The Kunes Family Foundation concentrates its giving on faith-based organizations and programs, funding local churches, ministry networks, and religious media alongside faith-driven hunger relief. Grants are large and purposeful, often unrestricted or designated for religious support and food-security programs, indicating a preference for organizations that combine ministry with community service. The foundation supports a small number of repeat grantees rather than a broad portfolio of recipients.
A defining feature of Kunes Family Foundation’s recent grantmaking is its concentration in faith-based organizations, paired with sizable support for ministry networks and Christian outreach. In 2025, the foundation awarded $550,000 to Timber-lee Ministries Inc for religious support, along with $320,000 to Eternal Word Ministries Corporation and $201,702 to Lakeland Community Church. Those grants sit alongside recurring support for groups that combine worship, outreach, and community service. The foundation also backs faith-linked hunger relief and broader charitable activity. Its recent portfolio includes two 2025 grants to Umoja / Trade in Hunger in Houston, one for community support and one for support for food banks, showing that food security is part of the giving profile rather than a separate sideline. Similar patterns appear in grants to Heroes of Faith Ministries Intl and Gospel Ministries, both of which received support for religious ministry and outreach. The foundation’s work reaches beyond churches alone, but religion remains the organizing thread across much of the portfolio. Repeat relationships are visible in the recent grants list, with several organizations appearing multiple times across years or within the same year. That pattern suggests a foundation that uses follow-on grants to sustain selected partners rather than spreading funds broadly across a large number of one-time recipients.
Faith-based ministry is the clearest throughline. The foundation gave $320,000 to Eternal Word Ministries Corporation for religious support, and also awarded Eternal Word another $206,000 as an unrestricted charitable grant in 2025. It granted $255,000 to Heroes of Faith Ministries Intl for support for religious ministry and outreach, plus another $158,000 for religious support. Christian youth and formation are another visible area. Lake Geneva Youth Camp received $102,000 for camping programs to promote Christian living and fellowship, while Timber-lee Ministries Inc received $293,228 as an unrestricted charitable grant in addition to its $550,000 religious-support grant. Education and community programming also appear in grants such as $150,000 to Delavan Aram Public Library Foundation Inc for educational support and $114,926 to Computer Skills and Training Center Inc for a local organization focusing on educating youth and elderly. The portfolio also reaches into health and low-income-neighborhood support, including $120,000 to Mayo Clinic for medical research and treatment and $126,791 to The Woodson Center for support programs for low-income neighborhoods.
$3M
$7M
$2.2M
$3.3M
Most grants fall between $500 and $7K, with a median of $2K.
25th Percentile
$500
Median
$2K
75th Percentile
$7K
Top 6 recipient countries by grant volume for Kunes Family Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 874 | $12.4M | 97.2% |
| 2 | Ukraine |
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Concentrated giving: few, large grants with repeats to the same organizations; mix of unrestricted operating support and program-specific funding focused on religious activity and faith-based service delivery.
Notable grantees: Timber-lee Ministries Inc, Lakeland Community Church, Umoja (Trade in Hunger), Eternal Word Ministries Corporation
Typical grants are small-to-moderate in size, with a p25 of $500, a median of $1,500, and a p75 of $6,660, even though the recent-grants list includes some much larger awards. The pattern points to a broad base of smaller gifts with select larger commitments. The foundation also shows clear repeat giving: Timber-lee Ministries Inc, Lakeland Community Church, Eternal Word Ministries Corporation, Heroes of Faith Ministries Intl, Gospel Ministries, Word Partners, and Lighthouse Full Gospel Church all appear more than once in the recent grants list. It operates a community grants program tied to Kunes Auto Group profits, and that program accepts unsolicited applications.
Grant recipients are heavily concentrated in Wisconsin, which accounts for 55% of grants, but the portfolio extends across the Midwest and beyond. Recent Wisconsin recipients include East Troy, Lake Geneva, Delavan, and Walworth. Other repeated recipient locations include Houston, Texas; Munster and Merrillville/Merryville, Indiana; Warrenton, Missouri; Palos Heights, Illinois; and Rochester, Minnesota. The country distribution is overwhelmingly U.S.-based, with 874 grants to U.S. recipients and smaller counts in UP, SL, and AS.
The foundation’s recent grants center on faith-based organizations: churches, ministry networks, and religious media. It also funds faith-linked hunger relief, food banks, Christian youth programming, educational support, and a smaller number of grants for medical research, low-income neighborhoods, and community organizations.
Its distribution is skewed toward small gifts, with a p25 of $500, a median of $1,500, and a p75 of $6,660. Recent grant amounts can be much larger, but those percentiles show that many awards are relatively modest.
Yes. Several recipients appear multiple times in the recent grants list, including Timber-lee Ministries Inc, Lakeland Community Church, Eternal Word Ministries Corporation, Heroes of Faith Ministries Intl, Gospel Ministries, Word Partners, and Lighthouse Full Gospel Church. That suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-time awards.
