Kern Community Foundation
Bakersfield, CA · EIN 77-0555874. Reported 190 grants totalling $9,322,827 to 138 organizations across tax years 2021-2024, on Form 990 Schedule I.
Does this grantmaker accept applications?
Its tax return does not say, and we will not guess. Private foundations file Form 990-PF, which asks outright whether they fund only organizations they select themselves -- 78% say yes, and that one answer is what lets the rest of this site tell you which foundations are worth approaching. Grantmaking charities like this one file a regular Form 990 instead, and the IRS never puts the question to them. Anyone claiming to know the answer from the filing is inventing it.
Three things in the filing do bear on it:
- What kind of organization it is. For Kern Community Foundation, the IRS classifies it as a community foundation (NTEE T31).
- How spread out its giving is. 138 distinct organizations, with 31% of the dollars going to the largest single recipient. That is genuinely spread out -- the mark of a funder making many independent decisions rather than underwriting one institution.
- How much its list changes. 37% of one year's grantees are funded again the next, across 3 year-to-year transitions. That is below the 57% median for grantmaking charities, and well below the 67% private foundations manage. A list that turns over this much is one a newcomer can realistically join.
How big are its grants?
The median reported grant is $15,000. Half of what it reported fell between $10,000 and $33,000; the smallest was $5,400 and the largest $2,918,446. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong organization.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Recipients are grouped by the EIN the filer reported, not by name, so an organization that was typed differently in two years appears once rather than twice.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aera Energy Fund | Bakersfield, CA | $2,918,446 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| California State University Bakersfield Foundation | Bakersfield, CA | $590,216 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Agricultural Foundation of California State University Fresno | Fresno, CA | $325,600 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Bakersfield Southwest Baseball Inc | Bakersfield, CA | $250,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Youth for Christ USA Inc | Bakersfield, CA | $243,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Linked Fund | Bakersfield, CA | $229,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Upper Kern Fisheries Enhancement Fund | Bakersfield, CA | $204,886 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| University of Southern California | Los Angeles, CA | $157,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Aera Energy Fund for Conservation and the Environment | Maricopa, CA | $150,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Bakersfield Memorial Hospital Foundation | Bakersfield, CA | $142,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Bakersfield Art Foundation Inc | Bakersfield, CA | $135,957 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Hay Family Foundation Fund | Carlsbad, CA | $129,041 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Rod Stiefvater Foundation | Bakersfield, CA | $124,560 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra Inc | Bakersfield, CA | $118,266 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Boy Scouts of America | Bakersfield, CA | $118,046 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Kern County Museum Foundation | Bakersfield, CA | $117,371 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Bethesda Teaching Ministry | El Cajon, CA | $110,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Garden Pathways Inc | Bakersfield, CA | $102,700 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Shepower Leadership Academy | Bakersfield, CA | $100,487 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Shielding the Frontline Kern County Inc | Bakersfield, CA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Grimm Family Education Foundation | Bakersfield, CA | $98,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Plumas Corporation | Quincy, CA | $87,074 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Mccarthy Family Fund | Peabody, MA | $82,600 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Kern Dance Alliance | Bakersfield, CA | $81,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Batey Family Charitable Trust | Bakersfield, CA | $78,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Regents of the University of California at Berkeley | Riverside, CA | $77,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| California Polytechnic State University Foundation | San Luis Obispo, CA | $72,625 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| University of California Santa Barbara | Santa Barbara, CA | $69,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Bakersfield College Foundation | Bakersfield, CA | $64,717 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Borel Fire Relief Fund | Bakersfield, CA | $64,575 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Transformations By Austin Angels | Austin, TX | $61,100 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Taft College Foundation | Taft, CA | $60,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| California Trout | San Francisco, CA | $53,598 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Roman Catholic Bishop of Fresno | Fresno, CA | $48,675 | 5 | 2 | 2022 |
| Bakersfield Recovery Services Inc | Bakersfield, CA | $48,428 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| University of California Davis | Davis, CA | $45,350 | 4 | 3 | 2024 |
| Henrietta Weill Memorial Child Guidance Clinic | Bakersfield, CA | $43,860 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Cityserve International | Springfield, MO | $42,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The UCLA Foundation | Los Angeles, CA | $42,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| California Veterans Assistance Foundation Inc | Bakersfield, CA | $42,150 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| 911 at Ease International Inc | Santa Barbara, CA | $41,370 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| California State University Fresno Foundation | Fresno, CA | $39,332 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| St John's Lutheran Church | Bakersfield, CA | $37,765 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Dolores C Huerta Foundation | Bakersfield, CA | $37,297 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Americas Charities | Chantilly, VA | $36,800 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Mercy Foundation-Bakersfield | Phoenix, AZ | $35,353 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Kern River Conservancy | Kernville, CA | $35,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| City of Shafter - Shafter Library & Learning Center | Shafter, CA | $33,600 | 2 | 1 | 2022 |
