Meyer Kesner And Bernice Kesner Foundation Incorporated
This organization is a private foundation dedicated to supporting various charitable causes. Its mission appears to focus on providing financial assistance primarily in the fields of education and the arts, as evidenced by its grants to institutions such as Rutgers University Foundation for scholarships and The Washington Ballet for operational support. The foundation also contributes to community initiatives, as seen in its support for the Dollywood Foundation. Overall, it aims to enhance educational opportunities and promote cultural enrichment through its philanthropic efforts.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
An established, well-known nonprofit or foundation-level institution aligned with arts or education that is likely to be known or introduced to the trustees and suited for large, single-organization operating support.
Good Fit
- • Requests for substantial operating support or endowment/scholarship funding.
- • Organization is a recognized, IRS-registered foundation or major nonprofit with an established track record.
- • Prior relationship, introduction, or visibility to the foundation’s trustees or their network.
- • Mission alignment with arts, culture, or education priorities shown in past grants.
Geography
Across three years the foundation funded organizations in New Jersey, the District of Columbia, and Tennessee, indicating a multi-state footprint even though each year’s grant went to a single state.
Recipient Variety
Observed giving consists of one large grant per year with only one recipient recorded in each year, producing a very small portfolio (three distinct recipients over three years) despite those recipients being independent and in different sectors.
New Applicants
Filings explicitly state awards are to preselected recipients and the foundation does not advertise an application route; although each year funded a different organization, the declared preselection process and absence of public submission mechanics make it unlikely that an unfamiliar applicant could enter the portfolio.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
