//
Work at this foundation?
Claim this profile to manage it and see interest from grant seekers.
Kresa Family Foundation is a private corporation based in PENNINGTON, NJ. The foundation received its IRS ruling in 2005. The principal officer is Kiren Kresa-Reahl. It holds total assets of $14.3M. Annual income is reported at $8.7M. Total assets have grown from $5.2M in 2011 to $11.1M in 2023. The foundation is governed by 2 officers and trustees. Tax records are available from 2018 to 2023. The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, Massachusetts and PR. According to available records, Kresa Family Foundation has made 36 grants totaling $3.3M, with a median grant of $20K. The foundation has distributed between $697K and $1.3M annually from 2020 to 2022. Individual grants have ranged from $1K to $556K, with an average award of $91K. The foundation has supported 20 unique organizations. The foundation primarily supports organizations in California, Massachusetts, Oregon, which account for 86% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 7 states. Contributions to this foundation are tax-deductible.
The Kresa Family Foundation is a private foundation (EIN 20-2890253) based in Pennington, NJ, established in 2005 by Kent Kresa, the former CEO and Chairman of Northrop Grumman Corporation. Kresa transformed Northrop Grumman from a $5 billion company to a $28 billion defense giant through 16 acquisitions before retiring in 2003. The foundation is managed by Kresa (President, 1 hr/week) and his daughter Dr. Kiren Kresa-Reahl, MD (Secretary, 1 hr/week), both unpaid. The foundation exclusively supports preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Its giving is concentrated on elite educational institutions (MIT, Caltech, Wellesley), science and aerospace organizations, and select cultural/civic causes. The Kresa family's philanthropy extends well beyond this foundation — Kent Kresa personally gave $25 million to the California Science Center and $50 million jointly with Lynn Booth to Caltech.
In fiscal year 2024, the foundation distributed $655,992 across 7 grants, with a grant range of $5,000 to $250,000 and a median grant of approximately $55,000. Top 2024 recipients: MIT ($250,000), California Institute of Technology ($240,000 for Center for Autonomous Systems research), Wellesley College ($92,000), Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation ($17,500), UC Regents ($8,700), and Keep Bel Air Beautiful ($5,000). The foundation has made 21 grants over the past three years, concentrated in California and Massachusetts. Revenue in 2024 was $4.24 million, including $3.17 million in new contributions (suggesting ongoing personal funding by Kent Kresa), $516K in dividends, and $551K from asset sales. Total assets are $14.3 million with zero liabilities.
| Foundation | Location | Assets | Annual Giving | Grants/Year | Focus Areas |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kresa Family Foundation | Pennington, NJ | $14.3M | $656K | 7 | Education, Aerospace, Cultural |
| Otis Booth Foundation | Los Angeles, CA | ~$200M | ~$15M | 30+ | Education, Science, Healthcare |
| Haynes Foundation | Los Angeles, CA | ~$120M | ~$5M | 20+ | Social Science Research, Public Policy |
| David & Lucile Packard Foundation | Los Altos, CA | ~$8B | ~$400M | 1000+ | Science, Environment, Education |
| Arnold & Mabel Beckman Foundation | Irvine, CA | ~$600M | ~$20M | 50+ | Science, Education, Research |
The Kresa Family Foundation operates at a modest scale relative to other aerospace/defense executive philanthropies, with a 4.6% payout rate near the IRS minimum. However, the Kresa family's total philanthropic footprint — including the $25M California Science Center gift and $50M joint Caltech gift — dwarfs the foundation's 990 filings. The foundation functions as a vehicle for structured annual giving alongside larger personal gifts.
Assets grew from $5.2 million in 2011 to $14.3 million in 2024, with a notable $6.9 million contribution spike in 2013. The foundation continues to receive substantial new contributions ($3.17M in 2024), indicating Kent Kresa actively funds the foundation. Annual charitable disbursements range from $400K to $1.3M. The 2024 filing shows expenses of $737K against revenue of $4.24M, resulting in net asset growth. The foundation's books are in care of Bank of America. Kent Kresa serves as Chair Emeritus of the Caltech Board of Trustees and is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. The registered website (kresa.org) resolves to Kalamazoo RESA, an unrelated Michigan education agency.
The foundation explicitly states it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. This means: (1) Cold applications will not be considered. (2) The grantee portfolio is stable and relationship-driven, centered on Caltech, MIT, and Wellesley. (3) Organizations seeking support should cultivate relationships through Kent Kresa's board affiliations (Caltech trustee, various corporate boards) rather than direct foundation contact. (4) The Kresa family's interests center on STEM education, aerospace heritage, and elite research universities. (5) Cultural and civic organizations in the Bel Air/Los Angeles area have received smaller grants. (6) For organizations within the existing portfolio, grants are recurring and substantial.
