Aaron & Gertrude Karchmer Memorial Foundation
AARON & GERTRUDE KARCHMER MEMORIAL is a private foundation based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It made 16 grants totaling $45,198 in 2024, with most grant dollars going to organizations in Oklahoma. Its 2025 filing, the latest on this page, reports 12 grants totaling $79,200.
Aaron & Gertrude Karchmer Memorial Foundation at a glance
In short: Aaron & Gertrude Karchmer Memorial Foundation gave $79K across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $7K), mostly in Oklahoma. 25% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $79,200
- +75.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 12
- -25.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $6,600
- +133.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $6,650
- Total assets
- $592,545
- +63.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 25% first-time grantees (3 of 12, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Oklahoma (86% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated November 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Aaron & Gertrude Karchmer Memorial Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The filing names Don A. Karchmer as the contact. Applicants should submit a letter explaining the organization’s exempt purpose, information about the organization, and proof of exempt status. Awards are restricted to 501(c)(3) organizations.
- Contact
Application contact: Don A Karchmer
Mailing address: PO Box 436, Oklahoma City, OK 73101
Phone: (405) 236-2210
Email: don@dakarchmer.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Aaron & Gertrude Karchmer Memorial Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was First American Museum Foundation ($20K). Together the top 10 received $78K.
Grant Size Distribution
83 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 80 grants of 83 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 95% of grant dollars went to recipients in Oklahoma, 4% to Illinois, and 1% to New York; California accounted for 0% of grant dollars. The listed grants included Oklahoma City recipients as well as East End Hospice in New York, the Alzheimer’s Association in Illinois, and Carmel Bach Festival in California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Aaron & Gertrude Karchmer Memorial Foundation open to new grantees?
25%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 12 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. With only 12 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $7K; repeat grants $6K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $7K repeat.
- 50% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 78% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 469% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $45K (2024) to $357K (2022). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $79K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| First American Museum Foundation Oklahoma City, OK | Support of General Operation of Organization | $20,000 |
| Special Care Oklahoma City, OK | Support of General Operation of Organization | $10,000 |
| Harding Fine Arts Academy Foundation Oklahoma City, OK | Support of General Operation of Organization | $10,000 |
| Hillel Foundation Washington, DC | Support of General Operation of Organization | $10,000 |
| Oklahoma Israel Exchange Inc Oklahoma City, OK | Support of General Operation of Organization | $7,200 |
| Jewish Federation of OKC Oklahoma City, OK | Support of General Operation of Organization | $6,800 |
| Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Oklahoma City, OK | Support of General Operation of Organization | $6,500 |
| Last Frontier Council Oklahoma City, OK | Support of General Operation of Organization | $3,600 |
| Allied Arts Oklahoma City, OK | Support of General Operation of Organization | $1,800 |
| Downtown Oklahoma City Initiatives Inc Oklahoma City, OK | Support of General Operation of Organization | $1,800 |
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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 | $592,545 | $348,737 | $89,890 | $79,200 | 12 | $86,075 | $53,031 | $18,336 |
| 2024 | $361,748 | $29,586 | $46,207 | $45,198 | 16 | $45,198 | $28,577 | $19,111 |
| 2023 | $388,006 | $370,345 | $206,943 | $201,360 | 19 | $202,410 | $97,312 | $20,889 |
| 2022 | $215,010 | $18,245 | $360,026 | $357,180 | 19 | $357,180 | $68,293 | $17,912 |
| 2021 | $485,670 | $10,893 | $116,381 | $110,500 | 17 | $110,500 | $131,497 | $35,021 |
| 2020 | $457,330 | $14,195 | $117,297 | $111,833 | 12 | — | $60,224 | $31,755 |
| 2019 | $500,208 | $17,214 | $155,416 | $147,466 | 29 | — | $77,955 | — |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Aaron & Gertrude Karchmer Memorial Foundation reported a distributable amount of $18K 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations working in areas including disability support, health care, arts and culture, social services, community initiatives, and recreation. For example, Special Care describes its mission as helping prevent the cumulative effects of a child’s disability and nurturing the abilities of families and children with special needs. Oklahoma Contemporary Arts also received a grant; the available information does not provide its mission.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation gave 16 grants totaling $45,198. Grants ranged from $180 to $10,000, with a median grant of $1,800. The two largest grants were $10,000 each to Special Care and SSM St. Mary’s Hospital, both for general operating support. Other notable grants included $7,500 to Oklahoma Contemporary Arts and $3,600 to the Boy Scouts of America Last Frontier Council, each for general operating support. Its 2025 filing, the latest on this page, reports 12 grants totaling $79,200.