| Bakersfield Christian High School | Bakersfield, CA | $33,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Bakersfield Rescue Mission | Bakersfield, CA | $32,058 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Santa Barbara Police Foundation | Santa Barbara, CA | $31,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Cityserve Network | Bakersfield, CA | $29,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Hoffmann Hospice of the Valley Inc | Bakersfield, CA | $29,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Kern High School District Educational Foundation | Bakersfield, CA | $27,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Keepers of the Cross | Bakersfield, CA | $26,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| U C San Diego Foundation | La Jolla, CA | $25,175 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Bakersfield Firefighters Historical Society | Bakersfield, CA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Boys and Girls Club of Ventura Inc | Ventura, CA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Citizens Preserving History | Caliente, CA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Kern County Superintendent of Schools Education Service | Bakersfield, CA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| No Sister Left Behind | Bakersfield, CA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Shafter Historical Society | Shafter, CA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Starbase Edwards | Calif City, CA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Stemtaught Foundation | Bakersfield, CA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Trout Unlimited Inc | Arlington, VA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Valley Public Television Inc | Fresno, CA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Wounded Heroes Fund Kern County Chapter | Bakersfield, CA | $24,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Bakersfield High School Parent Teacher Student Organization | Bakersfield, CA | $22,822 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Unified in Mission | Bakersfield, CA | $22,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| California State University Long Beach | Long Beach, CA | $22,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Uei College Bakersfield | Bakersfield, CA | $21,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Kern Partnership for Children and Families | Bakersfield, CA | $21,235 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Salvation Army World Service Office Sawso | Alexandria, VA | $21,235 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Bakersfield Crisis Pregnancy Center Inc | Bakersfield, CA | $21,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Jim Burke Educational Foundation | Bakersfield, CA | $21,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Wasco Christian Church | Wasco, CA | $20,749 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| San Joaquin Valley College | Bakersfield, CA | $20,203 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Be Finally Free Inc | Bakersfield, CA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Community Hospital of Central California Foundation | Fresno, CA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Regents of the University of California | Oakland, CA | $19,900 | 2 | 1 | 2021 |
| White Wolf Wellness Foundation | Bakersfield, CA | $18,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Boys Clubs of Bakersfield | Bakersfield, CA | $17,736 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| North Kern Christian School | Bakersfield, CA | $16,550 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Kern Literacy Council | Bakersfield, CA | $16,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Open Door Network | Bakersfield, CA | $15,341 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Associated Students California State University Bakersfield Inc | Bakersfield, CA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Influencers Global Ministries | Bentonville, AR | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Kern County Cancer Foundation | Bakersfield, CA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Kern County Science Foundation | Bakersfield, CA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| The United States Conference of the Mennonite Brethren Churches | Wichita, KS | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| UC Santa Barbara Foundation | Santa Barbara, CA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Scott Kirschenman Family Foundation Inc | Bakersfield, CA | $14,530 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Legacy Christian Academy | Bakersfield, CA | $14,260 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Alpha Tau Omega Foundation | Indianapolis, IN | $14,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Ronald Mcdonald House Charities of Southern California | Los Angeles, CA | $13,300 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish School | Bakersfield, CA | $13,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Youth 2 Leaders Education Foundation | Bakersfield, CA | $12,874 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Childrens Miracle Network | Salt Lake Cty, UT | $12,472 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| St Francis School Foundation Inc | Bakersfield, CA | $12,132 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Loma Linda School Foundation | Bakersfield, CA | $11,750 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Plank Foundation | Bakersfield, CA | $11,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Assistance League of Bakersfield | Bakersfield, CA | $10,985 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| CASA Esperanza Transitional Home for Women | Bakersfield, CA | $10,550 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Court