The Denise and Michael Kellen Foundation concentrates large, unrestricted gifts to a small number of established institutions, with a clear emphasis on higher education and biomedical/clinical research and care. Major recipients are prestigious universities and hospitals, plus a significant investment in veterinary medicine and cancer research. Grants are typically general operating support to well-known institutions in the Northeast and national research communities.
Concentrated, high-dollar giving: few grants but very large amounts, often unrestricted/GENERAL FUND; repeat support to select institutions rather than many small grantees.
A $10.1 million general-fund grant to Wellesley College stands out as the foundation’s largest recent gift and signals its pattern of making very large, flexible awards to established institutions. Denise and Michael Kellen Foundation Inc. gives at a scale of $27.36 million annually, with a recent record built around major universities, hospitals, and research organizations rather than many small awards. The foundation’s recent support includes repeated seven-figure commitments to Animal Medical Center, Rockefeller University, and Wellesley College, alongside substantial backing for clinical care and biomedical work at New York institutions. General-fund language appears throughout the recent grants list, and that emphasis on unrestricted support is consistent with its profile as a funder of operating capacity for selected organizations. The foundation also extends beyond higher education and laboratory research into hospital care, veterinary medicine, and cancer research. Recent awards to Vassar Brothers Hospital, Silver Hill Hospital, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center show a grantmaking approach that supports both care delivery and research infrastructure. Its recipient set is concentrated, but the institutions it backs are large, established, and often repeat beneficiaries.
Higher education is one of the foundation’s clearest themes. It awarded $10.1 million to Wellesley College for general fund support, and it also gave $1 million to Wellesley College in 2024, indicating repeated backing for the same institution. Biomedical research is another major area: Rockefeller University received $1 million in 2025 and $350,000 in 2024, both as general fund grants. Clinical and hospital support also appears in the recent grants, including $500,000 to Vassar Brothers Hospital and $200,000 to Silver Hill Hospital in 2024. The foundation’s veterinary interest is visible in its support for Animal Medical Center, with grants of $2.5 million in 2023, $1.25 million in 2024, and $1.25 million in 2025. Cancer research is represented by a $350,000 grant to Melanoma Research Alliance Foundation.
The typical grant size is substantial: the p25 is $81,250, the median is $112,500, and the p75 is $250,000. That distribution sits alongside a small number of very large awards, including seven-figure gifts and multi-year support for some recipients. The recent list shows repeat grants to the same organizations across multiple years, especially Animal Medical Center, Rockefeller University, Wellesley College, Act of Connecticut, and Chapel & York Foundation. Most grants are labeled general fund, which points to flexible operating support rather than tightly restricted project-only funding. The foundation is a corporate or independent grantmaker rather than an individual-giving vehicle, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments.
$18M
$624.7M
$55.1M
$23M
Most grants fall between $81K and $250K, with a median of $113K.
25th Percentile
$81K
Median
$113K
75th Percentile
$250K
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Notable grantees: Wellesley College, The Joan and Sanford I. Weill (medical/educational philanthropy), Animal Medical Center, Rockefeller University, Vassar Brothers Hospital
Grantmaking is concentrated in the Northeast. New York recipients appear most often, and 60% of grants in the dataset go to organizations in the HQ state of New York. Within New York, grants land in New York City, Poughkeepsie, and New Canaan nearby in Connecticut. Outside New York, other recipient cities include Wellesley, Ridgefield, Los Angeles, Santa Rosa, Washington, and Covington. All listed grants in the recent sample go to U.S. recipients.
The recent grants focus on established institutions in higher education, biomedical research, hospital care, veterinary medicine, and cancer research. Examples in the list include colleges, research universities, hospitals, and specialized medical organizations, usually receiving general fund support.
The foundation’s grant sizes are relatively large. In the data provided, the 25th percentile is $81,250, the median is $112,500, and the 75th percentile is $250,000. The recent list also includes several seven-figure grants.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including Animal Medical Center, Rockefeller University, Wellesley College, Act of Connecticut, and Chapel & York Foundation. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-time awards.
New York is the top state by grant count, with 60% of grants going to recipients in that state. Recent New York recipients include organizations in New York City, Poughkeepsie, and New Canaan nearby in Connecticut.
