Kremer Foundation

The George and Mary Kremer Foundation has operated since 1985 with an exceptionally focused mission: providing tuition assistance grants to Catholic elementary schools across the continental United States for students from financially challenged families. The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) supporting organization — a structure that distinguishes it from private foundations — and is governed by a five-member Advisory Board that selects recipient schools and distributes net income from the trust.

The Foundation reached a historic milestone in 2025 when cumulative grants crossed the $100 million mark since founding, representing one of the most sustained Catholic education funding programs in the country. With reach across 370 schools, 124 dioceses, and 49 states, this is a nationally scoped funder despite its relatively modest current asset base.

The application process operates on a two-track system designed to manage a large pipeline of schools: - Non-Participating Schools: Must submit a School Profile Application by January 31 to be considered for the program - Participating Schools: Receive official invitations to apply in early April, with a May 6 deadline for School Profile Applications and Student Grant Applications (including income substantiation documentation) - Grant disbursement: Tuition grant checks mailed to schools in early September, aligning with the school year start

Contact: P.O. Box 310, Fruitland Park, FL 34731-9998 | 239-261-2367 | info@kremerfoundation.com

The Kremer Foundation's current asset base is approximately $2.8 million (2023: $2.7M, 2022: $2.9M), but this understates the foundation's true grantmaking capacity since it operates as a trust distributing net income. The $100 million in cumulative grants since 1985 averages approximately $2.5 million annually over 40 years — though the actual distribution pattern likely reflects investment returns and market cycles.

The foundation funds schools, not individual families. Tuition assistance grants flow to schools, which then allocate them to eligible students. Grant amounts are not published publicly, but the program's scale (370 schools, 95,000 students historically) suggests per-school grants that make meaningful tuition impact — likely in the range of $5,000–$25,000 per school annually, though this varies by school size and need.

Geographic reach: 49 states in the continental US — virtually universal Catholic elementary school coverage. This is an unusually broad geographic scope for a foundation of this asset size, made possible by the trust distribution model that funds through net investment income rather than consuming principal.

The funding model is stable: the trust structure means the foundation distributes investment returns rather than spending down assets. The asset range of $2.7M–$3.0M over recent years suggests a deliberate maintenance of principal.

The Kremer Foundation occupies a unique position in Catholic education philanthropy. Its 40-year tenure and $100M+ total giving places it among long-running Catholic education funders, though at a smaller current scale than major institutional players:

• Ave Maria Foundation: Much larger ($100M+ assets), broad Catholic education scope
• K-12 Scholarship organizations (state-specific SGOs): Often larger pools but state-restricted
• Catholic Community Foundation: Local diocesan focus vs. Kremer's national scope
• Lilly Endowment: Funds Catholic education indirectly through broader religion programs

What distinguishes Kremer: (1) explicit tuition assistance focus (not capital, operating, or program grants), (2) school-as-intermediary model (schools apply, not families), (3) income substantiation requirement (means-tested), and (4) national continental US scope. This combination is rare among Catholic education funders of any size.

The 501(c)(3) supporting organization status means Kremer is technically not a private foundation — it supports specific public charities. This affects regulatory requirements (no private foundation excise tax, no minimum distribution requirement) but practically functions identically from an applicant's perspective.

The most significant recent milestone is the 2025 crossing of $100 million in cumulative grants since 1985. This figure was highlighted prominently on the foundation's website and represents 40 years of consistent focus on Catholic elementary school tuition assistance.

Key 2026 dates: - January 31, 2026: Deadline for non-participating schools to submit School Profile Applications to join the program - Early March 2026: Annual Advisory Board meeting - Early April 2026: Participating schools receive official application invitations - May 6, 2026: Deadline for participating school applications and student grant applications - Early September 2026: Grant checks mailed to schools

The foundation received the National Catholic Educational Association's St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award in 2008 for significant philanthropy to Catholic education — the organization's highest honor for philanthropic support.

The website (kremerfoundation.org) is active and professionally maintained, with detailed application timeline information, trustee profiles, and contact information. The foundation's reach now covers 370 schools across 124 dioceses.

1. Schools apply, not families. The Kremer Foundation only accepts applications from Catholic elementary schools on behalf of their students. Individual families, parents, or students cannot apply directly. If you are a family, contact your school's principal or development office about applying.

2. First-time schools: January 31 deadline is critical. New schools must submit the School Profile Application by January 31. Missing this deadline means waiting another full year. Start the process in November or December to allow time for gathering documentation.

3. Existing participating schools: May 6 is the hard deadline. Once you're in the program and receive your April invitation, the May 6 deadline is firm. Both the School Profile Application and all Student Grant Applications with income substantiation must be submitted by this date.

4. Income substantiation is required. Student applications must include "legitimate income substantiation" — typically recent tax returns, W-2s, or other documentation of family financial need. Schools should develop a system for collecting this before the application season.

5. Continental US Catholic elementary schools only. The Foundation specifically serves grades K-8 (elementary). High schools, middle schools operating independently, or schools in Hawaii/Alaska/territories appear to be outside scope based on the "continental United States" language.

6. Build a multi-year relationship. The two-tier system (non-participating vs. participating schools) is designed to create an ongoing program relationship. Once your school is in the program, the annual cycle continues — plan for multi-year participation, not one-time requests.

7. Contact before applying if uncertain. Given the January 31 deadline for new schools, call 239-261-2367 or email info@kremerfoundation.com in October-November to confirm eligibility and obtain the School Profile Application materials. The Foundation's website does not publish the application forms directly.

8. Leverage the NCEA award in your letter. The Foundation received the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award from the National Catholic Educational Association in 2008. Acknowledging shared values with NCEA's mission in your application letter demonstrates awareness of the Foundation's identity and values.