The Kern Foundation Trust concentrates almost all of its giving on theosophical and spiritual/philosophical organizations, primarily supporting national and local Theosophical institutions. Grants are large and directed to a very small set of grantees that provide general operating or organizational support for theosophy-related activities and programming. This indicates a mission-focused funder committed to sustaining the infrastructure of theosophical study and outreach rather than broad, diversified philanthropy.
Highly concentrated: few, very large grants to a small number of repeat grantees; primarily general operating support rather than many small or one-off project grants.
Kern Foundation Trust directs nearly all of its giving to theosophical institutions, with repeated large general-support grants to The Theosophical Society in America across 2023, 2024, and 2025. That recurring pattern makes the funder easy to recognize: it supports a small set of organizations tied to theosophical study, service, and outreach, rather than spreading grants across many fields. The largest recent grants all sit in the same multi-hundred-thousand-dollar range, which points to a relationship-based, institution-sustaining style of philanthropy. The Theosophical Society in America is the clearest anchor in the portfolio, receiving the three largest grants on file, including $947,394 in 2023 and $938,985 in 2024. Another major recipient is Krotona Institute of Theosophy in Ojai, which also received substantial general support in multiple years. Smaller awards to The Theosophical Order of Service and The Theosophical Order of Service USA show that the trust also supports affiliated service organizations within the same philosophical community. Across the recent record, the foundation’s giving is narrow, recurring, and centered on maintaining the operating base of theosophical organizations.
A defining theme is support for theosophical institutions. In that area, Kern Foundation Trust gave $920,930 in 2025 to The Theosophical Society in America for general support, continuing a three-year sequence of major awards to the same organization. The trust also funds regional theosophy infrastructure. Krotona Institute of Theosophy in Ojai received $114,768 in 2024 for general support, following a $105,250 grant in 2023 and a $110,510 grant in 2025. A third strand is service-oriented theosophical programming. The Theosophical Order of Service received $18,380 in 2024 and $17,525 in 2023, while The Theosophical Order of Service USA received $15,000 in 2025, each designated for general support. The pattern suggests support for both educational institutions and affiliated service bodies within the same philosophical network.
Typical grants are large and clustered: the 25th percentile is $40,098, the median is $110,009, and the 75th percentile is $732,931. That distribution reflects a small number of major operating grants and a few smaller awards. The trust’s recent record also shows repeat giving to the same organizations over multiple years, especially The Theosophical Society in America and Krotona Institute of Theosophy. It does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. The grants shown are general, general support, or general operating support, indicating flexible institutional funding rather than project-specific awards.
$1M
$16.3M
$1M
$1.2M
Most grants fall between $40K and $733K, with a median of $110K.
25th Percentile
$40K
Median
$110K
75th Percentile
$733K
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Notable grantees: The Theosophical Society in America, Theosophical Society in America, Krotona Institute of Theosophy
Grantmaking is concentrated in Illinois, which accounts for 67% of grants, even though recipients also appear in California. Wheaton, Illinois is the main recipient city in the recent record, while Ojai, California appears as the other recurring location. All recent grants on file went to U.S. recipients, with no non-U.S. countries represented in the grant list. The pattern is regional in scope, but the recipient base is tightly centered on a few Illinois and California theosophical organizations.
The recent record centers on theosophical and spiritual-philosophical organizations. Major recipients include The Theosophical Society in America, Krotona Institute of Theosophy, and The Theosophical Order of Service, with grants described as general, general support, or general operating support.
Typical grant size is substantial. The 25th percentile is $40,098, the median is $110,009, and the 75th percentile is $732,931, showing a portfolio that includes both mid-sized awards and very large institutional grants.
Yes. The same organizations appear across multiple years, including The Theosophical Society in America in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and Krotona Institute of Theosophy in 2023, 2024, and 2025. The pattern is consistent with ongoing support rather than one-time funding.
Most grants go to Illinois recipients. The trust’s top state by grant count is IL, and 67% of grants are made to recipients in Illinois. Recent Illinois grantees are based in Wheaton.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY IN AMERICA | WHEATON, IL | $920,930 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| KROTONA INSTITUTE OF THEOSOPHY | OJAI, CA | $110,510 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE THEOSOPHICAL ORDER OF SERVICE USA | WHEATON, IL | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY IN AMERICA | WHEATON, IL | $938,985 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| KROTONA INSTITUTE OF THEOSOPHY | OJAI, CA | $114,768 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| THE THEOSOPHICAL ORDER OF SERVICE | WHEATON, IL | $18,380 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY IN AMERICA | WHEATON, IL | $947,394 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| KROTONA INSTITUTE OF THEOSOPHY | OJAI, CA | $105,250 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| THE THEOSOPHICAL ORDER OF SERVICE | WHEATON, IL | $17,525 | 2023 | GENERAL |
THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY IN AMERICA
$920,930GENERAL SUPPORT
KROTONA INSTITUTE OF THEOSOPHY
$110,510GENERAL SUPPORT
THE THEOSOPHICAL ORDER OF SERVICE USA
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT
KROTONA INSTITUTE OF THEOSOPHY
$114,768GENERAL
THE THEOSOPHICAL ORDER OF SERVICE
$18,380GENERAL
KROTONA INSTITUTE OF THEOSOPHY
$105,250GENERAL
THE THEOSOPHICAL ORDER OF SERVICE
$17,525GENERAL