Bernard & Nancy Karwick Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Woodbury, NY EIN: 81-4726531

The Bernard & Nancy Karwick Foundation is a private foundation based in Woodbury, New York. In 2024, it reported 19 grants totaling $1,084,100, including a $1 million grant to Mayo Clinic.

Bernard & Nancy Karwick Foundation at a glance

In short: Bernard & Nancy Karwick Foundation gave $1.1M across 19 grants in 2024 (avg $57K), mostly in Minnesota. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$1,084,100
+305.3% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
19
-13.6% vs 2023
Average grant
$57,058
+369.3% vs 2023
Median grant
$1,000
Total assets
$3,247,518
-8.2% vs 2023
Primary geography
Minnesota (95% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.

How to apply to Bernard & Nancy Karwick Foundation

Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to Apply

The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations.

Contact

Mailing address: 100 Crossways Park West 112, Woodbury, NY 11797
Phone: (516) 364-5050

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Bernard & Nancy Karwick Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Mayo Clinic: $1.0MMayo Clinic$1.0MCato Institute: $30KCato Institute$30KAmphibian Ark: $25KAmphibian Ark$25KIndependent Institute: $10KIndependent Institute$10KAmerican Himalayan Fund: $5KAmerican Himalayan Fund$5KAdvocates for Snake Preservation: $3KAdvocates for SnakePreservation$3KEmpire Center for Public Policy: $3KEmpire Center for PublicPolicy$3KAtlas Network: $1KAtlas Network$1KDenver Dumb Friends: $1KDenver Dumb Friends$1KCornell Feline Health Center: $1KCornell Feline Health Center$1K

The largest 2024 recipient was Mayo Clinic ($1.0M). Together the top 10 received $1.1M.

Grant Size Distribution

95 grants across all recorded years

89<$50K2$50–100K3$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M1$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 89 grants of 95 (94%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation’s 2024 grant dollars went primarily to Minnesota recipients (95%), followed by recipients in Washington, DC (3%) and California (2%). The filing also reports 0% for New York and New Mexico.

Grant Distribution by State

19states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 19 itemized grants.

Cities

DenverIthacaRochesterWashington DcAlbanyApple ValleyArlingtonBozemanCamp PendletonGlen RockLa JollaMilpitasOaklandPuuneneSan FranciscoSilver CityWaterburyAtlantaXeniaYulee

How Bernard & Nancy Karwick Foundation gives

  • 95% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 241% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 421% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2024). 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

$0$500K$1M$1.5M2 grants2020 30 grants2021 22 grants2022 22 grants2023 19 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $85K (2020) to $1.1M (2024). In 2024 it made 19 grants totaling $1.1M.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Mayo Clinic Rochester, MNGeneralgeneralgeneralgeneral$1,000,000
Cato Institute Washington DC, DCGeneral$30,000
Amphibian Ark Apple Valley, MNGeneral$25,000
Independent Institute Oakland, CAGeneral$10,000
American Himalayan Fund San Francisco, CAGeneral$5,000
Advocates for Snake Preservation Silver City, NMGeneral$2,500
Empire Center for Public Policy Albany, NYGeneral$2,500
Atlas Network Arlington, VAGeneral$1,000
Denver Dumb Friends Glen Rock, NJGeneral$1,000
Cornell Feline Health Center Ithaca, NYGeneral$1,000
Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with Bernard & Nancy Karwick Foundation?

Fully replaces Grant database subscriptions Instrumentl · Foundation Directory · GrantStation & similar

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$3,247,518$785,671$1,084,600$1,084,10019$1,084,100$685,671$257,502
2023$3,535,748$299,126$267,709$267,50022$267,500$99,126$240,846
2022$3,493,020$332,567$238,655$233,00022$233,000$82,567$235,101
2021$3,390,392$388,594$318,400$317,70030$317,700$188,594$244,500
2020$3,308,836$279,590$85,000$85,0002—$144,590$213,355

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bernard & Nancy Karwick Foundation reported a distributable amount of $258K for 2024 — 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 foundation mission is stated in the available information. Its 2024 grants went to organizations working in areas including health care, public policy, amphibian conservation, animal welfare, and aviation access.

Grantees describe their work in their own terms. Mayo Clinic says its mission is to contribute to health and well-being through patient care, education, and research. Amphibian Ark says it works to ensure the survival and diversity of amphibian species that cannot currently be safeguarded in their natural environments. Cato Institute says it promotes individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace. Empire Center for Public Policy says it promotes New York policy reforms grounded in free-market principles, personal responsibility, and accountable government. Himalayan Cataract Project says it develops cost-effective eye care in underserved areas.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation reported 19 grants totaling $1,084,100. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $1,000,000, with a median of $1,000.

