An Overview of How the John B. and Nelly Llanos Kilroy Foundation Gives in Southern California
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Los Angeles-area high schools and colleges are frequent grantees. Photo: Benny Marty/shutterstock
Lots of local givers in Southern California derive their fortunes from real estate, including the John B. and Nelly Llanos Kilroy Foundation. John Kilroy was the man behind Kilroy Industries, a private commercial real estate company that boomed after World War II when the aerospace and defense industries were looking for property to buy. Kilroy died in 2016 at the age of 94 and was also known as a yachting champion.
To help Southern California grantseekers get to know the Kilroy Foundation’s giving a bit better, here are four important facts to know.
1. There are strong ties to Los Angeles
Although the Kilroy Foundation does not specify any particular geographic restrictions for its giving, it’s undeniable that the family has strong ties to Los Angeles. The Kilroy Airport Center office parks are located close to the Los Angeles and Long Beach airports, and Kilroy Realty owns plenty of properties in Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties. The family’s foundation is based in Rolling Hills Estates, located south of the city near the coast.
2. Grantmaking is a family endeavor
The Kilroy Foundation is a traditional family foundation with no full-time staff members or paid employees. Nelly Llanos Kilroy serves as the foundation’s president, Chris Krogh as CFO, Steve Shipman and Richard Colyear as directors, Mike Wallace as secretary and Beatrice Wallace as vice president. The individuals running this foundation do not make themselves readily available to grantseekers for questions.
3. Schools receive the most funding
By far, the Kilroy Foundation supports schools more than anything else. Recent school grantees include the Immaculate Heart High School, St. Brendan’s School and Loyola High School.
In addition to multiple high schools, the foundation also supports university-level nursing schools and general colleges. The Kilroy Foundation also funds the LA County Museum of Art and Heart of LA, a local nonprofit that helps underserved children succeed through after-school programs. Over the years, other Kilroy interests have included animals, human services and religious causes.
4. The foundation maintains a low profile
Unfortunately for local grantseekers looking to get involved with the Kilroy Foundation, this is not a particularly transparent or accessible funder. The foundation does not have a website, and according to recent tax records, it does not accept unsolicited requests. It tends to support well-established organizations it is already familiar with and does not publicly share details about grantmaking guidelines or deadlines.
More information about the John B. and Nelly Llanos Kilroy Foundation and other local funders can be found in IP’s LA and SoCal funding guide.