The foundation’s Community Grants program accepts unsolicited applications. It is described as a general grantmaking program that directs a portion of Kunes Auto Group profits to community initiatives, charities that help people in need, and mission work domestically and abroad.
Wisconsin receives 55% of grants, making it the top giving state. Recent recipient cities in the state include East Troy, Lake Geneva, Delavan, and Walworth, while grants also land in places such as Houston, Munster, Warrenton, Palos Heights, and Rochester.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
| 18 |
| $167K |
2.0% |
| 3 | United Kingdom | 3 | $26K | 0.3% |
| 4 | Sierra Leone | 2 | $10K | 0.2% |
| 5 | Australia | 1 | $10K | 0.1% |
| 6 | Austria | 1 | $10K | 0.1% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Current and upcoming funding from Kunes Family Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Requests are intended for charities and community initiatives. The page says applicants should first speak with someone in the Kunes Organization who can endorse the request; if that is not possible, requests may be emailed to the foundation.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TIMBER-LEE MINISTRIES INC | EAST TROY, WI | $550,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS SUPPORT |
| UMOJA (TRADE IN HUNGER) | HOUSTON, TX | $400,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| UMOJA - TRADE IN HUNGER | HOUSTON, TX | $399,500 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR FOOD BANKS |
| ETERNAL WORD MINISTRIES CORPORATION | DELAVAN, WI | $320,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS SUPPORT |
| TIMBER-LEE MINISTRIES INC | EAST TROY, WI | $293,228 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| ETERNAL WORD | DELAVAN, WI | $267,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS SUPPORT |
| HEROES OF FAITH MINISTRIES INTL | MERRRYVILLE, IN | $261,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| HEROES OF FAITH MINISTRIES INTL | MUNSTER, IN | $255,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR RELIGIOUS MINISTRY AND OUTREACH |
| GOSPEL MINISTRIES | WARRENTON, MO | $214,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR RELIGIOUS MINISTRY AND OUTREACH |
| ETERNAL WORD MINISTRIES CORPORATION | DELAVAN, WI | $206,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| LAKELAND COMMUNITY CHURCH | LAKE GENEVA, WI | $201,702 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS SUPPORT |
| HEROES OF FAITH MINISTRIES INTL | MERRYVILLE, IN | $158,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS SUPPORT |
| COMPUTER SKILLS AND TRAINING CENTER INC | GARY, IN | $155,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| DELAVAN ARAM PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION INC | DELAVAN, WI | $150,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT |
| PINEY WOODS SCHOOL | PINEY WOODS, MS | $138,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| LIGHTHOUSE FULL GOSPEL CHURCH | WALWORTH, WI | $128,644 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| LIGHTHOUSE FULL GOSPEL CHURCH | WALWORTH, WI | $126,004 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS SUPPORT |
| WORDPARTNERS | PALOS HEIGHTS, IL | $121,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES |
| LIGHTHOUSE FULL GOSPEL CHURCH | WALWORTH, WI | $120,820 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS SUPPORT |
| MT ZION CHRISTIAN CHURCH | LAKE GENEVA, WI | $109,617 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS SUPPORT |
| PINEY WOODS SCHOOL | PINEY WOODS, MS | $100,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS SUPPORT |
| WORD PARTNERS | PALOS HEIGHTS, IL | $100,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS SUPPORT |
| THE WOODSON CENTER | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| MISERICORDIA FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $100,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| GOSPEL MINISTRIES | WARRENTON, MO | $100,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS SUPPORT |
| LONNIE JARVIS MINISTRIES | MERRILLVILLE, IN | $89,500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| BLAZING TREES | NASHVILLE, TN | $88,137 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| CHRISTIAN LIFE CHURCH | DELAVAN, WI | $88,020 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| CHRISTIAN LIFE CHURCH | DELAVAN, WI | $83,800 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS SUPPORT |
| IMPACT MINISTRIES | LONSDALE, MN | $82,500 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR RELIGIOUS MINISTRY AND OUTREACH |
| JACK HARRIS MINISTRIES INC DBA GLOBAL MESSENGER SERVICE | FENTON, MO | $79,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| CHRISTIAN LIFE CHURCH | DELAVAN, WI | $78,125 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS SUPPORT |
| BLAZING TREES | NASHVILLE, TN | $74,280 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS SUPPORT |
| GOSPEL MINISTRIES | WARRENTON, MO | $74,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| BLAZING TREES | LAKE GENEVA, WI | $73,275 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS SUPPORT |
