Kettering Family Foundation Grant

The Kettering Family Foundation (KFF), established in 1956 by Eugene W. Kettering and his wife Virginia W. Kettering, is a private philanthropic organization dedicated to supporting charitable causes across the United States. The foundation is part of the larger Kettering Family Philanthropies and is governed by a Board of Trustees composed of family members. While KFF is open to receiving applications from any qualified nonprofit organization, the majority of grants are awarded to organizations with which the trustees have existing relationships. The foundation's funding decisions are based on the interests and recommendations of its trustees, who meet biannually to make grant awards. KFF supports a wide array of funding categories, including Arts, Culture and Humanities; Education; Environment; Health/Medical; Human Services; and Public and Society Benefit. Grants are not available for individuals, religious organizations for religious purposes, public elementary or secondary schools, public school districts, capital construction, foreign entities, local chapters of national organizations, multi-year requests, travel expenses, or sponsorship of fundraising events. Organizations with a 501(c)(3) IRS determination are eligible, and fiscal sponsorship is permitted under special circumstances with prior approval. The application process for the Kettering Family Foundation is web-based and involves two primary steps: the submission of a Request Summary and, if invited, a Full Proposal. Request Summaries for the upcoming cycle must be submitted between July 1 and July 31, 2025. Prior to submitting, all applicants must first have a conversation with a representative from Kettering Family Philanthropies and document the contact on the submission form. Applications that do not include this information will be rejected. Inquiries should be initiated via email at info@ketteringfamilyphilanthropies.org. Following submission, Request Summaries are reviewed by the relevant grant committee, which determines whether to invite a Full Proposal. Invited applicants must submit their proposals by September 15. The Foundation then makes funding decisions in November, with grant awards typically disbursed in December. Organizations are permitted to submit only one application per twelve-month period. If a grantee receives funding for three consecutive years, they will be required to take a one-year break before reapplying. All communications regarding the application process, including confirmations and status updates, will be sent to the email address associated with the organization's KFP account. The foundation emphasizes the importance of keeping account information up-to-date and advises applicants to whitelist their email domain to avoid missing important communications. Faxed, mailed, or hand-delivered applications are not accepted. The foundation expects previously supported organizations to have completed all required reporting and grant expenditure requirements prior to applying again. In the last three calendar years, KFF distributed nearly $19.7 million in grants, with allocations across its core focus areas. In 2024 alone, the foundation awarded $6.9 million, reflecting its ongoing commitment to impactful charitable work primarily in areas where family members reside. The foundation’s emphasis on relationship-driven giving, structured application processes, and broad funding categories make it a consistent philanthropic supporter in the nonprofit sector.

Applicants must initiate contact by email prior to submission and document that conversation on the application. Only one application per 12-month period is allowed. Prior grantees must submit all reports and allow a one-year break after three consecutive awards.