Defne and Muhtar Kent Educational Foundation
The Defne and Muhtar Kent Educational Foundation is a private foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware. Its filings show scholarship grants and a direct summer scholarship program that brings scholars to Turkey to interact with high school students and contribute to STEM projects.
Defne and Muhtar Kent Educational Foundation at a glance
In short: Defne and Muhtar Kent Educational Foundation gave $1.1M across 53 grants in 2025 (avg $20K), top state Nebraska. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,057,645
- -0.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 53
- +29.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $19,956
- -23.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $20,100,323
- -0.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Nebraska (20% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Defne and Muhtar Kent Educational Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: Foundation Source 501 Silverside Rd, Wilmington, DE 19809-1377
Phone: (800) 839-1754
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Defne and Muhtar Kent Educational Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Donor Advised Charitable Giving ($216K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $501K.
Grant Size Distribution
220 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 215 grants of 220 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, grant dollars were distributed among recipients in multiple states. The largest shares went to Nebraska (20%), California (13%), Michigan (11%), Illinois (10%), and Pennsylvania (8%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 53 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Defne and Muhtar Kent Educational Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+5%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 93% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $854K (2021) to $1.1M (2023). In 2025 it made 53 grants totaling $1.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Donor Advised Charitable Giving Omaha, NE | General & Unrestricted (See General Explanation) | $205,203 |
| A K Narn Atlanta, GA | Scholarship Grant | $30,000 |
| M E Tiryaki Baltimore, MD | Scholarship Grant | $30,000 |
| N A Basciftci Easton, PA | Scholarship Grant | $30,000 |
| A Yamaner East Lansing, MI | Scholarship Grant | $30,000 |
| D Karalar East Lansing, MI | Scholarship Grant | $30,000 |
| M A Yalcin Evanston, IL | Scholarship Grant | $30,000 |
| I Yuzcelk West Lafayette, IN | Scholarship Grant | $30,000 |
| M C Yedekci Stanford, CA | Scholarship Grant | $30,000 |
| Y Tur Stanford, CA | Scholarship Grant | $30,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $20,100,323 | $1,166,814 | $1,288,486 | $1,057,645 | 53 | $1,240,218 | $1,135,378 | $1,334,834 |
| 2024 | $20,152,526 | $1,206,656 | $1,245,753 | $1,065,607 | 41 | $1,203,315 | $1,197,775 | $1,259,698 |
| 2023 | $20,140,185 | $866,812 | $1,262,428 | $1,103,936 | 41 | $1,220,066 | $836,450 | $1,205,435 |
| 2022 | $20,442,085 | $982,363 | $1,174,356 | $1,010,295 | 41 | $1,127,526 | $948,133 | $1,206,861 |
| 2021 | $20,569,748 | $1,242,984 | $1,075,477 | $854,396 | 44 | $1,001,131 | $1,674,836 | $1,173,661 |
| 2020 | $20,351,119 | $1,612,410 | $1,157,349 | $954,961 | 32 | — | $5,058,523 | $1,010,251 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Defne and Muhtar Kent Educational Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.3M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated direct charitable activity is a 10-day summer scholarship program in Turkey. Scholars travel to interact with Turkish high school students, share their knowledge, and help with STEM projects. Its 2025 grants also included awards identified as scholarship grants.
Grantmaking
The foundation reported 53 grants totaling $1,057,645 in 2025. Grant amounts ranged from $2,600 to $205,203, with a median of $15,000. The largest listed grant was $205,203 to DONOR ADVISED CHARITABLE GIVING in Omaha, Nebraska, for general and unrestricted purposes. Other large grants included $30,000 scholarship grants to A K Narn, M E Tiryaki, N A Basciftci, A Yamaner, D Karalar, M A Yalcin, I Yuzcelk, M C Yedekci, Y Tur, M Erim, and I E Oz.
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Muhtar Kent as president and director; Defne Kent as director, secretary, and treasurer; and Cem Omer Kent and Selin Ipek Kent as directors.
Defne and Muhtar Kent Educational Foundation is led by Muhtar Kent, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Muhtar Kent
President & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cem Omer Kent
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Defne Kent
Director, Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Selin Ipek Kent
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Defne and Muhtar Kent Educational Foundation
How much does Defne and Muhtar Kent Educational Foundation give each year?
Defne and Muhtar Kent Educational Foundation gave $1.1M across 53 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.1M across 41 grants.
What is Defne and Muhtar Kent Educational Foundation's typical grant size?
Defne and Muhtar Kent Educational Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $19,956, across 53 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Defne and Muhtar Kent Educational Foundation give grants?
Defne and Muhtar Kent Educational Foundation's top state is Nebraska, with 20% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (13%) and Michigan (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were East Lansing, MI (6 grants), Evanston, IL (5 grants), Philadelphia, PA (4 grants) and Stanford, CA (3 grants).
Does Defne and Muhtar Kent Educational Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 4% of Defne and Muhtar Kent Educational Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 53) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Scholarship Grant" (51 grants).
Who are Defne and Muhtar Kent Educational Foundation's largest grantees?
Defne and Muhtar Kent Educational Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Donor Advised Charitable Giving ($215,703 across 2 grants), A Yamaner ($45,000 across 2 grants) and A K Narn ($30,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 27% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Defne and Muhtar Kent Educational Foundation?
Defne and Muhtar Kent Educational Foundation reported $20.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.3M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Defne and Muhtar Kent Educational Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated direct charitable activity is a 10-day summer scholarship program in Turkey. Scholars travel to interact with Turkish high school students, share their knowledge, and help with STEM projects. Its 2025 grants also included awards identified as scholarship grants. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Defne and Muhtar Kent Educational Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Defne and Muhtar Kent Educational Foundation's EIN?
Defne and Muhtar Kent Educational Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-2735138. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Defne and Muhtar Kent Educational Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 8, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS September 6, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 12, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 8, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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