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The Kern Family Foundation

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uuid000k5wu

Namestring
The Kern Family Foundation
Legal namestring
The Kern Family Foundation
Websiteurl
kffdn.org
Company typeenum
Private
Founded yearint
1998
Descriptiontext

The Kern Family Foundation is a private, non-operating philanthropic foundation established in 1998 by Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern, the founders of Generac Power Systems. It is headquartered in Waukesha, Wisconsin, and operates with a small staff of 1-10 employees. The foundation's stated mission is to empower the rising generation of Americans to build flourishing lives anchored in strong character, inspired by quality education, driven by an entrepreneurial mindset, and guided by the desire to create value for others.

The foundation pursues initiatives with long-term, systemic impact in the areas of character development, educational quality, and entrepreneurial mindset cultivation. It does not accept unsolicited proposals, indicating that grant-making is directed proactively by the foundation rather than through an open application process. The foundation's operating geography is the United States. Contact is managed through a single email address, [email protected], and its public-facing presence is limited to its website (kffdn.org).

There are no commercial products, services, or technology platforms associated with the foundation. It does not generate revenue through pricing or sales; its activity is funded by the Kern family's private endowment, the size of which is not publicly disclosed. As a result, no revenue model, go-to-market motion, pricing structure, or customer segmentation in the commercial sense applies to this entity.

Short descriptiontext

The Kern Family Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation established in 1998 by the founders of Generac Power Systems. It funds long-term, systemic initiatives in the United States focused on character, quality education, entrepreneurial mindset, and value creation for the rising generation of Americans.

Operating statusenum
Operating
Ownership categoryenum
Headcount rangeband
1–10
akta.pro rankint
HeadquartersWaukesha, United States
HQ citystring
Waukesha
HQ countrystring
United States
HQ regionstring
North America
Markets served

Serves global market

Keyword5 values
philanthropic grantmaking, youth development programs, education grant funding, character education initiatives, entrepreneurship education grants
Industry3 codes
1Private Foundations
CodeBPAGAKAAPrimaryYes
2Family Offices & Philanthropic Advisors (Grantmaking)
CodeBPAGAKADPrimaryNo
3Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts
CodeEDADAHACPrimaryNo
NAICS code2 codes
  • Grantmaking Foundations813211
  • Grantmaking and Giving Services81321
Product category
Philanthropic Foundation
No data
Cost components3 values
Personnel, Operations, Others
GTM typeB2B
B2B
Offering typeServices
Services
Core offering1 text field

The Kern Family Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation that provides grant funding for long-term, systemic initiatives focused on empowering the rising generation of Americans. Its core areas of investment are strong character development, quality education, entrepreneurial mindset cultivation, and creating value for others. The foundation does not sell products or services; it selectively identifies, funds, and supports organizations and programs aligned with these four pillars.

Differentiator
Functional benefit
Problem solved
Product overview1 text field

The Kern Family Foundation is a philanthropic organization, not a technology product company. It operates as a charitable foundation focused on empowering the rising generation of Americans through initiatives anchored in strong character, quality education, an entrepreneurial mindset, and creating value for others. The foundation does not offer commercial products or technology services; rather, it funds and supports long-term, systemic initiatives in education and youth development. As such, there are no discrete product modules, SaaS offerings, or technology platforms to enumerate.

Product and service4 records
1Character Development Grant Funding
CategoryYouth Character Development
2Quality Education Grant Funding
CategoryEducation Philanthropy
3Entrepreneurial Mindset Grant Funding
CategoryEntrepreneurship Education
4Creating Value for Others Grant Funding
CategoryCommunity Value Creation
Scale indicator1 record

Each record includes

Type, Value, Description, Source

Recent move1 record

Each record includes

Date, Type, Title, Description, Source

Peers9 records
TypeBroad incumbent
Description

Large private foundation focused on post-secondary quality education and equitable outcomes, a broader-incumbent peer operating in the quality-education space KFF targets.

TypeEmerging player
Description

Nonprofit promoting character development in schools through national recognition programs, a thematic peer overlapping KFF's strong-character pillar at the practitioner level.

TypeDirect peer
Description

Private Kansas City-based foundation focused on entrepreneurship education and research, directly comparable to KFF's entrepreneurial-mindset pillar for the rising generation.

TypeDirect peer
Description

Family-led foundation funding systemic K-12 education reform and character development initiatives, closely mirroring KFF's quality education and character pillars.

5Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation
TypeDirect peer
Description

Wisconsin-based family foundation funding K-12 reform, civic education, and character development, closely aligned with KFF's Wisconsin roots and education mission.

TypeBroad incumbent
Description

Mega-foundation funding large-scale US K-12 and post-secondary education reform, sharing the systemic-impact education lens but operating at vastly greater scale.

