Kou Family Foundation
This organization is a private foundation dedicated to supporting cancer research and related health initiatives. Its mission is reflected in its funding activities, which primarily focus on grants for cancer research funds, educational programs for medical staff, and support for patients and their families affected by cancer. The foundation actively contributes to various health charities and disease research institutions, particularly those addressing pancreatic cancer. It primarily serves organizations and research institutions in California.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
California-based health or cancer-research institutions, hospital/university research funds, or established cancer support organizations that align with named funds or faculty research priorities and can accept mid-sized restricted gifts.
Good Fit
- • Work explicitly focused on cancer research, clinical research funds, or patient support in the Los Angeles/California region.
- • Organizational capacity to receive restricted gifts or to steward named research/professorship funds.
- • Existing ties or introductions from institutions already funded (e.g., universities, hospitals, cancer networks).
- • Ability to absorb mid-size awards (typical recent grants ranged from a few thousand to ~$50K).
Geography
Observed giving in the latest year was confined to California (cities include Los Angeles, Duarte, Manhattan Beach and Pasadena), indicating a narrow in‑state footprint.
Recipient Variety
The latest year shows five distinct recipients and several independent institutions (City of Hope, USC funds, UCLA Foundation, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network), and 2024 included multiple new grantees, so the recipient set is moderately diverse for a small private foundation.
New Applicants
Behaviorally the foundation added four new recipients in 2024, suggesting turnover and some openness; however the foundation states it funds only preselected recipients and has no public website or visible submission route, so unsolicited applicants are unlikely to be a straightforward entry path.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