Appointed Special Advocates of Kern County | Bakersfield, CA | $10,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Morning Star Food Ministry Inc | Bakersfield, CA | $10,250 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Business Education Founda | Bakersfield, CA | $10,113 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| West High School Boosters | Bakersfield, CA | $10,100 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| 746 Sports Foundation | Shafter, CA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Billy Graham Evangelistic Association | Charlotte, NC | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Cain Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Church | Bakersfield, CA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| California Agricultural Leadership Foundation | Monterey, CA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| City Charitable Purpose Foundation | Shafter, CA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Heritage Oak School | Tehachapi, CA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Milliken Museum Society | Los Banos, CA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| United Way of Central Eastern California Inc | Bakersfield, CA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| United Way of Ventura County Inc | Ventura, CA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Ventura Education Partnership | Ventura, CA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Walden University | Minneapolis, MN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Regents Univ of California | Los Angeles, CA | $9,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Make-a-Wish Foundation of Central California | Fresno, CA | $8,766 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Fox Theater Foundation | Bakersfield, CA | $8,083 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Valley Baptist Church | Bakersfield, CA | $8,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Kern Real Estate Foundation | Bakersfield, CA | $7,967 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Kern County 999 Foundation | Bakersfield, CA | $7,496 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| California State University Los Angeles Foundation | Los Angeles, CA | $7,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Kern County Law Enforcement Foundation | Bakersfield, CA | $7,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Regents of the University of California at Irvine | Irvine, CA | $7,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| San Buenaventura Friends of the Library | Ventura, CA | $7,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Delano Joint Union High School District | Delano, CA | $6,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Bakersfield Catholic Education Foundation | Bakersfield, CA | $6,250 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Independence Through G-R-a-C-E Foundation | Bakersfield, CA | $6,100 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| American Heart Association Inc | Dallas, TX | $6,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Habitat for Humanity International Inc | Bakersfield, CA | $6,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Missions Door | Glendale, AZ | $6,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| United Way Fresno and Madera Counties | Fresno, CA | $6,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| University of California Merced Foundation | Merced, CA | $6,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Vv Family Foundation | Bakersfield, CA | $6,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| St Vincent De Paul Center of Bakersfield | Bakersfield, CA | $5,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
36 of 138 (26%) received money in more than one year over the 4 years we hold. Remember the $5,000 floor: an organization funded every year at $3,000 shows up here as never funded at all.
What kind of organizations it funds
By each recipient's own IRS classification, for the 92 of 138 recipients we could match to a registered organization. These are assigned categories, not our guesses -- Schedule I reports the recipient's EIN, so this is a lookup rather than a name match.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants reported | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 77 | $1,738,071 | $11,000 |
| 2022 | 67 | $2,090,885 | $13,200 |
| 2023 | 12 | $360,050 | $14,750 |
| 2024 | 34 | $5,133,821 | $39,175 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- Form 990 arrives about a year after the year it covers, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a grantmaker winding down.
Where its money goes
96% of its giving went to organizations in California. Community foundations and federated funds are usually the most geographically bounded funders there are -- being outside the footprint is normally disqualifying in a way that a weak programme fit is not.
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Funders that support the same organizations
These grantmakers and private foundations gave to organizations this one also funded. Shared grantees are the strongest signal available that two funders have overlapping priorities -- and a funder already backing your peers is a far warmer prospect than one that merely lists your cause.
How to approach this grantmaker
- Look for a published programme first. Unlike most private foundations, organizations of this kind often do run open, deadlined grant cycles with written guidelines. Its own website is the authority on that; this page is the authority on who it has actually paid.
- Check you are its size. The median reported grant is $15,000 -- and because grants under $5,000 need not be reported, it very likely writes smaller cheques than this page can see.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving concentrates in California.
- Read the recipient list for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer and a cheap one to get.
Related guides
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from Kern Community Foundation's own Form 990 Schedule I filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2021-2024). Nothing here is scraped, inferred or estimated.
Address of record on the latest return: 5701 Truxtun Ave Suite 110, Bakersfield, CA, 93309.
EIN 77-0555874 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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