| IMPACT MINISTRIES | LONSDALE, MN | $73,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS SUPPORT |
| COMPUTER SKILLS AND TRAINING CENTER INC | GARY, IN | $72,200 | 2025 | SUPPORT LOCAL ORGANIZATION THAT FOCUSES ON EDUCATING YOUTH AND ELDERLY |
| LONNIE JARVIS MINISTRIES | MERRILLVILLE, IN | $67,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS SUPPORT |
| LIBERTY CHRISTIAN CHURCH | LIBERTY, IL | $59,340 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS SUPPORT |
| LAKE GENEVA YOUTH CAMP | LAKE GENEVA, WI | $55,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS SUPPORT |
| LIBERTY CHRISTIAN CHURCH | LIBERTY, IL | $52,410 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITY EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH | SHULLSGURG, WI | $50,984 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| MAYO CLINIC | ROCHESTER, MN | $50,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH AND TREATMENT |
| DELAVAN ARAM PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION INC | DELAVAN, WI | $50,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| I LIKE GIVING | COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | $50,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| THE WOODSON CENTER | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT PROGRAMS FOR LOW-INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS |
| LEADERSHIP RESOURCES INTERNATIONAL | PALOS HEIGHTS, IL | $50,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| IMPACT MINISTRIES | LONSDALE, MN | $50,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| CHRISTIAN LIFE CHURCH - ELKHORN | LAKE MARY, FL | $50,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS SUPPORT |
| DELAVAN ARAM PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION INC | DELAVAN, WI | $50,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
TIMBER-LEE MINISTRIES INC
$550,000RELIGIOUS SUPPORT
UMOJA (TRADE IN HUNGER)
$400,000COMMUNITY SUPPORT
UMOJA - TRADE IN HUNGER
$399,500SUPPORT FOR FOOD BANKS
ETERNAL WORD MINISTRIES CORPORATION
$320,000RELIGIOUS SUPPORT
TIMBER-LEE MINISTRIES INC
$293,228UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
ETERNAL WORD
$267,000RELIGIOUS SUPPORT
HEROES OF FAITH MINISTRIES INTL
$261,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
HEROES OF FAITH MINISTRIES INTL
$255,000SUPPORT FOR RELIGIOUS MINISTRY AND OUTREACH
GOSPEL MINISTRIES
$214,000SUPPORT FOR RELIGIOUS MINISTRY AND OUTREACH
ETERNAL WORD MINISTRIES CORPORATION
$206,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
LAKELAND COMMUNITY CHURCH
$201,702RELIGIOUS SUPPORT
HEROES OF FAITH MINISTRIES INTL
$158,000RELIGIOUS SUPPORT
COMPUTER SKILLS AND TRAINING CENTER INC
$155,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
DELAVAN ARAM PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION INC
$150,000EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT
LIGHTHOUSE FULL GOSPEL CHURCH
$128,644UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
LIGHTHOUSE FULL GOSPEL CHURCH
$126,004RELIGIOUS SUPPORT
WORDPARTNERS
$121,000SUPPORT FOR ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
LIGHTHOUSE FULL GOSPEL CHURCH
$120,820RELIGIOUS SUPPORT
MT ZION CHRISTIAN CHURCH
$109,617RELIGIOUS SUPPORT
WORD PARTNERS
$100,000RELIGIOUS SUPPORT
GOSPEL MINISTRIES
$100,000RELIGIOUS SUPPORT
LONNIE JARVIS MINISTRIES
$89,500UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
BLAZING TREES
$88,137UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
CHRISTIAN LIFE CHURCH
$88,020UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
CHRISTIAN LIFE CHURCH
$83,800RELIGIOUS SUPPORT
IMPACT MINISTRIES
$82,500SUPPORT FOR RELIGIOUS MINISTRY AND OUTREACH
JACK HARRIS MINISTRIES INC DBA GLOBAL MESSENGER SERVICE
$79,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
CHRISTIAN LIFE CHURCH
$78,125RELIGIOUS SUPPORT
BLAZING TREES
$74,280RELIGIOUS SUPPORT
GOSPEL MINISTRIES
$74,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
BLAZING TREES
$73,275RELIGIOUS SUPPORT
IMPACT MINISTRIES
$73,000RELIGIOUS SUPPORT
COMPUTER SKILLS AND TRAINING CENTER INC
$72,200SUPPORT LOCAL ORGANIZATION THAT FOCUSES ON EDUCATING YOUTH AND ELDERLY
LONNIE JARVIS MINISTRIES
$67,000RELIGIOUS SUPPORT
LIBERTY CHRISTIAN CHURCH
$59,340RELIGIOUS SUPPORT
LAKE GENEVA YOUTH CAMP
$55,000RELIGIOUS SUPPORT
LIBERTY CHRISTIAN CHURCH
$52,410RELIGIOUS SUPPORT
COMMUNITY EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH
$50,984UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
MAYO CLINIC
$50,000SUPPORT FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH AND TREATMENT
DELAVAN ARAM PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION INC
$50,000COMMUNITY SUPPORT
I LIKE GIVING
$50,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
IMPACT MINISTRIES
$50,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
CHRISTIAN LIFE CHURCH - ELKHORN
$50,000RELIGIOUS SUPPORT
DELAVAN ARAM PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION INC
$50,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT