The Carnegie Foundation for
Based in Stanford, California, the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching works to catalyze transformational change in education so every student has the opportunity to live a healthy, dignified, and fulfilling life. Its work centers on high school transformation and postsecondary innovation.
The Carnegie Foundation for at a glance
In short: The Carnegie Foundation for gave $2.4M across 24 grants in 2025 (avg $100K), top state Indiana. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,400,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 24
- Average grant
- $100,000
- Median grant
- $100,000
- Total assets
- $166,054,258
- +5.0% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Indiana (21% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Carnegie Foundation for
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation’s 2023 filing states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Its website also says that, as an operating foundation, it does not award grants or scholarships.
- Contact
Mailing address: 51 Vista Lane, Stanford, CA 94305
Phone: (650) 566-5100
Website: https://www.carnegiefoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Carnegie Foundation for funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Akron Public Schools ($100K). Together the top 10 received $1.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
24 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 24 grants of 24 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 filing shows grant dollars going to recipients in multiple states. The largest reported state share was Indiana, with 21%; Texas, Pennsylvania, California, and North Carolina each accounted for 8%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 24 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
In 2025 it made 24 grants totaling $2.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Akron Public Schools Akron, OH | Education Research | $100,000 |
| Aldine Independent School District Houston, TX | Education Research | $100,000 |
| Building 21 Philadelphia, PA | Education Research | $100,000 |
| California Area School District Coal Center, PA | Education Research | $100,000 |
| Canon City School District Canon City, CO | Education Research | $100,000 |
| Center for Applied Science and Tech San Antonio, TX | Education Research | $100,000 |
| CSC of Eastern Hancock County Charlottesville, IN | Education Research | $100,000 |
| Concord Community Schoool Corpor Elkhart, IN | Education Research | $100,000 |
| Crosstown High Memphis, TN | Education Research | $100,000 |
| Ednovate Los Angeles, CA | Education Research | $100,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $166,054,258 | $18,685,063 | $20,654,231 | $2,400,000 | 24 | $20,056,966 | $3,820,764 |
| 2024 | $158,113,287 | $35,592,679 | $20,869,294 | — | — | $20,196,745 | $3,424,213 |
| 2023 | $134,562,941 | $12,216,160 | $18,326,411 | — | — | $17,578,571 | $2,645,106 |
| 2022 | $131,360,777 | $20,151,205 | $14,099,722 | — | — | $13,296,915 | $2,204,000 |
| 2021 | $150,265,061 | $13,765,527 | $12,924,951 | — | — | — | $1,808,966 |
| 2020 | $125,739,902 | $12,491,087 | $13,486,816 | — | — | — | $2,235,138 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s stated mission is to catalyze transformational change in education so that every student has the opportunity to live a healthy, dignified, and fulfilling life. Its work includes developing a new high school architecture intended to make learning more engaging, experiential, and career-aligned, and advancing postsecondary innovation to support social and economic mobility.
In its 2023 filing, the Foundation described work on improvement science, including a summit, stories of school improvement, and online courses and resources. It also described working with education practitioners and partners on secondary-school systems and curricula, convening networks, and advocating for changes in secondary schooling.
The 2025 grants included education-research awards to schools and education organizations. Among the grantees described in their own words, Building 21 says it empowers learner networks to connect with their passions and build agency; Ednovate says it aims for students to use college degrees and careers to make positive multigenerational change; and Summit Public Schools says it operates college-preparatory California charter schools and programs to develop teachers and school leaders.
Grantmaking
The 2025 filing lists 24 grants totaling $2.4 million. All were $100,000, so the median grant was also $100,000. Listed recipients include Building 21 in Pennsylvania, Ednovate in California, and Summit Public Schools in California, each receiving $100,000. Other listed recipients include Akron Public Schools in Ohio and Aldine Independent School District in Texas, each receiving $100,000 for education research.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Diane Tavenner as board chair; Janelle Scott as secretary; and Odile Disch-Bhadkamkar as treasurer. Listed board members are Robert Hughes, Jorge Aguilar, Russlynn Ali, Sydnee Dickson, Alejandro Hernandez, Yo Yo Ma, and Aaron Rasmussen.
