Open Submission

The Kenan Trust will fund proposals from eligible organizations that align with one of our Focus Areas in Education or Human Thriving. Please review these pages carefully for specific information about the types of projects we fund, eligibility requirements, and typical award amounts prior to submitting your Letter of Inquiry.

Please visit the Trust’s grant management system to register. Registration involves a few eligibility questions as well as the entry of information about the applying organization and contact information for the person completing the application. After your registration has been approved, you will receive log-in information to view the Trust’s Letter of Inquiry form. Please complete the form in the Trust’s grant management system and submit prior to the July 1 deadline.

Letters of Inquiry must be submitted no later than 5pm on July 1, 2026 to be considered for the 2027 fiscal year. Letter of Inquiry projects advanced to the next proposal stage will be notified in early September. Final grant award determinations will be made in December 2026 or March 2027. For more information about the Trust’s grant cycles and timing, please see our Grant Calendar.

The Kenan Trust funds grant projects in four states – Florida, New York, North Carolina, and Virginia. Eligible 501(c)(3) organizations seeking a grant must propose a project in one or more of these states, and the project may not include lobbying or political activity. 

Please refer to the Focus Area pages for information about the Trust’s typical grant award amounts in that area. When submitting your Letter of Inquiry, it is important you share the overall cost of the project as well as the grant amount you are seeking from the Kenan Trust where indicated on the form. At the Letter of Inquiry stage, we do not require a detailed budget.  

The Kenan Trust does not conduct exploratory phone calls prior to the receipt of a Letter of Inquiry. If you believe you have more than one project that aligns with the Trust’s focus areas, please submit the project that is of the highest priority for your organization or institution.  

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions about our Grant Application Process can be found here.