About Us
The family of Charles F. Kettering welcomes you to Kettering Family Philanthropies. Located in Dayton, Ohio, this umbrella organization manages two private foundations that support a wide variety of charitable causes of interest to the Kettering Family
Since each funding entity operates with separate missions and decision-making bodies, we ask that you carefully consider the information presented below and on each organization's website to determine which is the most appropriate one to submit an application for a grant.
Applicants may apply to only one Kettering Family Foundation entity and/or The Virginia W. Kettering Foundation during a twelve-month period.
Our Funding Entities
The Kettering Family Foundation
The Kettering Family Foundation was founded by Charles’ son Eugene W. Kettering and his wife Virginia W. Kettering in 1956. Its assets support a broad range of charitable activities of interest to the Board of Trustees composed of Kettering Family members.
The Kettering Fund
Founded in 1958 by Charles F. Kettering, the Kettering Fund was gifted to the Kettering Family Foundation in 2014 and now operates as a sub-fund of the Foundation. For those seeking information about The Kettering Fund please click (here).
The Virginia W. Kettering Foundation
The Virginia W. Kettering Foundation is a charitable trust created upon the death of Virginia in 2003. Grants from this foundation are restricted to supporting charitable activities in Montgomery County, Ohio, the seven counties contiguous to it, Kettering University, the Cincinnati Zoo, and the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Charles F. Kettering
Charles F. Kettering (1876-1958) was an American inventor, founder of Dayton Engineering Laboratories Company (Delco), and head of the General Motors Research Laboratory for twenty-seven years.
He was born in Loudonville, Ohio and lived most of his life in Dayton, Ohio. He was involved in many philanthropic projects during his lifetime, a legacy which the Kettering Family adopted and continues.