The Carnegie Foundation for is led by Timothy Knowles, President since 2021 (on filings since 2020); 6 of 20 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Timothy Knowles
President
Board Member → President, 2021
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$421K (2021) → $796K (2025)
Diane Tavenner
Board Chair
Board Member → Board Chair, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Keicy Tolbert
Vice President & Administrator
Chief Staff → Vice President & Administrator, 2025
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$149K (2020) → $274K (2025)
Kito Cetrulo - Managing Director
Of Communications
Committee & Publi → Of Communications, 2025
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$213K (2024) → $250K (2025)
Brooke Stafford-Brizard - Vp For
Innovation
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$345K (2025)
Diego Arambula - Vp For
Education Tr
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$345K (2025)
Douglas Mihok - Outgoing
Controller
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$57K (2025)
Odile Disch-Bhadkamkar
Treasurer
Board Member → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert Hughes
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Yo Yo Ma
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Janelle Scott
Secretary
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jorge Aguilar
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nicole Taylor
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Russlynn Ali
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Aaron Rasmussen
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Andrew Ho - Outgoing
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sydnee Dickson
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alejandro Hernandez
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Douglas Shulman
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sonja Santelises - Outgoing
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (29)
- Former: Andrew Ho (2020–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Douglas Mihok (2020–2024) — Controller
- Former: Sonja Santelises (2020–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Doug Shulman (2023–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Ash Vasudeva - Vice President (2024) — Strategic in
- Former: Hayagreeva Rao - Outgoing (2024) — Board Member
- Former: Marcelo Suarez-Orozco - Outgoing (2024) — Board Member
- Former: Theodore Quinn - Outgoing (2024) — Vice Chair
- Former: Andres Antonio Alonso (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Hayagreeva Rao (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Marcelo Suarez-Orozco (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Paul Lemahieu (2020–2023) — Senior Vice President
- Former: Theodore Quinn (2020–2023) — Vice Chair
- Former: Ash Vasudeva (2022–2023) — Senior Vice President
- Former: Keicy Tolbert - Chief (2022–2023) — Of Staff
- Former: Charles Wright - Outgoing Vp Of (2023) — Strategy
- Former: Anthony Bryk - Outgoing (2021–2022) — Past President
- Former: Charles Wright - Vp Of Strategy (2022) — Finance
- Former: Jean Rivers - Outgoing Chief (2022) — Operating of
- Former: Lillian Lowery - Outgoing (2022) — Board Chair
- Former: Sharon Robinson - Outgoing (2022) — Board Member
- Former: Lillian Lowery (2020–2021) — Board Chair
- Former: Sharon Robinson (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Jean Rivers - Outgoing (2021) — COO
- Former: Pamela Grossman - Outgoing (2021) — Board Member
- Former: Anthony Bryk (2020) — President
- Former: Jean Rivers (2020) — COO
- Former: Pamela Grossman (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Randi Weingarten - Outgoing (2020) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $796K, to Timothy Knowles (President). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Carnegie Foundation for
How much does The Carnegie Foundation for give each year?
The Carnegie Foundation for gave $2.4M across 24 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
What is The Carnegie Foundation for's typical grant size?
The Carnegie Foundation for's median grant in 2025 was $100,000, and its average grant was $100,000, across 24 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Carnegie Foundation for give grants?
The Carnegie Foundation for's top state is Indiana, with 21% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Texas (8%) and Pennsylvania (8%).
Does The Carnegie Foundation for give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 24 grants with a stated purpose on The Carnegie Foundation for's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Education Research" (22 grants).
Who are The Carnegie Foundation for's largest grantees?
The Carnegie Foundation for's largest 2025 grantees include Akron Public Schools ($100,000), Aldine Independent School District ($100,000) and Building 21 ($100,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 13% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Carnegie Foundation for?
The Carnegie Foundation for reported $166.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $18.7M.
What does The Carnegie Foundation for fund?
The Foundation’s stated mission is to catalyze transformational change in education so that every student has the opportunity to live a healthy, dignified, and fulfilling life. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Carnegie Foundation for?
The Foundation’s 2023 filing states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Carnegie Foundation for's EIN?
The Carnegie Foundation for's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-1623924. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Carnegie Foundation for 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
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 6, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 8, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Carnegie Foundation for funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 4, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/carnegie-foundation-for-the-morg_c562a83ae2ab4f82b8f7b42b97410abf
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_131623924_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Carnegie Foundation for funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/carnegie-foundation-for-the-morg_c562a83ae2ab4f82b8f7b42b97410abf},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-04. 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 The Carnegie Foundation for'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.
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