TypeDirect peer
Description

Fellowship and education-focused foundation promoting entrepreneurship among young people, closely aligned with KFF's mission to cultivate entrepreneurial mindsets in the rising generation.

TypeDirect peer
Description

Private foundation funding research and programs on character, virtue, and human flourishing; overlaps directly with KFF's strong-character and flourishing-lives focus.

TypeDirect peer
Description

Family foundation emphasizing character and ethics education, scholarships, and youth development programs comparable to KFF's character and education pillars.

Market position
Strengths4 records

Each record includes

Headline, Details, Source

Weaknesses4 records

Each record includes

Headline, Details, Source

Competitive moat2 records

Each record includes

Type, Details

Key risks4 records

Each record includes

Headline, Details, Source

Key highlights5 records

Each record includes

Headline, Details, Source

Customer concentration

Classification, Details

Segment1 record

Each record includes

Title, Type, Primary, Description, Pain point addressed, Use case, Source

Ideal customer profile1 record

Each record includes

Profile, Firmographic size, Sales motion, Sales cycle length, Buying structure, Purchase trigger, Buyer persona, Geography, Industry vertical, Primary use case, Description, Pain points, Evidence proof points, Target buyer

Technology focused
No
API detail
Has APIbool
No

Docs URL, Description

AI maturity
App detail

Has app

Core technology
Revenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Number of profiles
No data
No data
Funding overview

Funding stage, Last funding date, Total funding USD

Funding rounds

Each record includes

Round, Amount USD, Date, Pre money valuation, Total investors, Investors, News

Investors

Each record includes

Name, Type, Date of entry, Rounds participated, Website

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Each record includes

Name, Acquisition type, Announced date, Completed date, Status, Website, News

Investment

Each record includes

Name, Round, Announced date, Lead investor, Website, News

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

The Kern Family Foundation

Philanthropic Foundationkffdn.org

The Kern Family Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation established in 1998 by the founders of Generac Power Systems. It funds long-term, systemic initiatives in the United States focused on character, quality education, entrepreneurial mindset, and value creation for the rising generation of Americans.

What The Kern Family Foundation does

The Kern Family Foundation is a private, non-operating philanthropic foundation established in 1998 by Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern, the founders of Generac Power Systems. It is headquartered in Waukesha, Wisconsin, and operates with a small staff of 1-10 employees. The foundation's stated mission is to empower the rising generation of Americans to build flourishing lives anchored in strong character, inspired by quality education, driven by an entrepreneurial mindset, and guided by the desire to create value for others.

The foundation pursues initiatives with long-term, systemic impact in the areas of character development, educational quality, and entrepreneurial mindset cultivation. It does not accept unsolicited proposals, indicating that grant-making is directed proactively by the foundation rather than through an open application process. The foundation's operating geography is the United States. Contact is managed through a single email address, [email protected], and its public-facing presence is limited to its website (kffdn.org).

There are no commercial products, services, or technology platforms associated with the foundation. It does not generate revenue through pricing or sales; its activity is funded by the Kern family's private endowment, the size of which is not publicly disclosed. As a result, no revenue model, go-to-market motion, pricing structure, or customer segmentation in the commercial sense applies to this entity.

The Kern Family Foundation firmographics

Firmographics
Name
The Kern Family Foundation
Legal name
The Kern Family Foundation
Website
https://kffdn.org
Company type
Private
Founded year
1998
Operating status
Operating
Headcount range
1–10 employees
Short description
The Kern Family Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation established in 1998 by the founders of Generac Power Systems. It funds long-term, systemic initiatives in the United States focused on character, quality education, entrepreneurial mindset, and value creation for the rising generation of Americans.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

The Kern Family Foundation industry classification

Industry
Product category
Philanthropic Foundation
NAICS
Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)
akta.pro primary industry
Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)
akta.pro secondary industries
Family Offices & Philanthropic Advisors (Grantmaking) (BPAGAKAD), Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)

Keywords

  • Philanthropic grantmaking
  • Youth development programs
  • Education grant funding
  • Character education initiatives
  • Entrepreneurship education grants

Where The Kern Family Foundation is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city
Waukesha
HQ country
United States
HQ region
North America

Markets served

The Kern Family Foundation business model

Business model
GTM type
B2B
Offering type
Services
Cost components
Personnel, Operations, Others

The Kern Family Foundation product offering

Product offering

Core offering

The Kern Family Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation that provides grant funding for long-term, systemic initiatives focused on empowering the rising generation of Americans. Its core areas of investment are strong character development, quality education, entrepreneurial mindset cultivation, and creating value for others. The foundation does not sell products or services; it selectively identifies, funds, and supports organizations and programs aligned with these four pillars.

