Who We Are
Overview
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation was established in 1930 by breakfast cereal innovator and entrepreneur W.K. Kellogg, who defined its purpose as “…administering funds for the promotion of the welfare, comfort, health, education, feeding, clothing, sheltering and safeguarding of children and youth, directly or indirectly, without regard to sex, race, creed or nationality.…” To guide current and future trustees and staff, he said, “Use the money as you please so long as it promotes the health, happiness and well-being of children.”
The foundation receives its income primarily from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation Trust, a charitable trust set up by Mr. Kellogg in 1930 with his earnings from his cereal company. Today, in addition to its diversified portfolio, the WKKF Trust owns substantial equity in the two companies, Kellanova and WK Kellogg Co which are spin-offs from the original Kellogg Company. Kellanova, WK Kellogg Co and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation are separate, independent organizations. The foundation is governed by its own independent board of trustees and is not managed or directed by either company.
Over the years, the Kellogg Foundation’s programming has continued to evolve, striving to remain innovative and responsive to the ever-changing needs of society. Today, the organization ranks among the world’s largest private foundations, awarding grants in the United States, Mexico and Haiti.
Mission
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation supports children, families and communities as they strengthen and create conditions that propel vulnerable children to achieve success as individuals and as contributors to the larger community and society.
Vision
We envision a nation that marshals its resources to assure that all children have an equitable and promising future – a nation in which all children thrive.
Values
The work of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation is imbued with these values:
- We believe in helping people help themselves through the practical application of knowledge and resources to improve their quality of life and that of future generations.
- We believe all people have the inherent capacity to effect change in their lives, in their organizations, and in their communities. We respect individuals and value their collective interests, strengths and cultures.
- We believe stewardship requires fidelity to the spirit and to the intent of the founder, and the wise use of resources. We believe in being responsible, prudent, selfless and exercising good judgment.
- We believe innovation of thought and action leads to enduring and positive change in both formal and informal systems.
- We value integrity of purpose and action, and believe it is essential to all of our affairs.
History & Legacy
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation was established in 1930, by the inventor of ready-to-eat breakfast cereal, W.K. Kellogg, in his hometown of Battle Creek, Michigan. His signature became well known. But the man behind it was characterized by extraordinary humility and a visionary belief in people.
W.K. Kellogg cared about children, the conditions in which they were raised and what the future held for them. He believed in the power of communities to forge solutions for the health, happiness and well-being of their children. And, he wanted to equip people with the knowledge and resources to pursue those solutions.
Vision, humility and belief in people are the values stewarded by the Kellogg Foundation for 90 years. Today those values take form in community-led efforts on behalf of thriving children, working families and equitable communities.
Financials
WKKF and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation Trust are committed to managing financial resources efficiently and effectively.
Annually, independent auditors are engaged to audit our financial statements and review the effectiveness of our internal controls. Results of our audits are typically released in December.
The foundation and trust also each complete Form 990-PFs, an informational return for U.S. private foundations filed with the IRS reporting assets, investments, expenses and grant activity. The 990-PF is due in January, but an extension is typically requested to provide time to gather investment portfolio documentation.
Fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2023
2023 Financial Statements (PDF, 445 KB, 29 pages)
2022 W.K. Kellogg Foundation 990-PF (Available June, 2024)
2022 W.K. Kellogg Foundation Trust 990-PF (Available July, 2024)
Fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2022
2022 Financial Statements (PDF, 444 KB, 28 pages)
2021 W.K. Kellogg Foundation 990-PF (PDF, 2 MB, 325 pages)
2021 W.K. Kellogg Foundation Trust 990-PF (PDF, 698 KB, 40 pages)
Fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2021
2021 Financial Statements (PDF, 516 KB, 27 pages)
2020 W.K. Kellogg Foundation 990-PF (PDF, 1.9 MB, 312 pages)
2020 W.K. Kellogg Foundation Trust 990-PF (PDF, 696 KB, 41 pages)
Stewardship
The Kellogg Foundation shares our founder’s commitment to stewardship.
We are stewards of both W.K. Kellogg’s legacy and of the public’s trust. (Happily, the two are highly compatible.) To retain that trust, we are obligated to manage our assets efficiently and effectively. And we seek to be as transparent as possible about what we support and how we account for our expenditures.
The foundation’s vision, mission and values guide our strategic planning and our everyday decision-making. There are also clear directives to help our trustees, officers and staff members uphold the legal and ethical standards essential to our work. Please consult the topics and policies listed to learn more about how the Kellogg Foundation governs itself as it works with communities to create conditions for vulnerable children so they can realize their full potential in school, work and life.
