The Kettering Fund

Request Summaries for the Kettering Family Philanthropies' next grant cycle will be accepted from July 1, 2024 through July 31, 2024.  All non-profit organizations applying must submit a Request Summary through this web portal to be considered for a grant. 

Those applicants applying to the Kettering Family Foundation must document on the form with whom from Kettering Family Philanthropies and when, you spoke about submitting a proposal.  Request Summaries will not be submitted without this information.

Email enquiries to info@ketteringfamilyphilanthropies.org to initiate a conversation.

Arts, Culture and Humanities

Education

Environment

Health and Medical

Human Services

Public Benefit

About Us

The Kettering Fund was founded July 1, 1958 by Charles F. Kettering, renowned inventor, businessman and philanthropist. The mission of The Kettering Fund is to support scientific, medical, social and educational studies and research carried on within the State of Ohio. The Fund’s Distribution Committees meet biannually (May and November) to determine funding recommendations to the trustees of The Kettering Family Foundation.

Please visit the Application Process page for more information.
To read a biography of Charles F. Kettering, click here.
To read the Kettering Digest, click here

Application Process

Grant Guidelines The Kettering Fund will consider activities in the following categories: 

  • Arts, Culture and Humanities
  • Education
  • Environment
  • Health/Medical
  • Human Services
  • Public/Society Benefit

Organizations that are not units of government or affiliated with a religious organization must have a current 501(c)(3) determination letter from the IRS. Fiscal sponsorships will be accepted, but only under special circumstances. We strongly recommended that you contact the Foundation’s office to discuss your proposed program before you start the application process. Send an e-mail to info@ketteringfamilyphilanthropies.org.  A Request Summary will not be accepted for any of the following purposes.

  • Religious organizations for religious purposes
  • Individual public elementary or secondary schools or public school districts
  • Multi-year grants
  • Grants or loans to individuals
  • Tickets, advertising or sponsorships of fundraising events
  • Efforts to carry on propaganda or otherwise attempt to influence legislation
  • Activities of 509(a)(3) Type III Supporting Organization

The Application Process: KFP uses a two-step application review process that operates on a biannual cycle, January – May and July – November. The appropriate KFP Committee (Committee) first reviews a Request Summary. If interested, the Committee will invite the applicant to submit a Full Proposal.

  • Only one Request Summary per calendar year may be submitted to any one of the Kettering Family Philanthropies.
  • Previously supported organizations are eligible to submit a Request Summary for the same or different purpose, if the previous grant has been fully expended, and all required reports have been submitted and accepted by KFP.
  • If you are a first-time applicant, or have not applied since January 1, 2010, follow the link to Create account or login with username & password in the upper right-hand corner of any KFP web page. Your User Name must be your organization’s Employer Identification Number, also known as the Federal Tax Identification Number (without the hyphen). The e-mail address that you enter into the Account information will be the address to which all communications will be sent from KFP.
  • This Account will be your organization’s permanent record with KFP. You will receive an e-mail from KFP confirming your Account information. Save this information for future access to your Account.
  • If you have applied to KFP since January 1, 2010, log in to the Account previously established for your organization. To insure that your contact e-mail address is up to date, click on Edit Profile tab in the upper right hand corner of the page. You can also change your password, if you so desire.
  • If you know that your organization has an Account, but you cannot access it, or you are not sure if you have an Account, use the Create account or login with username & password link.
  • After you have accessed or established your Account, click on the Create a Request Summary in the first section of the page. (For best results we recommend that you use one of the following browsers: Firefox 4.0, Safari 5.0+, Google Chrome or Internet Explorer 8.0).
  • If you have not composed or updated the information about your organization, you will be required to do so prior to beginning a Request Summary.  To update this information, at your dashboard, click on the organization name in blue type.  To edit the information, click on the word View on the left side of your screen and change to Edit mode.
  • Submit the Request Summary by the due date, either January 31 or July 31. If these dates fall on a weekend or holiday, the information is due the next business day. You will receive an e-mail confirming receipt of your submission. You will be advised by e-mail of the outcome of the Committee’s review in approximately three weeks.
  • If you have received an e-mail inviting you to submit a Full Proposal, access your Account to complete the process. Full Proposals are due March 15 or September 15. If these dates fall on a weekend or holiday, the information is due the next business day. You will receive an e-mail confirming receipt of your submission. You will be contacted if additional information is needed. A site visit may be requested.
  • Notice of approval or denial will be communicated to you within 10 days of the Committee’s meeting. If you are awarded a grant, the chief executive officer of your organization will be required to sign a Grant Recipient Agreement that outlines the duties and responsibilities of being a grant recipient. Generally grants are paid within 45 days of the Committee’s meeting.
  • Faxed, mailed or hand-delivered Request Summaries and Full Proposals will not be accepted, unless KFP has agreed to an exception.
  • In summary, all communications from KFP will be sent to the e-mail address listed in your Account information. You can expect e-mails informing you that:
  1. Your Account has been established
  2. Your Request Summary has been received
  3. Your Request Summary has been denied or you have been invited to submit a Full Proposal
  4. Your Full Proposal has been received
  5. Your Full Proposal has been denied
  6. A grant has been awarded

 

Grant History

The Kettering Fund, a sub-fund of The Kettering Family Foundation, supported a variety of organizations for charitable activities in 2023.

 

Grants Paid by Category:   2023

Arts/Culture/Humanities                  $    800,000

Education                                        $    715,000

Environment                                    $    215,000

Health/Medical                                 $    725,000

Human Services                              $ 1,170,000

Public/Society Benefit                      $    148,500

  TOTAL                                            $ 3,773,500

 

Grants Paid by Category:   2021 – 2023

Arts/Culture/Humanities                  $  2,797,500     (23%)

Education                                        $  2,921,500     (24%)

Environment                                    $  1,045,000     (  9%)

Health/Medical                                 $  2,315,000     (19%)

Human Services                              $   2,954,200    (24%)

Public /Society Benefit                     $      225,500    ( 2%)

                                                         $ 12,258,700  (100%)