Other 2024 recipients included Jimmy Everest Center ($1,980), Allied Arts ($1,800), the Alzheimer’s Association ($1,800), Downtown Oklahoma City Initiatives ($1,800), Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City ($1,800), Jewish Federation of OKC ($1,378), United Way of Central Oklahoma ($1,000), and Myriad Gardens Foundation ($1,000). These grants were also listed for general operating support.
The grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of organizations supported. Downtown Oklahoma City Initiatives says its mission is to foster creativity and culture through public art and activation in downtown. Catholic Charities says it provides social services to people in need, regardless of faith. United Way of Central Oklahoma describes its work as connecting people and resources to improve community well-being. Myriad Gardens Foundation describes a mission centered on a botanical garden and urban park, with horticultural, cultural, recreational, and educational programs.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Don A. Karchmer as president and treasurer and Tere Bond as secretary.
Aaron & Gertrude Karchmer Memorial Foundation is led by Don A. Karchmer, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2019; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Don A. Karchmer
President & Treasurer
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tere Bond
Secretary
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Aaron & Gertrude Karchmer Memorial Foundation
How much does Aaron & Gertrude Karchmer Memorial Foundation give each year?
Aaron & Gertrude Karchmer Memorial Foundation gave $79K across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $45K across 16 grants.
What is Aaron & Gertrude Karchmer Memorial Foundation's typical grant size?
Aaron & Gertrude Karchmer Memorial Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $6,650, and its average grant was $6,600, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Aaron & Gertrude Karchmer Memorial Foundation that year got $7K on average.
Where does Aaron & Gertrude Karchmer Memorial Foundation give grants?
Aaron & Gertrude Karchmer Memorial Foundation gives mostly in Oklahoma: 86% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was District of Columbia (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Oklahoma City, OK (10 grants).
Does Aaron & Gertrude Karchmer Memorial Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Aaron & Gertrude Karchmer Memorial Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (12 of 12) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Aaron & Gertrude Karchmer Memorial Foundation's largest grantees?
Aaron & Gertrude Karchmer Memorial Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include First American Museum Foundation ($20,000), Special Care ($10,000) and Harding Fine Arts Academy Foundation ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 51% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Aaron & Gertrude Karchmer Memorial Foundation?
Aaron & Gertrude Karchmer Memorial Foundation reported $593K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $86K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $18K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Aaron & Gertrude Karchmer Memorial Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations working in areas including disability support, health care, arts and culture, social services, community initiatives, and recreation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Aaron & Gertrude Karchmer Memorial Foundation?
The filing names Don A. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Aaron & Gertrude Karchmer Memorial Foundation's EIN?
Aaron & Gertrude Karchmer Memorial Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 73-1463604. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 26, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS September 10, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Aaron & Gertrude Karchmer Memorial Foundation funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Aaron & Gertrude Karchmer Memorial Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/aaron-and-gertrude-karchmer-memorial-foundation-morg_55d94fad40ea49eeaa4ece000fc1415e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_731463604_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Aaron \& Gertrude Karchmer Memorial Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/aaron-and-gertrude-karchmer-memorial-foundation-morg_55d94fad40ea49eeaa4ece000fc1415e},
note = {Accessed 2026-11-04. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Aaron & Gertrude Karchmer Memorial Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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