Knee Family Foundation

## Approach Strategy

The Knee Family Foundation is a preselected-only private grantmaking foundation run by Kevin Knee (President) and Joan Knee (Secretary) from their offices at 12100 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 1150, Los Angeles, CA 90025. Founded in 2005, the foundation has grown from approximately $3 million in assets to over $22.7 million as of 2024, reflecting significant personal contributions from the Knee family over two decades.

### Key Strategic Insights

This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. All grants are directed to organizations personally selected by the Knee family trustees. The foundation operates without staff, formal application processes, or published grant guidelines — a hallmark of family-directed philanthropy where personal relationships and direct knowledge of grantee organizations drive funding decisions.

For organizations seeking to attract attention from the Knee Family Foundation: - Build visibility in the foundation's core focus areas: education (especially STEM and higher education), human services, and philanthropy infrastructure - Establish a presence in their geographic priority areas: California, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania - Cultivate relationships through shared philanthropic networks in Los Angeles, particularly in the Westside/Century City corridor where the foundation is based - Demonstrate measurable impact in education or human services — the foundation's giving pattern shows preference for established organizations over startup ventures

The foundation's investment in a diversified portfolio of corporate stocks and bonds ($11M+) and its consistent annual giving of $500K-$1M suggests long-term sustainability and reliable annual distribution capacity.

## Funding Patterns

### Annual Giving Trajectory (2011-2024)

### Key Patterns

• Grant sizes range from $1,000 to $550,000, with a median around $50,000 and an average of approximately $106,000
• Giving has grown substantially: from ~$134K in 2011 to ~$953K in 2024, a 7x increase
• Number of grantees is small: typically 4-11 organizations per year, indicating concentrated, high-value relationships
• The foundation crossed the $1M annual giving threshold in 2023 for the first time
• 2021 saw a major capital infusion of $10.4M in contributions, nearly doubling assets from $11.5M to $22.6M
• Investment income (dividends + interest) provides $400-550K annually, supplementing any contributions
• Operating expenses are minimal (~$75K/year for administrative costs), suggesting no paid staff — nearly all expenses go to charitable disbursements (92.4% in 2024)

## Peer Comparison

The Knee Family Foundation occupies a mid-size position among California private family foundations. Below is a comparison with peer foundations of similar asset size and focus areas:

### Notable Comparisons

• Giving rate: The Knee Foundation distributes approximately 4.2% of assets annually, which aligns with the IRS-required 5% minimum distribution for private foundations (including administrative costs). This is typical for family foundations of this size.
• Concentration: With only 9 awards per year, the Knee Foundation makes fewer but larger grants than many peers. The Hood Family Foundation, for example, distributes to 32 organizations at a lower average amount.
• Growth trajectory: The Knee Foundation's assets have nearly doubled since 2021 due to a major capital infusion, positioning it for potential increases in annual giving.
• Administrative efficiency: At 92.4% of expenses going to charitable disbursements, the Knee Foundation is highly efficient compared to peers that may employ staff and maintain offices.

## Recent Activity

### 2024 Filing (Most Recent) - Filed Form 990-PF on November 17, 2025 for fiscal year 2024 - $952,500 in total charitable disbursements across 9 awards - Revenue of $1,565,218 including $998,284 in contributions, $438,225 in dividends, and $107,763 in interest - Total assets reached an all-time high of $22,739,700 - Zero liabilities; foundation is completely debt-free

### 2023 Filing - $1,047,500 in total grants across 11 awards — the highest number of grantees in recent history - Assets grew from $18.7M to $20.1M - Investment income of $412K (dividends + interest) supplemented by capital gains

### Asset Growth Trajectory The foundation experienced a transformative 2021 with a $10.4 million capital contribution that nearly doubled the asset base from $11.5M to $22.6M. Since then, assets have stabilized in the $20-23M range, suggesting the Knee family has established a sustainable endowment-like structure.

### Geographic Activity Grant recipients in 2024 spanned California, Florida, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia — consistent with previous years' multi-state distribution pattern. California remains the primary geographic focus.

## Application Tips

### Critical: This Foundation Does Not Accept Applications

The Knee Family Foundation is a preselected-only grantmaker. There is no application form, online portal, published guidelines, or formal RFP process. The foundation's website (knee.org) contains no grant information — it returns only a minimal placeholder page.

### How Organizations Might Attract Funding

While unsolicited proposals are not accepted, organizations in the foundation's focus areas can take the following strategic steps:

1. Build relationships in Los Angeles philanthropic networks. The Knee family operates from the Westside of Los Angeles (Century City/Brentwood area). Engaging with local donor circles, charity events, and community organizations in this area increases visibility.

2. Demonstrate impact in priority areas: - Education (particularly STEM and higher education) - Human services - Philanthropic infrastructure and grantmaking organizations

3. Operate in target geographies. The foundation has a clear multi-state pattern: California (primary), West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Florida, Massachusetts, and New York. Organizations based in or serving these states have the best odds of alignment.

4. Match the foundation's giving profile. Grants range from $1,000 to $550,000, but the median is approximately $50,000. Mid-size organizations with clear missions and measurable outcomes align best with this giving profile.

5. Contact directly (with care). The foundation's phone number is (310) 304-2254 and the mailing address is 12100 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 1150, Los Angeles, CA 90025. A brief, well-crafted letter of inquiry is more appropriate than a formal proposal. Do not cold-call without a warm introduction.

6. Monitor IRS filings. Review the foundation's annual 990-PF filings on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer to identify which organizations receive funding. Connecting with existing grantees can provide introductions and insight into the foundation's current priorities.