Our People
Khan Nedd
Milton Chen
Denise Y. Brooks-Williams
Cathann Kress
La June Montgomery Tabron
Richard M. Tsoumas
Christina K. Hanger
Roderick D. Gillum
Celeste A. Clark
Ramón Murguía
La June Montgomery Tabron
Ross Comstock
Dianna Langenburg
Paul Martinez
Michael Murphy
Carla D. Thompson Payton
Carlos Rangel
Alandra Washington
Kahlil Williams
Donald G. Williamson
Ackley, Keona
Alvarez Fierro, Rafael
Andrews, Tyler
Babcock, Michele
Bagneris Jr., Dennis
Ballez, Isabela
Bartley, Shana
Basquin, Maya
Beacham, Lea Ann
Beecham, Annette
Beltran, Monica
Benson, Aloria
Bianchi, Jon-Paul
Binkley, Turner
Bird, Andrea
Blahuta, Renee
Bowles, Audry
Bracken, Amy
Bradshaw, Donna
Briggs, Kayla
Bringas Acevedo, Rocío
Brock, Mária
Brower, Andrew
Brown, Shanelle
Brunton, Caroline
Bryant, Ashanti
Burel, Deirdre Johnson
Burr, Laura
Caban, Kip
Cameron, Brittany
Cantave, Alix
Carlin, Katherine
Carlson, Kari
Castillo, Erin
Cervantes, Susana
Cherry, Erica
Chirara, Simba
Chung, Olivia
Church, Renee
Clark, Peyton
Clements, Cherie
Coffman, Tracie
Coleman, Michelle
Collins-Sammons, Paula
Coloma, Jessica
Comstock, Ross
Comstock, Shannon
Corso, Minda
Cortez Merrild, Jessica
Creed, Erin
Currier, Erin
Daniel-Echols, Marijata
Das, Lara
Davis, Cassie
DeHaney, Felicia
DeHart, Brad
DeHart, Lisa
DeJune, Amber
Demesme, Fatima
Diaz, Arelis
Dobbs, Javon
Doctor, Linda Jo
Dodd, Tandra
Downs, Allie
Duffy, Kristin
Dukes, Stephanie
Duncombe, Roland
Dungey, Jonathon
Duran-Sallee, Jennifer
Edwards, Jazmin
Eisner, Brett
English, Shanelle
Enriquez, Xiomara
Faiz, Humaira
Fernández Calderón, Daniela
Fernandez de Castro Robles, Veronica
Foote, Devin
Forman, Kristi
Francois, Dana
Freeman, Derrick
Frias Becerra, Sebastian
Gray, Robb
Graziano, Neal
Green, Deborah
Green, Deborah
Green, Tara
Gutiérrez, Michelle
Harrison, Kinah
Hess, Cheryl
Higginbotham, Brenna
Holling, Brenda
Holso, Yvonne
Hopkins, Jason
Jabisetty, Sateesh
Jiha, Ryan
Jimenez, Lourdes
Johnson, Megan Russell
Johnson, Yolanda Lyles
Jones, Elizabeth
Keaty, Soheila
Keeney-Lujan, Joshua
Keller, Robyn
King, Ceara Megan Easley
King, Jacquelyn
King, Lauren
Klunk, Todd
Knoop, Lisa
Krenn, Huilan
Kwon, Bonnie
LaGrand, Reginald
LaGro, Sarah
Langenburg, Dianna
Lee, Susie
Leuthauser, Elizabeth
Lopez, Carlos
Lopez, Simon
Lowe, Kelly
Lowry, Dan
Lutjens, Karla
Malpartida, Claudia
Manu, Shanie
Martinez, Paul
Masic, Ivona
Mason, Suzan
McKinley, Iris
McMillan, Ashton
Meinke, Samantha
Miller, Anna
Miller, Wendy
Mohanty, Saroj
Montes, Marcela
Moore III, Ralph
Moore, Ciciley
Moore, Yazeed
Moriarty, Alana
Muller, Cynthia
Murdock, Allison
Murphy, Michael
Newton, Virlean
Njus, Jonathan
Nobel, David
Noricks, Rebecca
Norwood, Joi
Nunez, Elizabeth
O'Dell, Jenefer
Olney, Paxton
Ordoñez, Karina Alatriste
Pacheco de Alas, Chamiza
Parker, Kathryn
Parsons, Jill
Parsons, Laura
Patel, Mitesh
Payton, Carla Thompson
Pelayo, Icela
Pierre, Beyza
Prater, Wesley
Raj, Kumar
Rangel, Carlos
Reid, Jessica
Reincke, Kathleen
Rey, Deborah
Roberts, Kimberly
Robinson II, Scott
Robinson, Ray
Rohs, Leslee
Romero McConnell, Lawren
Rosenthal, Robyn
Russell, Natalie
Ryan, Daniel
Sallee, Jennifer
Sanders, Reginald
Santana, Kimberly
Santiago, Alicia
Savio, Susie
Scamihorn, Philip
Schneider, Brian
Schriner, Jamie
Seales, Naima
Seng, Tish
Shaver, Alicia
Sheffieck, Emily
Shellenberger, Matthew
Simpson, Patrick
Slone, Natalie
Smith, Diane
Smith, Eileen Storer
Smith, Sarah
Sroka, Neil
St. John, Tammy
Stealy, Jessica
Stiles, Cindy
Stott, Victoria
Styburski, Dylan
Suarez, Emma
Syed, Muneeb
Tabron, La June Montgomery
Tafoya, Victoria
TenBrink, Cortnee
Thomas, Nicole
Thomson, Jennifer
Topp, Nara
Trinkle, Alyssa
Turner, Paige
Urayeneza, Marcel
Vernola, Joseph
Vikis, Erika
Walters, Howard
Wardford, Jeanne
Washington, Alandra
Watson, Theresa
Wharton, Auncharee
White, Alana
Willbur, April
