Carl E Kessler Family Foundation
The Carl E Kessler Family Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1994 and based in Fort Worth, Texas. As a 501(c)(3) organization, it operates as a non-operating foundation focused on philanthropic grantmaking to support charitable causes across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$8.0M
+6.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$311K
-10.0% YoY
Grant Count
15
-11.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$21K
+2.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Carl E Kessler Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $376K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not maintain a publicly stated mission statement. However, its grantmaking priorities include:
- Human services and welfare
- Animal welfare
- Education
- Veteran support
- Social services
- Human rights
- Philanthropy and grantmaking
The foundation has utilized funds from property sales for investment to accomplish its philanthropic goals.
Grantmaking
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
Grant Range
approximately $3,000
Average Grant
approximately $3,000
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Carl E Kessler Family Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Texas
- California
- New Jersey
- Tennessee
Texas, New Jersey, and California account for 41% of all grants made by the foundation.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $7,967,465
- Total Revenues: $270,926
- Total Expenses: $579,105
- Annual Income: $1.6 million
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $7.5 million
- Total Revenues: $153,000
- Total Expenses: $591,000
- Total Liabilities: $37,400
Staffing: 1 employee
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $7,967,465 | $7,497,587 | $7,335,543 |
| Revenue | $270,926 | $152,552 | $572,493 |
| Expenses | $579,105 | $590,778 | $693,506 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $310,661 | $345,030 | $453,500 |
| Net Investment Income | $85,974 | — | $344,192 |
| Distributable Amount | $376,441 | $368,618 | $357,761 |
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
182 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Charity Navigator ($201,150), Communities in Schools Dallas Region ($45,000), Salvation Army ($16,011).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Brazos Foundation Mineral Wells, TX | Education | $1,500 |
| Careity Foundation Fort Worth, TX | Human Service | $10,000 |
| Charity Navigator Glen Rock, NJ | Human Service | $201,150 |
| Clark Garden Weatherford, TX | Education | $1,000 |
| Communities in Schools Dallas Region Dallas, TX | Education | $45,000 |
| Ducks Unlimited Inc Memphis, TN | Animal Welfare | $1,500 |
| Friends of Mineral Wells Dog Park Mineral Wells, TX | Animal Welfare | $2,500 |
| Friends of Mineral Wells Shelter Mineral Wells, TX | Animal Welfare | $1,500 |
| Going Home - Rescue Transport Richardson, TX | Human Service | $5,000 |
| Grace House Pregnancy Center Mineral Wells, TX | Human Service | $2,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Principal Officer: Carl E Kessler
The foundation is governed by 3 officers and trustees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| David R Kessler | Vice President | 10 | $47,500 |
| Carla K Kessler | President | 20 | $52,500 |
| Karen Garrison | Secretary/Treasurer | 20 | $23,500 |
Contact Information
- Address: PO Box 121579, Fort Worth, TX 76121-1579
- Phone: 817-946-3232 or (940) 325-5629
- EIN: 75-2567397
- Tax-Exempt Status: January 1995
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Carl E Kessler Family Foundation fund?
The foundation does not maintain a publicly stated mission statement. However, its grantmaking priorities include: • Human services and welfare • Animal welfare • Education • Veteran support • Social services • Human rights • Philanthropy and grantmaking The foundation has utilized funds from property sales for investment to accomplish its philanthropic goals.
How do I apply for a grant from Carl E Kessler Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 17 grants in 2024 • Historical grantmaking has ranged from $200 to $275,000 per award • Average grant size: approximately $3,000 • Median grant size: $2,000 • Total grants made historically: 489 grants totaling $1.5 million • Annual giving has grown from $285,000 in 2020 to $345,000 in 2023 • Peak grantmaking activity occurred in 2022 with $907,000 distributed across 342 grants • The foundation has supported 222 unique organizations **Recent Grants (2024):** • Charity…
Where does Carl E Kessler Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Texas • California • New Jersey • Tennessee Texas, New Jersey, and California account for 41% of all grants made by the foundation.
What size grants does Carl E Kessler Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Carl E Kessler Family Foundation awarded 15 grants totaling $311K — an average of about $21K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Carl E Kessler Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Carl E Kessler Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $376K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Carl E Kessler Family Foundation's EIN?
Carl E Kessler Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 75-2567397. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Carl E Kessler Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
William Z Hayes Foundation
DALLAS, TX
Assets
$629K
Grants
4
Total Given
$28K
Tr Uw Jane James Cook Item 19
DALLAS, TX
Assets
$861K
Grants
11
Total Given
$41K
Forsyth Fbo Leonard Wood Memorial
DALLAS, TX
Assets
$320K
Grants
1
Total Given
$18K
Teas Foundation
AMARILLO, TX
Assets
$3.0M
Grants
3
Total Given
$138K
Crystelle Waggoner Charitable Trust
DALLAS, TX
Assets
$13.5M
Grants
41
Total Given
$3.9M
Nelson & Debbie Fox Charitable Fdtn
LUBBOCK, TX
Assets
$329K
Grants
9
Total Given
$90K
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Carl E Kessler 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 Carl E Kessler Family Foundation to a real strategy.