Carson Family Foundation
Carson Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Kildeer, Illinois. Its 2024 filing reports 37 grants totaling $198,920, with listed grant purposes generally described as unrestricted.
Carson Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Carson Family Foundation gave $199K across 37 grants in 2024 (avg $5K), top state Illinois. 32% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $198,920
- +69.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 37
- +37.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $5,376
- +23.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $3,000
- Total assets
- $2,380,284
- -0.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 32% first-time grantees (12 of 37, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (29% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Carson Family Foundation
- How to Apply
-
There is no standard application form. Submit a letter requesting a contribution with a copy of the organization’s IRC Section 501(c)(3) letter. Organizations must meet the charitable, religious, educational, literary, or scientific criteria described in IRC Section 501(c)(3).
- Review Cycle
- There are no submission deadlines.
- Deadline
- There are no submission deadlines.
- Contact
Application contact: Susan Carson
Mailing address: 21078 Long Grove Road, Kildeer, IL 60047
Phone: (630) 896-6110
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Carson Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Crossroads of America Council BSA ($23K). Together the top 10 received $119K.
Grant Size Distribution
166 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 165 grants of 166 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2024 grant dollars were distributed among recipients in multiple states. Illinois accounted for 29%, Texas 15%, Michigan 12%, Georgia 10%, and Indiana 9%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 37 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Carson Family Foundation open to new grantees?
32%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 12 of 37 grantees (32%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $6K. How we count
Medians: $4K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 62% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 32% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 108% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $110K (2022) to $214K (2020). In 2024 it made 37 grants totaling $199K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Crossroads of America Council BSA Irving, TX | Contributions Are for Unrestricted Purposes | $23,000 |
| Hillsdale College Hillsdale, MI | Contributions Are for Unrestricted Purposes | $23,000 |
| Open the Books Burr Ridge, IL | Contributions Are for Unrestricted Purposes | $14,000 |
| Charcot Marie Tooth (CMT) Research Foundation Atlanta, GA | Contributions Are for Unrestricted Purposes | $10,000 |
| Nine Line Foundation Savannah, GA | Contributions Are for Unrestricted Purposes | $10,000 |
| Refuge Church Aurora, IL | Contributions Are for Unrestriced Purposes | $10,000 |
| Camp Nicolet Foundation Eagle River, WI | Contributions Are for Unrestricted Purposes | $8,000 |
| SRT Services Spokane Valley, WA | Contributions Are for Unrestricted Purposes | $8,000 |
| Joseph Maley Foundation Indianapolis, IN | Contributions Are for Unrestricted Purposes | $7,000 |
| Brownstone Institute Austin, TX | Contributions Are for Unrestricted Purposes | $6,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Carson Family Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2,380,284 | $259,340 | $269,516 | $198,920 | 37 | $202,095 | $179,521 | $187,207 |
| 2023 | $2,389,576 | $117,322 | $181,012 | $117,520 | 27 | $120,467 | $52,693 | $161,835 |
| 2022 | $2,453,577 | $56,711 | $170,643 | $109,820 | 30 | $112,782 | — | $167,067 |
| 2021 | $2,716,465 | $132,691 | $229,974 | $150,624 | 37 | $153,951 | $56,461 | $195,714 |
| 2020 | $2,662,748 | $275,941 | $284,425 | $213,703 | 35 | — | $204,148 | $174,116 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Carson Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $187K 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 separate mission statement is provided. The foundation’s grants went to organizations working in varied areas. For example, Nine Line Foundation describes its mission as fundraising to rebuild and enrich the lives of wounded veterans, while the Joseph Maley Foundation describes its mission as cultivating an inclusive community through youth education and service in Greater Indianapolis. The Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry says it provides food and local resources to people in need.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 37 grants totaling $198,920. Grants ranged from $500 to $23,000, with a median of $3,000. The largest grants included $23,000 each to Crossroads of America Council BSA and Hillsdale College, $14,000 to Open the Books, and $10,000 each to Charcot Marie Tooth (CMT) Research Foundation, Nine Line Foundation, and Refuge Church.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Susan Carson as president/treasurer, Craig Carson as vice-president/secretary, and Ann Carson and Eric Carson as directors.
Carson Family Foundation is led by Susan Carson, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Susan Carson
President & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Ann Carson
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Eric Carson
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Craig Carson
Vice President & Secretary
On filings since 2020
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 Carson Family Foundation
How much does Carson Family Foundation give each year?
Carson Family Foundation gave $199K across 37 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $118K across 27 grants.
What is Carson Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Carson Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $3,000, and its average grant was $5,376, across 37 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Carson Family Foundation that year got $4K on average.
Where does Carson Family Foundation give grants?
Carson Family Foundation's top state is Illinois, with 29% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Texas (15%) and Michigan (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Aurora, IL (9 grants), Indianapolis, IN (2 grants) and Hebron, IN (2 grants).
Does Carson Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 81% of Carson Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (30 of 37) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Contributions Are for Unrestriced Purposes" (7 grants).
Who are Carson Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Carson Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Crossroads of America Council BSA ($23,000), Hillsdale College ($23,000) and Open the Books ($14,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 30% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Carson Family Foundation?
Carson Family Foundation reported $2.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $202K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $187K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Carson Family Foundation fund?
No separate mission statement is provided. The foundation’s grants went to organizations working in varied areas. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Carson Family Foundation?
There is no standard application form. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Carson Family Foundation's EIN?
Carson Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4478861. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 2, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 8, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 31, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS June 26, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 22, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Carson Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Carson Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/carson-family-foundation-morg_b3fa139a1dc64048a5149b2559f587d4
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_364478861_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Carson Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/carson-family-foundation-morg_b3fa139a1dc64048a5149b2559f587d4},
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 Carson Family 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.
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