Andrea Waitt Carlton Family Foundation

NASHVILLE, TN EIN: 86-0910220

The Andrea Waitt Carlton Family Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Nashville, Tennessee. Established in June 1998, it operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to philanthropic giving across multiple focus areas including environmental conservation, animal welfare, social services, and the arts.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$68.3M

+9.3% YoY

Annual Giving

$3.1M

+16.9% YoY

Grant Count

101

+14.8% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$30K

+1.9% YoY

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation's mission centers on giving in four major areas:

  1. Environmental Concerns — Programs that preserve land and educate the public on protecting and caring for natural heritage. Environmental and conservation grants are considered on a national basis.

  2. Animal Welfare — Protection and humane treatment of both wild and domestic animals.

  3. Social Concerns — Emphasis on helping Native Americans help themselves.

  4. Fine Arts — Renovation and support of visual and performing arts.

The foundation may also fund other charitable organizations or programs as deemed appropriate by the board of directors.

Grantmaking

Average Grant

award: approximately $25,000

Review Cycle

**Grant Focus Areas:**

How to Apply

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Primary Focus Areas:

  • Nashville, Tennessee metropolitan area (major focus)
  • Lake region of northwest Iowa
  • Selected areas of Colorado, Florida, and South Dakota
  • North Dakota

Secondary Geographic Reach:

  • Grantmaking reaches organizations across 23 states
  • Environmental and conservation grants considered nationally
  • Primary grantmaking concentrated in Tennessee, Iowa, and Pennsylvania, which account for 57% of all grants

Grant Distribution by State

29states
+21 more states

Cities

AlbuquerqueAlexandriaAntiochArlingtonArnolds ParkBala CynwaydBala CynwydBillingsBiriminghamBirminghamBoca GrandeBooneBowling GreenBrentwoodBrentwoordCedar RapidsChandlerChattanoogaChicagoClaremont

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Assets & Income (Most Recent Data):

  • Total assets: $62.5 million to $68.3 million (varies by reporting year)
  • Annual income: $1.4 million to $3.7 million
  • Total giving: $3.05 million to $5.4 million annually
  • Total liabilities: $16,700 (2023)

Asset Growth:

  • Assets have grown from $39.2 million in 2011 to $68.3 million in 2024

Major Donors:

  • Andrea H. Waitt
  • Norman W. Waitt
  • Kind World Foundation
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$3M$6M$9M$12M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$68,326,990$62,506,712$57,877,052
Revenue$3,742,576$1,447,587$2,189,942
Expenses$3,991,491$3,530,997$3,697,627
Qualifying Distributions$3,577,508$3,119,005$3,203,240
Net Investment Income$3,490,216$969,806$1,887,057
Distributable Amount$3,187,491$2,872,253$2,922,378

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$763K$2M$2M$3M92 grants202098 grants2021121 grants202288 grants2023101 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

BELMONT UNIVERSITY$262KBELMONT UNIVERSITY$204KDUCKS UNLIMITED$150KFRIENDS OF RADNOR LAKE$100KCOMMUNIO$75KCHEEKWOOD BOTANICAL GARD…$66KFRIENDS OF LAKESIDE LABS$63KBEACON CENTER OF TENNESSEE$50KCLINIC FOR THE REHABILIT…$50KFIRST LIBERTY INSTITUTE$50K

Grant Size Distribution

250 grants across all recorded years

211<$50K13$50–100K24$100–250K2$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

No grants recorded for .

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Key Contact:

  • Steven Rasmussen — Contact person
  • Phone: 615-873-4142

The foundation is governed by 7 officers and trustees.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

JOHN N CARNEYEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR$336KJENNIFER KRONEBUSCHSECRETARY/TREASURER/DIRECTOR$10KSTEVEN RASMUSSENDIRECTOR$10KSAMUEL A WAITTDIRECTOR$10KDONNA DALTONDIRECTOR$10K

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
ANDREA WAITT CARLTONPRESIDENT/DIRECTOR4
JENNIFER KRONEBUSCHSECRETARY/TREASURER/DIRECTOR1$10,000
JACQUE J ROBERTSASSISTANT SECRETARY1
STEVEN RASMUSSENDIRECTOR1$10,000
SAMUEL A WAITTDIRECTOR3$10,000
DONNA DALTONDIRECTOR1$10,000
JOHN N CARNEYEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR20$336,423

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

The foundation has demonstrated active engagement in environmental conservation, including partnerships with national organizations focused on habitat protection and wildlife preservation. The foundation has supported organizations across multiple states and continues to make grants to nonprofits aligned with its core mission areas.

Carlson Family FoundationJuly 2024 Grants Announced - Carlson Family Foundation

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Related Funders

Similar funders by location and focus area

Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

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