The Justin And Susan Kelly Foundation
The organization is a private foundation dedicated to supporting various charitable causes, with a strong emphasis on education and youth development. It funds a range of initiatives, including scholarships, general support for nonprofits, and community service projects. The foundation demonstrates a commitment to enhancing educational opportunities, particularly through scholarship funds for students in higher education. Additionally, it supports organizations focused on youth mentoring and development, as well as arts and music initiatives. While its primary focus appears to be in Minnesota, it also extends its support to organizations in other states.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
A Minnesota-based education, youth-development, or arts organization with existing ties or referrals to the foundation or its top grantees, able to receive mid-to-large unrestricted grants or scholarships.
Good Fit
- • Operating primarily in Minnesota or serving Minnesota communities.
- • Work in education, scholarships, youth development, or music/arts programming.
- • An existing relationship or introduction to foundation leadership or current grantees.
- • Capacity to manage unrestricted or scholarship funding and demonstrate local impact.
- • History of partnership or collaboration with organizations already funded by the foundation.
Geography
Giving is heavily concentrated in one state: roughly 93% of dollars in the latest year went to Minnesota, though grants were recorded in a small number of other states.
Recipient Variety
The latest year shows a moderate number of distinct recipients (12) and the prior year had 19, with nine repeat grantees, indicating a multi-recipient pattern; however dollars are financially concentrated among a small set of top beneficiaries.
New Applicants
The foundation declares an invitation-only/preselection policy and practical evidence shows most dollars go to repeat grantees; although three new recipients appeared in the latest year, the stated preselection practice makes it unlikely an unfamiliar applicant could enter the portfolio without a direct referral.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