Create a free Granted account to download this report — includes application checklist, full financial data, and all grantees.
Already have an account? Sign in to download.
Smallest Grant
$1K
Median Grant
$51K
Average Grant
$87K
Largest Grant
$240K
Based on 8 grants from the most recent 990-PF filing.
No program descriptions are available for this foundation. Many private foundations report program activities in their annual 990-PF filings — check the Tax Filings section below for the most recent filing.
In fiscal year 2024, the foundation distributed $655,992 across 7 grants, with a grant range of $5,000 to $250,000 and a median grant of approximately $55,000. Top 2024 recipients: MIT ($250,000), California Institute of Technology ($240,000 for Center for Autonomous Systems research), Wellesley College ($92,000), Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation ($17,500), UC Regents ($8,700), and Keep Bel Air Beautiful ($5,000). The foundation has made 21 grants over the past three years, concentrated in .
Kresa Family Foundation has distributed a total of $3.3M across 36 grants. The median grant size is $20K, with an average of $91K. Individual grants have ranged from $1K to $556K.
The Kresa Family Foundation is a private foundation (EIN 20-2890253) based in Pennington, NJ, established in 2005 by Kent Kresa, the former CEO and Chairman of Northrop Grumman Corporation. Kresa transformed Northrop Grumman from a $5 billion company to a $28 billion defense giant through 16 acquisitions before retiring in 2003. The foundation is managed by Kresa (President, 1 hr/week) and his daughter Dr. Kiren Kresa-Reahl, MD (Secretary, 1 hr/week), both unpaid. The foundation exclusively supp.
Kresa Family Foundation is headquartered in PENNINGTON, NJ. While based in NJ, the foundation distributes grants to organizations across 7 states.
| Name | Title | Compensation | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dr Kiren Kresa-Reahl Md | SECRETARY | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Kent Kresa | PRESIDENT | $0 | $0 | N/A |
Total Giving
$799K
Total Assets
$11.1M
Fair Market Value
$11.9M
Net Worth
$11.1M
Grants Paid
$688K
Contributions
N/A
Net Investment Income
$646K
Distribution Amount
$573K
Total: $1000K
Total Grants
36
Total Giving
$3.3M
Average Grant
$91K
Median Grant
$20K
Unique Recipients
20
Most Common Grant
$240K
of 2022 grantees were first-time recipients
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| California Institute OfUNRESTRICTED GENERAL | Pasadena, CA | $556K | 2020 |
| California Institute Of TechnologyCENTER FOR AUTONOMOUS | Pasadena, CA | $253K | 2022 |
| Massachusetts Institute Of TechnologyUNRESTRICTED GENERAL | Boston, MA | $240K | 2022 |
| Wellesley CollegeUNRESTRICTED GENERAL | Wellesley, MA | $92K | 2022 |
| Petersen Automotive Museum FdnUNRESTRICTED GENERAL | Los Angeles, CA | $30K | 2022 |
| Pacific Council On International PolicyUNRESTRICTED GENERAL | Los Angeles, CA | $11K | 2022 |
| Los Angeles Opera CompanyUNRESTRICTED GENERAL | Los Angeles, CA | $11K | 2022 |
| Regents University Of California - LaUNRESTRICTED GENERAL | Los Angeles, CA | $9K | 2022 |
| Steamboat InstituteUNRESTRICTED GENERAL | Steamboat Springs, CO | $5K | 2022 |
| Prager University FoundationUNRESTRICTED GENERAL | Sherman Oaks, CA | $100K | 2021 |
| Western Museum Of FlightUNRESTRICTED GENERAL | Torrance, CA | $10K | 2021 |
| Boys & Girls Clubs Of Puerto RicoUNRESTRICTED GENERAL | San Juan, PR | $5K | 2021 |
| Connecting Cultures Mobile MuseumUNRESTRICTED GENERAL | Los Angeles, CA | $1K | 2021 |
| Booth-Kresa Leadership Chair CitCENTER FOR AUTONOMOUS | Pasadena, CA | $240K | 2020 |
| Providence St Vincent Medical FdnUNRESTRICTED GENERAL | Portland, OR | $70K | 2020 |
| Herbie Hancock Institute Of JazzUNRESTRICTED GENERAL | Washington, DC | $25K | 2020 |
| Unicef UsaUNRESTRICTED GENERAL | New York, NY | $13K | 2020 |
| United Friends Of The ChildrenUNRESTRICTED GENERAL | Los Angeles, CA | $13K | 2020 |
| La Master ChoraleUNRESTRICTED GENERAL | Los Angeles, CA | $5K | 2020 |
| Connecting Cultures Mobil MuseumUNRESTRICTED GENERAL | Los Angeles, CA | $1K | 2020 |