Product overview

The Kern Family Foundation is a philanthropic organization, not a technology product company. It operates as a charitable foundation focused on empowering the rising generation of Americans through initiatives anchored in strong character, quality education, an entrepreneurial mindset, and creating value for others. The foundation does not offer commercial products or technology services; rather, it funds and supports long-term, systemic initiatives in education and youth development. As such, there are no discrete product modules, SaaS offerings, or technology platforms to enumerate.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

  • Character Development Grant Funding
  • Quality Education Grant Funding
  • Entrepreneurial Mindset Grant Funding
  • Creating Value for Others Grant Funding

Companies that use The Kern Family Foundation

Customer profile

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

The Kern Family Foundation technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API
No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

The Kern Family Foundation partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves1 record

The Kern Family Foundation competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Broad incumbents

  • Lumina Foundation: Large private foundation focused on post-secondary quality education and equitable outcomes, a broader-incumbent peer operating in the quality-education space KFF targets.
  • Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: Mega-foundation funding large-scale US K-12 and post-secondary education reform, sharing the systemic-impact education lens but operating at vastly greater scale.

Emerging players

  • Character.org: Nonprofit promoting character development in schools through national recognition programs, a thematic peer overlapping KFF's strong-character pillar at the practitioner level.

Direct peers

  • Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation: Private Kansas City-based foundation focused on entrepreneurship education and research, directly comparable to KFF's entrepreneurial-mindset pillar for the rising generation.
  • Walton Family Foundation: Family-led foundation funding systemic K-12 education reform and character development initiatives, closely mirroring KFF's quality education and character pillars.
  • Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation: Wisconsin-based family foundation funding K-12 reform, civic education, and character development, closely aligned with KFF's Wisconsin roots and education mission.
  • Thiel Foundation: Fellowship and education-focused foundation promoting entrepreneurship among young people, closely aligned with KFF's mission to cultivate entrepreneurial mindsets in the rising generation.
  • John Templeton Foundation: Private foundation funding research and programs on character, virtue, and human flourishing; overlaps directly with KFF's strong-character and flourishing-lives focus.
  • Daniels Fund: Family foundation emphasizing character and ethics education, scholarships, and youth development programs comparable to KFF's character and education pillars.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

The Kern Family Foundation financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

The Kern Family Foundation leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

The Kern Family Foundation funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

The Kern Family Foundation M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Kern Family Foundation

What does The Kern Family Foundation do?

The Kern Family Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation that provides grant funding for long-term, systemic initiatives focused on empowering the rising generation of Americans. Its core areas of investment are strong character development, quality education, entrepreneurial mindset cultivation, and creating value for others. The foundation does not sell products or services; it selectively identifies, funds, and supports organizations and programs aligned with these four pillars.

Is The Kern Family Foundation a public or private company?

The Kern Family Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.

When was The Kern Family Foundation founded?

The Kern Family Foundation was founded in 1998. It employs 1 to 10 people.

Where is The Kern Family Foundation based?

The Kern Family Foundation is headquartered in Waukesha, United States, in the North America region.

Who are The Kern Family Foundation's main competitors?

Broad incumbents on record are Lumina Foundation and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Character.org is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Walton Family Foundation, Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, Thiel Foundation, John Templeton Foundation and Daniels Fund.

Does The Kern Family Foundation have an API?

No public API is recorded for The Kern Family Foundation.

What industry is The Kern Family Foundation in?

The Kern Family Foundation's product category is Philanthropic Foundation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAA, Private Foundations, with a secondary code of BPAGAKAD, Family Offices & Philanthropic Advisors (Grantmaking). Its NAICS code is 813211.

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Live signals
PR NewswireKern Family Foundation Invests $50 Million to Transform Medical Education and Profession of MedicineThe Kern Family Foundation announced a $50 million gift to the Medical College of Wisconsin to support the Kern National Network for Caring and Character in Medicine and the Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Institute for the Transformation of Medical Education. The gift includes $10 million designated as a matching opportunity to inspire additional philanthropy from other donors. Total giving from the Kern family and foundation for these initiatives now stands at $87.9 million, building on a $37.9 million investment made in 2017.GlobeNewswireNorth Central College receives record-setting $3.2M grant from Kern Family FoundationNorth Central College received a $3.2 million grant from the Kern Family Foundation, the largest private grant in its 157-year history. The funding will develop principals and teachers to foster cultures of character, including a Character Education Institute and fellowships for underrepresented candidates. The grant will run for four and a half years.Samford‘All work is God’s work’ New York Times Bestseller Tim Keller Tells Samford CrowdTimothy Keller, a New York Times bestselling author and pastor, delivered the Faith and Work Lecture at Samford University on November 8, addressing approximately 1,750 attendees. He presented five principles on how Christian faith transforms daily work, emphasizing identity, dignity, moral compass, worldview, and hope. The event was supported by a grant from the Kern Family Foundation and featured interviews with Beeson Divinity School leadership.