The Ken & Dean Kirn Foundation concentrates its giving on Southwestern Washington community needs, with large unrestricted gifts to a regional health system and the local community foundation alongside smaller donations to faith-based and youth social service providers. Their grants signal a preference for place-based, general operating support that strengthens healthcare access, community grantmaking, homelessness ministries, and youth services in the Vancouver/Cowlitz area.
Concentrated local giving with a small number of sizable, repeat gifts (two multi-grant recipients) supplemented by modest one-off donations to mission-driven social service organizations; grants are typically unrestricted/general operating support.
The Ken & Dean Kirn Foundation’s recent giving is marked by repeated $100,000 general-fund gifts to PeaceHealth Foundation in both 2023 and 2024, making health philanthropy the clearest anchor in its portfolio. The foundation also uses large unrestricted support for community institutions in Southwest Washington, including the Community Foundation of Sw WA and Day Break Youth Services, each receiving $30,000 grants tied to the general fund. Smaller gifts extend the pattern to local organizations such as Open House Ministries and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, both funded in Vancouver, Washington. The mix of grantees shows a consistent preference for general operating support rather than tightly restricted project grants. It also combines social service funding with support for community grantmaking and regional civic institutions. Across the recent grants listed, the foundation’s giving remains regionally oriented, with many awards staying in the Vancouver area and adjacent Pacific Northwest communities, while a smaller share reaches national policy and education organizations outside Washington.
In healthcare philanthropy, the foundation gave $100,000 in 2024 to PeaceHealth Foundation for the general fund, following the same amount in 2023. That recurring support stands out alongside gifts to local service providers. For youth and crisis-response services, Day Break Youth Services received $30,000 in 2024 and $10,000 in 2023, both as general-fund support. In homelessness and recovery work, Open House Ministries received a $30,000 general-fund grant in 2024. The foundation also supports local civic and cultural institutions: the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra received $25,000 in 2024 and $11,500 in 2023, showing repeated support over multiple years. Its place-based giving extends to community philanthropy through the Community Foundation of Sw WA, which received $30,000 in 2024 and $30,000 in 2023.
Typical grant size clusters around a median of $10,000, with a lower quartile of $3,750 and an upper quartile of $27,500. The recent list includes several repeat recipients across 2023 and 2024, including PeaceHealth Foundation, Day Break Youth Services, Community Foundation of Sw WA, and Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, which points to recurring support rather than one-off gifts. The foundation is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. Most awards are described as donations to the general fund, indicating broad operating support.
$310K
$3.9M
$955K
$323K
Most grants fall between $4K and $28K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$4K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$28K
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Notable grantees: PeaceHealth Foundation, Community Foundation of Southwest Washington, Open House Ministries, Day Break Youth Services
Grants are concentrated in the United States, with all 23 recent grants going to US recipients. Vancouver, Washington appears repeatedly across the list and is the main local center of giving, with recipients including Day Break Youth Services, Community Foundation of Sw WA, Open House Ministries, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Clark County Food Bank, and Free Clinics of Sw Washington. Outside Washington, the foundation also gave to organizations in Seattle, Astoria, Portland, and several national-policy locations such as Washington, DC, Brooklyn, and Reston. Virginia is the top state by grant count.
The recent grants show support for healthcare, youth services, homelessness ministries, community foundations, and local cultural or civic organizations. Examples include PeaceHealth Foundation, Day Break Youth Services, Open House Ministries, Community Foundation of Sw WA, and Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, all funded through general-fund donations.
Yes. Several recipients appear in both 2023 and 2024, including PeaceHealth Foundation at $100,000 in each year, Day Break Youth Services at $30,000 and $10,000, Community Foundation of Sw WA at $30,000 in both years, and Vancouver Symphony Orchestra at $25,000 and $11,500.
The grant-size distribution centers on a $10,000 median, with a $3,750 lower quartile and a $27,500 upper quartile. The recent list also includes larger general-fund gifts of $100,000 and many smaller awards in the $1,000 to $5,000 range.
