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Grant funders / Wisconsin / The Robert D and Patricia E Kern

The Robert D and Patricia E Kern

Waukesha, Wisconsin  ·  EIN 391923558  ·  Private foundation

The Robert D and Patricia E Kern is a private foundation based in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Its most recent IRS Form 990-PF reports $54.1M in grants paid and $718.0M in total assets. Bespoke Grants tracks 488 individual grants from this funder — $208.8M awarded across 2020–2024 — including its support for arts & culture. Below is its full funding profile.

$54.1M
Annual giving (FY2020)
$718.0M
Total assets
488
Grants tracked
2024
Most recent grant

What The Robert D and Patricia E Kern funds

The Robert D and Patricia E Kern's giving carries a documented focus on arts & culture, community improvement, economic development, education, higher education, and related causes.

Arts & CultureCommunity ImprovementEconomic DevelopmentEducationHigher EducationK-12 Education

Populations it has supported include rural communities.

rural communities

Grant history

The largest grants Bespoke Grants has on record for The Robert D and Patricia E Kern, by amount:

RecipientLocationGrantYear
Charter Fund Inc
IMPACT-CHARACTER-CTE INTEGRATION
Denver, CO$14.4M2024
Mtf Fund
ONGOING OPERATIONAL SUPPORT
Overland Park, KS$9.2M2024
The Medical College of Wisconsin Inc
KERN INSTITUTE - MCW - NATIONAL TRANSFORMATION NETWORK
Milwaukee, WI$8.1M2023
The Medical College of Wisconsin Inc
KERN INSTITUTE - MCW - NATIONAL TRANSFORMATION NETWORK
Milwaukee, WI$7.5M2024
Greathearts Foundation
NETWORK EXPANSION AND PROGRAMMING SUPPORT
Phoenix, AZ$6.5M2024
Greathearts Foundation
SUPPORT THE EXPANSION OF THE GREAT HEARTS SCHOOL NETWORK; SUPPORT THE VIRTUE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM
Phoenix, AZ$6.5M2023
Arizona State University Foundation for a New American University
EMBEDDING EM INSTITUTIONALLY
Tempe, AZ$6.2M2024
Charter Fund Inc
IMPACT-CHARACTER-CTE INTEGRATION
Broomfield, CO$6.0M2020
Milwaukee School of Engineering
CREATE INSTITUTE FORMATION; KERN SCHOLARSHIP FUND; MBA ED LEADERSHIP PROGRAM; RESIDENCE HALL EXPANSION; EM FACULTY DEVELOPMENT TRAINING
Milwaukee, WI$5.6M2020
Mtf Fund
SUPPORT THE GROWTH AND IMPACT OF MTF
Overland Park, KS$5.5M2020
Arizona State University Foundation for a New American University
EMBEDDING EM INSTITUTIONALLY; THRIVECAST PROGRAMMING; ADVANCING CHARACTER EDUCATION
Tempe, AZ$4.1M2020
The Medical College of Wisconsin Inc
KERN INSTITUTE - MCW - NATIONAL TRANSFORMATION NETWORK
Milwaukee, WI$3.5M2020
Pbs Foundation
DEVELOPMENT AND PROMOTION OF KEN BURNS FILM
Arlington, VA$3.0M2024
Mtf Fund
SUPPORT THE GROWTH AND IMPACT OF MTF; OPERATING EXPENSES
Overland Park, KS$3.0M2022
Mtf Fund
ONGOING OPERATIONAL SUPPORT
Overland Park, KS$2.9M2023

The Robert D and Patricia E Kern giving by year

Total grants Bespoke Grants has indexed for each filing year:

2020$54.1M
2022$34.2M
2023$54.0M
2024$66.5M

How to apply for funding from The Robert D and Patricia E Kern

The Robert D and Patricia E Kern's public IRS filing does not spell out a formal application process. Foundations of this size often give primarily to organizations they already know, so a concise letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first contact — not a full proposal. You can review the foundation directly at kffdn.org.

Is The Robert D and Patricia E Kern the right funder for your nonprofit?

This page shows what The Robert D and Patricia E Kern has funded. Bespoke Grants tells you whether it fits your mission — and finds every other foundation that does. Free, no credit card.

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Frequently asked questions about The Robert D and Patricia E Kern

Does The Robert D and Patricia E Kern accept grant applications?
The Robert D and Patricia E Kern's public filing does not specify an application process. A brief letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first step with a private foundation of this size.
What does The Robert D and Patricia E Kern fund?
The Robert D and Patricia E Kern's grants focus on arts & culture. Recent recipients include Charter Fund Inc, Mtf Fund, The Medical College of Wisconsin Inc. Its full grant history is listed above.
How much does The Robert D and Patricia E Kern give in grants?
The Robert D and Patricia E Kern reported $54.1M in grants in its most recent IRS filing (FY2020). Across all years in our data it has awarded $208.8M over 488 grants.
Where is The Robert D and Patricia E Kern located?
The Robert D and Patricia E Kern is based in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Its IRS employer identification number (EIN) is 391923558.
How can I find foundations similar to The Robert D and Patricia E Kern?
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Other Wisconsin grantmakers with overlapping priorities:

About this profile. This page is built from The Robert D and Patricia E Kern's public IRS Form 990-PF and 990 filings, indexed by Bespoke Grants alongside 13M+ grants from 225,000+ U.S. foundations. Grant figures reflect filings available to date; IRS data publishes on a 1–2 year lag. Bespoke Grants is not affiliated with The Robert D and Patricia E Kern. Always confirm current giving priorities and application procedures with the foundation directly before applying.