The Michael and Alice Kuhn Foundation is a private foundation located in Austin, Texas. It makes grants to promote what it calls “systemic change in societal values, institutions, and laws in order to promote social and economic justice” to left-leaning organizations. ¹ Its 2018 tax returns show the five groups that received the most funding from the foundation were Austin Interfaith, Bend the Arc, Breakthrough, Jewish Community Action, and T’ruah-Rabbis for Human Rights. ²

Grantmaking

The Michael and Alice Kuhn Foundation makes grants to a number of left-progressive advocacy organizations. It has funded national groups like Bend the Arc, Local Progress, and the ACLU Foundation; local groups outside Texas including Interfaith Philadelphia, POWER, and Think New Mexico; and Texas-based groups including Texas Freedom Network, Workers Defense Project, and Faith in Texas. ³

Kuhn Family

Michael Kuhn is the president and CEO of the foundation. Alice Kuhn, Michael’s wife, is the vice president. Michael Kuhn is a real estate manager in Austin, Texas. Michael Kuhn sits on the board of Bend the Arc, a left-progressive Jewish-focused advocacy group. ⁴

Both Michael and Alice Kuhn have been consistent donors to Democratic candidates at the state and federal levels. ^{5 6}

1. Michael and Alice Kuhn Foundation – Home. Accessed July 24, 2020. https://www.kuhnfoundation.com/.
2. Michael and Alice Kuhn Foundation, Return of a Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2018, Part XV Line 3 https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/742791217/11_2019_prefixes_71-77%2F742791217_201812_990PF_2019111516856083
3. Michael and Alice Kuhn Foundation, Return of a Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2018, Part XV Line 3
4. “Michael J. Kuhn.” Bend the Arc. Accessed July 24, 2020. http://archive.bendthearc.us/leadership/michael-j-kuhn.
5. “The Center for Responsive Politics.” OpenSecrets. Accessed May 11, 2020. https://www.opensecrets.org/search?q=alice+Kuhn+&type=donors.
6. “The Center for Responsive Politics.” OpenSecrets. Accessed May 11, 2020. https://www.opensecrets.org/search?order=desc&q=Michael+Kuhn&sort=N&type=donors.