.0M (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.
What does William a Kerr Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is “Promoting Knowledge, Cooperation, and Progress.” It seeks to help groups working to improve education, enrich the environment, and promote health and accessibility. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from William a Kerr Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 2021–2025.
Does William a Kerr Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 5, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 10, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 9, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). William a Kerr Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/william-a-kerr-foundation-morg_9db85785d33c464b8a2a48be4646d2b1
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_431770857_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{William a Kerr Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/william-a-kerr-foundation-morg_9db85785d33c464b8a2a48be4646d2b1},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from William a Kerr Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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