Virginia is the top state by grant count, while 48% of grants go to recipients in Washington. The recipient list also includes organizations in Oregon, New York, Michigan, California, Florida, and Washington, DC, all within the US.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SW WA | VANCOUVER, WA | $186,000 | 2026 | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND |
| VANCOUVER SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | VANCOUVER, WA | $25,000 | 2026 | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND |
| COLUMBIA RIVER MARITIME MUSEUM | ASTORIA, OR | $25,000 | 2026 | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND |
| OPEN HOUSE MINISTRIES | VANCOUVER, WA | $10,000 | 2026 | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND |
| FREEDOM FOUNDATION | BROOKLYN, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND |
| PACIFIC LEGAL FOUNDATION | SACRAMENTO, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND |
| FREE CLINICS OF SW WASHINGTON | VANCOUVER, WA | $5,000 | 2026 | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND |
| YOUNG AMERICA'S FOUNDATION | RESTON, VA | $5,000 | 2026 | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND |
| THE HISTORIC TRUST | VANCOUVER, WA | $5,000 | 2026 | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND |
| CLARK COUNTY FOOD BANK | VANCOUVER, WA | $5,000 | 2026 | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND |
| JUDICIAL WATCH | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2026 | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND |
| TURNING POINT USA | PHOENIX, AZ | $5,000 | 2026 | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND |
| PORTLAND RESCUE MISSION | PORTLAND, OR | $5,000 | 2026 | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND |
| CONSERVATIVE PARTNERSHIP INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $3,000 | 2026 | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND |
| WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT | JACKSONVILLE, FL | $2,500 | 2026 | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND |
| THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $2,500 | 2026 | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND |
| CASCADE POLICY INSTITUTE | PORTLAND, OR | $2,000 | 2026 | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND |
| WORLD FORESTRY CENTER | PORTLAND, OR | $1,000 | 2026 | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND |
| ACCURACY IN MEDIA | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,000 | 2026 | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND |
| HUMANE SOCIETY OF SW WASHINGTON | VANCOUVER, WA | $1,000 | 2026 | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND |
| NEW AVENUES FOR YOUTH | PORTLAND, OR | $1,000 | 2026 | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SW WA | VANCOUVER, WA | $83,000 | 2025 | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND |
| VANCOUVER SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | VANCOUVER, WA | $50,000 | 2025 | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND |
| COLUMBIA RIVER MARITIME MUSEUM | ASTORIA, OR | $10,000 | 2025 | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND |
| FREEDOM FOUNDATION | BROOKLYN, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND |
| YOUNG AMERICA'S FOUNDATION | RESTON, VA | $5,000 | 2025 | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND |
| FREE CLINICS OF SW WASHINGTON | VANCOUVER, WA | $5,000 | 2025 | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND |
| PACIFIC LEGAL FOUNDATION | SACRAMENTO, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND |
| JUDICIAL WATCH | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2025 | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND |
| CONSERVATIVE PARTNERSHIP INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $3,000 | 2025 | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND |
| WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT | JACKSONVILLE, FL | $2,500 | 2025 | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND |
| THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $2,000 | 2025 | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND |
| CASCADE POLICY INSTITUTE | PORTLAND, OR | $1,000 | 2025 | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND |
| CLARK COUNTY FOOD BANK | VANCOUVER, WA | $1,000 | 2025 | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND |
| PEACEHEALTH FOUNDATION | SEATTLE, WA | $100,000 | 2024 | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND |
| OPEN HOUSE MINISTRIES | VANCOUVER, WA | $30,000 | 2024 | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SW WA | VANCOUVER, WA | $30,000 | 2024 | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND |
| DAY BREAK YOUTH SERVICES | VANCOUVER, WA | $30,000 | 2024 | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND |
| COLUMBIA RIVER MARITIME MUSEUM | ASTORIA, OR | $25,000 | 2024 | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND |
| VANCOUVER SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | VANCOUVER, WA | $25,000 | 2024 | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND |
| FREEDOM FOUNDATION | BROOKLYN, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND |
| FREE CLINICS OF SW WASHINGTON | VANCOUVER, WA | $5,000 | 2024 | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND |
| PEACEHEALTH FOUNDATION | SEATTLE, WA | $100,000 | 2023 | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SW WA | VANCOUVER, WA | $30,000 | 2023 | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND |
| HILLSDALE COLLEGE | HILLSDALE, MI | $25,000 | 2023 | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND |
| VANCOUVER SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | VANCOUVER, WA | $11,500 | 2023 | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND |
| DAY BREAK YOUTH SERVICES | VANCOUVER, WA | $10,000 | 2023 | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND |
| FREEDOM FOUNDATION | BROOKLYN, NY | $10,000 | 2023 | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND |
| YOUNG AMERICANS FOUNDATION | RESTON, VA | $5,000 | 2023 | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND |
| CLARK COUNTY FOOD BANK | VANCOUVER, WA | $5,000 | 2023 | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND |
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SW WA
$186,000DONATION TO GENERAL FUND
DONATION TO GENERAL FUND
FREE CLINICS OF SW WASHINGTON
$5,000DONATION TO GENERAL FUND
THE HISTORIC TRUST
$5,000DONATION TO GENERAL FUND
TURNING POINT USA
$5,000DONATION TO GENERAL FUND
PORTLAND RESCUE MISSION
$5,000DONATION TO GENERAL FUND
HUMANE SOCIETY OF SW WASHINGTON
$1,000DONATION TO GENERAL FUND
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SW WA
$83,000DONATION TO GENERAL FUND
FREE CLINICS OF SW WASHINGTON
$5,000DONATION TO GENERAL FUND
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SW WA
$30,000DONATION TO GENERAL FUND
FREE CLINICS OF SW WASHINGTON
$5,000DONATION TO GENERAL FUND
DAY BREAK YOUTH SERVICES
$10,000DONATION TO GENERAL FUND