Williams-Bishop, Rhea
Williams, Kahlil
Williams, Teresa
Williamson, Donald
Wilson, Lynn Dacotah-Scherer
Winstone, Dawn
Withers, Stephanie
Womack, Shannon
Woods, Wendee
Zigler, David
Annual Reports
2023 Annual Snapshot
This annual snapshot highlights what we’re learning from how our grantees responded and how they needed WKKF support, through stories of impact highlighting WKKF’s social bond grantmaking in 2020-2022. Equally important, we designated 2023 a year of listening – deeply listening – to grantees, partners, vendors, community leaders and others, who sit at a critical vantage point of what’s happening now and what’s ahead.
2022 Annual Snapshot
Making systems work for every child, every family, every community. Learn how the W.K. Kellogg Foundation is supporting a more equitable future.
Annual Snapshot 2021 Urgent, Bold, Action for Children, Families and Communities
This is our moment to get it right. How can we come together as communities around the world, with love and with action, to make sure that every child thrives? Join the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to create an equitable future.
For 90 Years…for Children, 2020 W.K. Kellogg Foundation Annual Report
In the nine decades since Will Keith Kellogg established the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, our dedication to his vision for children has only deepened. In a 90th year of challenges and crises, Mr. Kellogg’s bold action so that “children can face the future with confidence” is more compelling and vital than ever.
2019 W.K. Kellogg Foundation Annual Report
This year’s report showcases recent grantee work that illustrates how racial equity, community engagement and developing leadership – our DNA – create transformational change for children, their families and communities.
2018 W. K. Kellogg Foundation Annual Report
Explore seven grantee stories, letters from our leaders and a look at our Year in Review – each reaffirming WKKF priorities of thriving children, working families and equitable communities, while highlighting the many levels of dynamic interconnections, essential to lasting change.
2017 W.K. Kellogg Foundation Annual Report
Communities in Action take center stage in our 2017 annual report. Read how grantees are championing change for children.
2016 W.K. Kellogg Foundation Annual Report
The realities of the past year challenge all of philanthropy, including the Kellogg Foundation, to work differently. This report explores the foundation’s deep commitment and work to advance racial healing and racial equity – work that has become core to our organizational DNA.
2015 W.K. Kellogg Foundation Annual Report
This report explores the foundation’s deep commitment and work to advance racial healing and racial equity – work that has become core to our organizational DNA.
2014 W.K. Kellogg Foundation Annual Report
This report illuminates WKKF’s leadership development work as one of the foundation’s most effective tools for creating lasting, community-centered social change for children and families.
2013 W.K. Kellogg Foundation Annual Report
This report explores “who knows what about early childhood?” – offering on-the-ground perspectives on the issues most important to WKKF’s mission and grantees. New grant commitments, financial reports and summaries for each programming area are also higlighted.
2012 W.K. Kellogg Foundation Annual Report
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation 2012 annual report explores “who knows what” about improving the lives of vulnerable children through a series of short and engaging essays.
2011 W.K. Kellogg Foundation Annual Report
Who Knows What: Understanding Vulnerable Children
Annual Reports Earlier than 2007
and other associated annual report documents can be found here.