Carson Foundation
Carson Foundation is a private foundation focused on Education, based in Alexandria, VA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.8M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 3 grants totaling $78K. Net investment income was $25K.
Carson Foundation at a glance
In short: Carson Foundation gave $78K across 3 grants in 2025 (avg $26K), mostly in Minnesota. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $78,220
- +73.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 3
- +200.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $26,073
- -42.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $18,220
- Total assets
- $1,794,044
- -4.6% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (64% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Carson Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Womens International Network for Guatemalan Solutions (Wings) ($50K). Together the top 3 received $78K.
Grant Size Distribution
21 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 20 grants of 21 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
Cities
How Carson Foundation gives
- Giving grew 40% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 89% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $45K (2024) to $137K (2021). In 2025 it made 3 grants totaling $78K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Womens International Network for Guatemalan Solutions (Wings) St. Paul, MN | Operating Funds | $50,000 |
| Sports Vision 20-20 Austin, TX | Operating Funds | $18,220 |
| Del Ray Zen Community Alexandria, VA | Operating Funds | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Carson 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 | $1,794,044 | $35,543 | $125,424 | $78,220 | 3 | $101,090 | $25,111 | $113,461 |
| 2024 | $1,880,656 | $257,094 | $82,345 | $45,000 | 1 | $68,859 | $247,599 | $102,852 |
| 2023 | $1,705,907 | $570,863 | $93,896 | $53,000 | 4 | $79,785 | $270,769 | $87,720 |
| 2022 | $1,225,940 | $54,895 | $87,019 | $55,997 | 4 | $73,775 | $41,651 | $68,228 |
| 2021 | $1,873,522 | $41,731 | $178,930 | $137,000 | 9 | $163,231 | $26,032 | $89,145 |
| 2020 | $1,760,703 | $128,993 | $97,156 | $75,000 | 5 | — | $115,954 | $76,957 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Carson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $113K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Carson Foundation is led by Taj C. Carson, President since 2023 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 3 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Taj C. Carson
President
Vice President & Assistant Treasurer → Vice President & President, 2022
Vice President & President → President, 2023
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
$500 (2020) → $0 (2025)
Michael Chin
Vice President
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
$6K (2023) → $6K (2025)
Susan Chibnall
Vice President & Treasurer
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Albert Wingate (2020–2022) — Vice President & Secretary
- Former: C. Neal Carson (2020–2022) — President
- Former: Lynn P. Chavarria (2020–2022) — Vice President & Treasurer
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 $6K, to Michael Chin (Vice President).
Frequently asked questions about Carson Foundation
How much does Carson Foundation give each year?
Carson Foundation gave $78K across 3 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $45K across 1 grant.
What is Carson Foundation's typical grant size?
Carson Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $18,220, and its average grant was $26,073, across 3 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Carson Foundation give grants?
Carson Foundation gives mostly in Minnesota: 64% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Texas (23%) and Virginia (13%).
Does Carson Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Carson Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (3 of 3) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
How large is Carson Foundation?
Carson Foundation reported $1.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $101K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $113K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What is Carson Foundation?
Carson Foundation is a private foundation focused on Education, based in Alexandria, VA. It holds $1.8M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Carson Foundation's EIN?
Carson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 76-0535539. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Carson Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Bernard and Sandra Otterman Foundation
Wilmington, DE
Assets
$5.1M
Grants
9
Total Given
$342K
The Iroh Foundation (FKA RA5 Foundation)
Marina Del Rey, CA
The IROH Foundation funds established nonprofits with measurable results and the capacity to scale, supporting work in health, community care, research, and other areas. Grants are generally unrestricted and run for three years, with annual awards of $5,000–$50,000; it supports organizations across the U.S. and internationally. It does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$19.3M
Grants
14
Total Given
$528K
Gannett Foundation Inc
New York, NY
Gannett Foundation’s 2025 grants supported a range of organizations, with listed awards generally between $1,500 and $2,500, though the available figures do not establish a typical grant size or geographic focus. The foundation has wound down: its 2026 filing reports no grants or assets, and no current application process or acceptance of unsolicited requests is stated.
Assets
—
Grants
32
Total Given
$65K
The Samuel Rubin Foundation Inc
Boston, MA
The Samuel Rubin Foundation supports organizations advancing peace, justice, human rights, and related work such as peacebuilding, youth education, and documentary storytelling. Its 2025 grants ranged from $1,000 to $60,000, with a median of $12,500, and went mainly to organizations in New York, Massachusetts, Washington, DC, California, and Pennsylvania. It does not accept unsolicited requests and funds only preselected organizations.
Assets
$8.2M
Grants
36
Total Given
$650K
Hand Family Foundation Inc
Warsaw, IN
Assets
$1.8M
Grants
51
Total Given
$110K
The McConnell Foundation
Redding, CA
The McConnell Foundation funds eligible nonprofits, public education institutions, and government entities in Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama, and Trinity Counties, as well as projects in Nepal and Laos, across areas including education, community vitality, health, arts, recreation, and social services. In 2024, grants had a median of $7,450 and ranged from $75 to about $3.46 million; eligible projects in the five-county area may request up to $50,000 through the Community Foundation of the North State. The profile does not state whether the Foundation accepts unsolicited requests directly.
Assets
$434.9M
Grants
129
Total Given
$11.6M
More similar funders
More Funders in Virginia
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Carson 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 Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?