Carlson Family Foundation
The Carlson Family Foundation is a Minnesota-based philanthropic foundation headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota. Founded in 1959, the organization operates as a private family foundation with a focus on youth development and community impact.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$18.8M
-2.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.1M
+17.6% YoY
Grant Count
110
+1.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$10K
+15.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Carlson Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation's vision centers on uplifting youth through leadership at the intersection of love and insight. The organization works with the community to create opportunity, hope, and a sense of belonging for every young person.
The Foundation has demonstrated funding interests in:
- Youth development and leadership
- Sex trafficking prevention
- Positive youth-adult relationships
- Community development and economic opportunity
Grantmaking
The Foundation maintains an active grantmaking program. Recent grant announcements indicate awards to initiatives focused on preventing sex trafficking and supporting positive youth-adult relationships.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation's primary geographic focus is the Twin Cities region and Minnesota, though it may support initiatives beyond this area.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The Foundation maintains a modest operational structure with 3 employees as of the most recent reporting period.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $18,767,698 | $19,217,386 | $18,781,340 |
| Revenue | $1,950,587 | $2,050,526 | $1,628,927 |
| Expenses | $2,173,759 | $2,006,509 | $1,807,686 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,388,447 | $1,212,158 | $1,125,270 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,186,130 | $1,272,655 | $955,791 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,438,459 | $1,275,828 | $1,143,635 |
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 Brooke's House Llc ($60,000), Humble Design Inc ($32,927), Booth Hill Fathers Club Inc ($32,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALIVE ALEXANDRIA, VA | DISCRETIONARY GRANT | $2,000 |
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION CHICAGO, IL | DISCRETIONARY GRANT | $7,500 |
| AMANDLA INC PHILADELPHIA, PA | MAJOR GRANT | $20,000 |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY ATLANTA, GA | MATCHING GRANT | $25 |
| AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION NEW YORK, NY | MATCHING GRANT | $1,500 |
| AN ITCH IN TIME - MANGEY FOX RESCUE HADDON TOWNSHIP, NJ | DISCRETIONARY GRANT | $1,000 |
| ANIMAL WELFARE LEAGUE OF ALEXANDRIA ALEXANDRIA, VA | DISCRETIONARY GRANT | $1,000 |
| APPALACHIA SERVICE PROJECT JOHNSON CITY, TN | DISCRETIONARY GRANT | $5,000 |
| ARLINGTON FOOD ASSISTANCE CENTER (AFAC) ARLINGTON, VA | MAJOR GRANT | $15,000 |
| ARLINGTON FREE CLINIC INC ARLINGTON, VA | MAJOR GRANT | $20,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key personnel include:
- Aretha Green-Rupert, Program Director
- Dana Jensen, Program Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN A NORTON | DIRECTOR | 1 | $26,000 |
| MICHAEL A NORTON | DIRECTOR | 1 | $26,000 |
| MARY N OWEN | DIRECTOR | 1 | $26,000 |
| PAUL S NORTON | TREASURER | 5 | $26,000 |
| JAMES M NORTON | DIRECTOR | 1 | $26,000 |
| CHRISTINA N WINCEK | SECRETARY | 5 | $15,640 |
| KYLE P NORTON | DIRECTOR | 1 | $15,640 |
| JOSEPH F NORTON | DIRECTOR | 1 | $15,640 |
| ANN E JACOBS | PRESIDENT | 5 | $15,640 |
| LAUREN C NORTON | DIRECTOR | 1 | $15,640 |
| KAITLYN NORTON | DIRECTOR | 1 | $15,640 |
| TRILBY F NORTON | VICE PRESIDENT | 5 | $15,640 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Foundation announced grants in July 2024 supporting anti-sex trafficking initiatives and programs that strengthen positive youth-adult bonds. The Foundation is an active participant in regional philanthropic collaborations, including membership in the GroundBreak Coalition alongside other major Minnesota funders and civic leaders.
July 2024 Grants Announced - Carlson Family FoundationSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Carlson Family Foundation fund?
The Foundation's vision centers on uplifting youth through leadership at the intersection of love and insight. The organization works with the community to create opportunity, hope, and a sense of belonging for every young person. The Foundation has demonstrated funding interests in: • Youth development and leadership • Sex trafficking prevention • Positive youth-adult relationships • Community development and economic opportunity
How do I apply for a grant from Carlson Family Foundation?
The Foundation maintains an active grantmaking program. Recent grant announcements indicate awards to initiatives focused on preventing sex trafficking and supporting positive youth-adult relationships. The Foundation is also listed as an investor in the GroundBreak Coalition, a civic and philanthropic partnership mobilizing $5.3 billion over the next decade to fuel homeownership, small business, and commercial development in under-resourced communities across the Twin Cities region.
Where does Carlson Family Foundation make grants?
The Foundation's primary geographic focus is the Twin Cities region and Minnesota, though it may support initiatives beyond this area.
What size grants does Carlson Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Carlson Family Foundation awarded 110 grants totaling $1.1M — an average of about $10K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Carlson Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Carlson Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Carlson Family Foundation's EIN?
Carlson Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1678303. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Carlson Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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