Carson Family Foundation
The Carson Family Foundation is a private foundation based in San Marcos, Texas. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations in Texas across areas including youth, education, community services, arts, and conservation.
Carson Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Carson Family Foundation gave $68K across 19 grants in 2025 (avg $4K), mostly in Texas. 12% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $68,000
- +4.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 19
- +11.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $3,579
- -6.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Total assets
- $713,788
- -5.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 12% first-time grantees (2 of 17, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Texas (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Carson Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 407 S Stagecoach Trail Suite 203, San Marcos, TX 78666
Phone: (512) 392-3322
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 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was United Campus Ministry ($25K). Together the top 10 received $48K.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($4,500), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
90 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 90 grants of 90 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All reported 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Texas. Listed recipients were located in San Marcos, Austin, New Braunfels, and Wimberley.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 19 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Carson Family Foundation open to new grantees?
12%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 17 grantees (12%) were first-time recipients. With only 17 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 88% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 70% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 198% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $32K (2020) to $68K (2025). In 2025 it made 19 grants totaling $68K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| United Campus Ministry San Marcos, TX | Bridge Funding | $25,000 |
| Hays Caldwell Womens Center San Marcos, TX | Family Violence Victims Support | $3,000 |
| Bowie High School Austin, TX | Newspaper Support | $2,500 |
| CASA of Central Texas New Braunfels, TX | Advocacy for Children in Need | $2,500 |
| Explore Austin Austin, TX | Help Economically Disadv Youth | $2,500 |
| Farm and City Austin, TX | Quality Urban & Rural Human Habitat | $2,500 |
| Great Springs Project Austin, TX | Public Trail Creation & Land Conserv | $2,500 |
| Project Art Wimberley, TX | Art Education for Youth | $2,500 |
| San Marcos Public Library San Marcos, TX | Library Assistance | $2,500 |
| Southside Community Center San Marcos, TX | Financial Support for People in Need | $2,500 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $713,788 | $29,838 | $71,594 | $68,000 | 19 | $68,825 | $27,069 | $34,760 |
| 2024 | $755,544 | $104,531 | $68,703 | $65,000 | 17 | $65,908 | $31,737 | $35,600 |
| 2023 | $719,716 | $29,013 | $49,088 | $47,000 | 20 | $47,000 | $26,925 | $36,579 |
| 2022 | $739,791 | $50,003 | $40,256 | $40,000 | 17 | $40,171 | — | $35,805 |
| 2021 | $730,044 | $100,000 | $35,155 | $35,000 | 17 | $35,000 | — | $32,715 |
| 2020 | $665,199 | $100,000 | $31,686 | $31,500 | 17 | — | — | $29,672 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Carson Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $35K for 2025 — 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 mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its grants include support for organizations working in varied areas. For example, Farm and City describes its work as improving urban and rural human habitat in Texas through public policy, while Hays County Food Bank says it works to alleviate hunger by distributing food to families experiencing food deprivation. Wimberley Valley Radio describes its mission as supporting local musicians and arts, providing educational programming, and sharing public and emergency information.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 19 grants totaling $68,000. Grants ranged from $2,000 to $25,000, with a median of $2,500. The largest listed award was $25,000 to United Campus Ministry in San Marcos for bridge funding. Other listed grants included $3,000 to Hays Caldwell Women’s Center for support for family violence victims, and $2,500 each to Bowie High School, CASA of Central Texas, Explore Austin, Farm and City, Great Springs Project, Project Art, San Marcos Public Library, Southside Community Center, Texas State University Philosophy, and The Watershed Association. Wimberley Valley Radio also received $2,500, and Hays County Food Bank received $2,000.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists William Clyde Carson as president; Joann Carson, William Christopher Carson, and Rachel Carson Buchanan as vice presidents; Kimberley Carson Tillisch as treasurer; and John David Carson as secretary.
Carson Family Foundation is led by William Christopher Carson, President & Vice President on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
William Christopher Carson
President & Vice President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Joann Carson
Vice President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
John David Carson
Secretary
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Kimberley Carson Tillisch
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Rachel Carson Buchanan
Vice President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about Carson Family Foundation
How much does Carson Family Foundation give each year?
Carson Family Foundation gave $68K across 19 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $65K across 17 grants.
What is Carson Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Carson Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,500, and its average grant was $3,579, across 19 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Carson Family Foundation that year got $3K on average.
Where does Carson Family Foundation give grants?
Carson Family Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were San Marcos, TX (6 grants), Wimberley, TX (5 grants) and Austin, TX (5 grants).
Does Carson Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 19 grants with a stated purpose on Carson Family Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Carson Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Carson Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include United Campus Ministry ($25,000), Hays Caldwell Womens Center ($3,000) and Bowie High School ($2,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($4,500), which are not listed by name. Together they received 45% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Carson Family Foundation?
Carson Family Foundation reported $714K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $69K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $35K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Carson Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its grants include support for organizations working in varied areas. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Carson Family Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. 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 46-1365085. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Carson Family 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
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 16, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 17, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 26, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 28, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Carson Family Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Carson Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
The Burdine Johnson Foundation
Buda, TX
The Burdine Johnson Foundation funds arts, education, health and human services, the environment, and historic preservation, prioritizing organizations serving Hays County and also supporting Austin and Central Texas. Most grants are $5,000–$30,000, typically for one year. It accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$31.7M
Grants
60
Total Given
$1.7M
Adam R Scripps Foundation
Ft Mitchell, KY
The Adam R Scripps Foundation funds science and STEM education, housing, health, scholarships, and community and cultural projects, with grants across multiple states, especially Texas and California. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,000 to $2 million, with a median of $50,000. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$754.6M
Grants
281
Total Given
$35.5M
St David's Foundation
Austin, TX
St. David’s Foundation funds health equity work in Central Texas, including access to care, economic stability, and community-led efforts. Its 2024 grants ranged from $5,400 to $5.84 million, with a median of $291,600. Eligible organizations may apply to open calls and some rolling opportunities, while invitation-only opportunities do not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$2.0B
Grants
145
Total Given
$85.1M
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Mountain View, CA
Silicon Valley Community Foundation funds work in areas such as housing, economic security, education, health, the environment, arts and culture, and civic engagement, with Community Action Grants supporting local, community-led organizations in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Its 2024 grants had a median of $51,716, though amounts varied widely; applications depend on the program, and SVCF states that it does not accept unsolicited proposals for advised funds.
Assets
$12.3B
Grants
3,576
Total Given
$3.2B
Christian Community Foundation Inc
Colorado Springs, CO
WaterStone supports domestic and international nonprofits, including Christian ministries and charitable and educational organizations, through donor-directed grants; eligible organizations must be IRS-recognized 501(c)(3)s whose mission aligns with its Statement of Faith. Its 2025 grants had a median of $20,000, with awards ranging from $5,028 to $11 million, and were concentrated in Texas and Colorado. Grant recommendations come from donor-advised fund holders; the profile does not state that it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$746.4M
Grants
1,651
Total Given
$161.8M
More similar funders
More Funders in Texas
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Carson Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/carson-family-foundation-morg_f77eee67b2c34f5999585477f1dbf9f9
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_461365085_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Carson Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/carson-family-foundation-morg_f77eee67b2c34f5999585477f1dbf9f9},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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.
Carson Family Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?