Andrea Waitt Carlton Family Foundation
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
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Andrea Waitt Carlton Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission centers on giving in four major areas:
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.
Animal Welfare — Protection and humane treatment of both wild and domestic animals.
Social Concerns — Emphasis on helping Native Americans help themselves.
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
**
Ready to take the next step with Andrea Waitt Carlton Family Foundation?
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
States
Cities
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
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Belmont University ($262,000), Belmont University ($203,569), Ducks Unlimited ($150,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 413 STRONG NASHVILLE, TN | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $2,500 |
| A SOLDIER'S CHILD MURFRESBORO, TN | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| AGAPE ANIMAL RESCUE NASHVILLE, TN | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| AMERICAN BIRD CONSERVANCY THE PLAINS, VA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| AMERICAN HUMANE WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| AMERICAN HUMANE WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $26,000 |
| ANIMAL PROTECTION OF NEW MEXICO ALBUQUERQUE, NM | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $30,000 |
| ASPCA NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| BAREFOOT REPUBLIC INC NASHVILLE, TN | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| BEACON CENTER OF TENNESSEE NASHVILLE, TN | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $50,000 |
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
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANDREA WAITT CARLTON | PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | 4 | — |
| JENNIFER KRONEBUSCH | SECRETARY/TREASURER/DIRECTOR | 1 | $10,000 |
| JACQUE J ROBERTS | ASSISTANT SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| STEVEN RASMUSSEN | DIRECTOR | 1 | $10,000 |
| SAMUEL A WAITT | DIRECTOR | 3 | $10,000 |
| DONNA DALTON | DIRECTOR | 1 | $10,000 |
| JOHN N CARNEY | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 20 | $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 FoundationSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Andrea Waitt Carlton Family Foundation fund?
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 perfo…
How do I apply for a grant from Andrea Waitt Carlton Family Foundation?
**Grant Amounts & Activity:** • Individual grants have ranged from $500 to $262,000 • Average grant award: approximately $25,000 • Median grant: $10,000 • The foundation has made 340 grants totaling $8.5 million across available records • Annual giving has ranged from $2.8 million to $5.4 million in recent years **Application Process:** • Proposals may be submitted at any time and are reviewed on a revolving basis • No confirmed application deadline **Grant Focus Areas:** • Education and STEM e…
Where does Andrea Waitt Carlton Family Foundation make 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
What size grants does Andrea Waitt Carlton Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Andrea Waitt Carlton Family Foundation awarded 101 grants totaling $3.1M — an average of about $30K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Andrea Waitt Carlton Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Andrea Waitt Carlton Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Andrea Waitt Carlton Family Foundation's EIN?
Andrea Waitt Carlton Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 86-0910220. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Andrea Waitt Carlton Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Maclellan Center for Global Christian Ed
CHATTANOOGA, TN
Assets
$592K
Grants
1
Total Given
$48K
Anne Bransford Wallace Foundation
NASHVILLE, TN
Assets
$553K
Grants
40
Total Given
$43K
Springplace Presbyterian Church 280-5019032
KNOXVILLE, TN
Assets
$140K
Grants
1
Total Given
$6K
United Way of East Tennessee
JOHNSON CITY, TN
Assets
$3.4M
Grants
12
Total Given
$202K
One Family Memphis
MEMPHIS, TN
Assets
$6.4M
Grants
0
Total Given
—
Southeast Center for Cooperative Development
NASHVILLE, TN
Assets
$388K
Grants
1
Total Given
$20K
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Andrea Waitt Carlton Family Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching Andrea Waitt Carlton Family Foundation to a real strategy.