The largest reported grants included $1,000,000 to Mayo Clinic, $30,000 to Cato Institute, $25,000 to Amphibian Ark, $10,000 to Independent Institute, and $5,000 to American Himalayan Fund. Other reported grants included $2,500 each to Advocates for Snake Preservation and Empire Center for Public Policy, and $1,000 each to Atlas Network, Denver Dumb Friends, Cornell Feline Health Center, Cornell Riney Canine Health Center, and Himalayan Cataract Project.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Bernard Karwick and Nancy Karwick as directors.

Bernard & Nancy Karwick Foundation's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Bernard Karwick

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Nancy Karwick

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Bernard & Nancy Karwick Foundation

How much does Bernard & Nancy Karwick Foundation give each year?

Bernard & Nancy Karwick Foundation gave $1.1M across 19 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $268K across 22 grants.

What is Bernard & Nancy Karwick Foundation's typical grant size?

Bernard & Nancy Karwick Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $1,000, and its average grant was $57,058, across 19 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Bernard & Nancy Karwick Foundation give grants?

Bernard & Nancy Karwick Foundation gives mostly in Minnesota: 95% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Ithaca, NY (2 grants).

Does Bernard & Nancy Karwick Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 89% of Bernard & Nancy Karwick Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (17 of 19) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Bernard & Nancy Karwick Foundation's largest grantees?

Bernard & Nancy Karwick Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Mayo Clinic ($1,000,000), Cato Institute ($30,000) and Amphibian Ark ($25,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 97% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Bernard & Nancy Karwick Foundation?

Bernard & Nancy Karwick Foundation reported $3.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $258K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Bernard & Nancy Karwick Foundation fund?

No foundation mission is stated in the available information. Its 2024 grants went to organizations working in areas including health care, public policy, amphibian conservation, animal welfare, and aviation access. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Bernard & Nancy Karwick Foundation?

The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Bernard & Nancy Karwick Foundation's EIN?

Bernard & Nancy Karwick Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-4726531. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Does Bernard & Nancy Karwick Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

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

Data update history

(1)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in Bernard & Nancy Karwick Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database

Similar Funders

Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in New York

Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Inc

Princeton, NJ

The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation supports health access and stronger health systems, with a focus on adult and pediatric cancers, blood disorders, brain health, and clinical-trial participation in the United States, Brazil, India, and ten Sub-Saharan African countries. In 2024, its median grant was about $134,000, though awards varied widely; it does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests, and advises prospective applicants to contact the Foundation about its process.

Assets

$83.3M

Grants

144

Total Given

$67.7M

The Ford Foundation

New York, NY

The Ford Foundation funds organizations and initiatives working to reduce inequality and advance social justice, including work on civic engagement, civil rights, climate justice, disability rights, and technology and society. In 2024, its grants ranged from $45 to $15 million, with a median of $100,000, supporting work in the U.S. and internationally. It says most grants are identified by the foundation and it does not accept unsolicited proposals by mail, email, or phone; limited opportunities may be offered separately.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$17.5B

Grants

4,007

Total Given

$844.7M

The New York Community Trust

New York, NY

The New York Community Trust funds nonprofit programs in areas such as arts, education, health, the environment, workforce development, and youth development, including projects that improve services, build organizational capacity, or advance policy and systems change. Its competitive grants mainly serve New York City, Long Island, and Westchester, with some national and international environmental funding; the 2024 median grant was $20,000. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.

Assets

$3.5B

Grants

2,748

Total Given

$193.8M

The Simons Foundation Inc

New York, NY

The Simons Foundation funds research and public engagement in mathematics and the physical, life, autism, and neuroscience sciences. In 2024, it made 1,727 grants, with a median award of $72,000 and amounts ranging from $1,480 to $20 million, supporting organizations in the U.S. and internationally. It states that it funds only preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$4.5B

Grants

1,727

Total Given

$272.0M

Local Initiatives Support Corporation

New York, NY

LISC funds affordable housing, community development, small businesses, and related efforts that strengthen inclusive communities, providing grants as well as loans, equity, and technical assistance across the country. Its 2024 grants had a median award of $40,000, though amounts varied widely. Application access is program-specific: for its Rhode Island child care facilities planning grants, applicants are instructed to consult program staff before submitting a request.

Assets

$1.6B

Grants

1,119

Total Given

$102.8M

Wellspring Philanthropic Fund Inc

New York, NY

Wellspring Philanthropic Fund supports human rights and social and economic justice, including work on climate, the environment, civic engagement, and Jewish causes, in the United States and internationally. Its 2024 grants had a median of $200,000, with amounts ranging from $500 to $9.75 million. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests; it plans to end grantmaking by the end of 2028.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$134.4M

Grants

1,101

Total Given

$326.0M

More Funders in New York

Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Bernard & Nancy Karwick Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/bernard-and-nancy-karwick-foundation-morg_a97c9507036446b3ad50ae2da5ba7041

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_814726531_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Bernard \& Nancy Karwick Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/bernard-and-nancy-karwick-foundation-morg_a97c9507036446b3ad50ae2da5ba7041},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Bernard & Nancy Karwick 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.

Bernard & Nancy Karwick Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?

Want AI to do this for you?