Most of the recent grants are described as general fund awards. That includes major gifts to Wellesley College, Animal Medical Center, Rockefeller University, and several other recipients, which indicates a preference for flexible support.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WELLESLEY COLLEGE | WELLESLEY, MA | $10,100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| THE JOAN AND SANFORD I WEILL | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| ANIMAL MEDICAL CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $1,250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| SILVER HILL HOSPITAL | NEW CANAAN, CT | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| ACT OF CONNECTICUT | RIDGEFIELD, CT | $140,765 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| CHAPEL & YORK FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $127,500 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| HOSPITAL FOR SPECIAL SURGERY | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| CHABAD OF ICELAND INC | BROOKLYN, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| RIDGEFIELD CONSERVATORY OF DANCE | RIDGEFIELD, CT | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| RIDGEFIELD LIBRARY ASSOCIATION | RIDGEFIELD, CT | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| THE NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY | NEW YORK, NY | $7,500 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| GLEN ROCK BOOSTER CLUB | GLEN ROCK, NJ | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| ANIMAL MEDICAL CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $1,250,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| WELLESLEY COLLEGE | WELLESLEY, MA | $1,000,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $350,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| ACT OF CONNECTICUT | RIDGEFIELD, CT | $250,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| SILVER HILL HOSPITAL | NEW CANAAN, CT | $200,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| COHME INC | NEW YORK, NY | $200,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| NEW YORK REP | NEW YORK, NY | $145,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| CHAPEL & YORK FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $127,500 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| MANHATTAN CHILDRENS CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| HOT BREAD KITCHEN | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| FIDELITY CHARITABLE | COVINGTON, KY | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| RIDGEFIELD CONSERVATORY OF DANCE | RIDGEFIELD, CT | $75,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| HOSPITAL FOR SPECIAL SURGERY | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| WOODSTOCK FARM ANIMAL SANCTUARY | HIGH FALLS, NY | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY | NEW YORK, NY | $14,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| TELFAIR MUSEUM OF ART INC | SAVANNAH, GA | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| GLEN ROCK BOOSTER CLUB | GLEN ROCK, NJ | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| WOLF CONSERVATION CENTER | SOUTH SALEM, NY | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| ANIMAL MEDICAL CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $2,500,000 | 2023 | GENERAL FUND |
| WELLESLEY COLLEGE | WELLESLEY, MA | $1,000,000 | 2023 | GENERAL FUND |
| VASSAR BROTHERS HOSPITAL | POUGHKEEPSIE, NY | $500,000 | 2023 | GENERAL FUND |
| MELANOMA RESEARCH ALLIANCE FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $350,000 | 2023 | GENERAL FUND |
| ACT OF CONNECTICUT | RIDGEFIELD, CT | $250,000 | 2023 | GENERAL FUND |
| CHAPEL & YORK FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $127,500 | 2023 | GENERAL FUND |
| INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY ASSOCIATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $125,000 | 2023 | GENERAL FUND |
| ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL FUND |
| MEMORIAL SLOANKETTERING CANCER CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL FUND |
| INQUIRING SYSTEMS INC | SANTA ROSA, CA | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL FUND |
| WEILL MEDICAL COLLEGE | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL FUND |
| FRIENDS OF THE UNITED HATZALAH | NEW YORK, NY | $72,000 | 2023 | GENERAL FUND |
WELLESLEY COLLEGE
$10,100,000GENERAL FUND
THE JOAN AND SANFORD I WEILL
$5,000,000GENERAL FUND
GENERAL FUND
CHAPEL & YORK FOUNDATION
$127,500GENERAL FUND
CHABAD OF ICELAND INC
$50,000GENERAL FUND
RIDGEFIELD CONSERVATORY OF DANCE
$10,000GENERAL FUND
RIDGEFIELD LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
$10,000GENERAL FUND
THE NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$7,500GENERAL FUND
GLEN ROCK BOOSTER CLUB
$5,000GENERAL FUND
WELLESLEY COLLEGE
$1,000,000GENERAL FUND
COHME INC
$200,000GENERAL FUND
NEW YORK REP
$145,000GENERAL FUND
MANHATTAN CHILDRENS CENTER
$100,000GENERAL FUND
HOT BREAD KITCHEN
$100,000GENERAL FUND
RIDGEFIELD CONSERVATORY OF DANCE
$75,000GENERAL FUND
GLEN ROCK BOOSTER CLUB
$5,000GENERAL FUND
WELLESLEY COLLEGE
$1,000,000GENERAL FUND
MEMORIAL SLOANKETTERING CANCER CENTER
$100,000GENERAL FUND
WEILL MEDICAL COLLEGE
$100,000GENERAL FUND