Charles Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Abbeville, LA EIN: 26-1625912

Charles Foundation is a private foundation, based in Abbeville, LA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $25K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 7 grants totaling $348K.

Charles Foundation at a glance

In short: Charles Foundation gave $348K across 7 grants in 2025 (avg $50K), top state Louisiana. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2025)
$348,000
+1.8% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
7
+0.0% vs 2024
Average grant
$49,714
+1.8% vs 2024
Median grant
$23,200
Total assets
$24,810
+3.7% vs 2024
Primary geography
Louisiana (40% 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 Charles Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 6 recipients in 2025

Community Foundation of Acadiana -: $139K across 2 grantsCommunity Foundation ofAcadiana -$139K · 2 grantsCommunity Foundation of Jackson Hol: $116KCommunity Foundation ofJackson Hol$116KSchwab Charitable - 909 Charitable: $23KSchwab Charitable - 909Charitable$23KNPT - JP Morgan - Payne Family Char: $23KNPT - JP Morgan - Payne FamilyChar$23KNPT - JP Morgan - Magnolia Fund: $23KNPT - JP Morgan - MagnoliaFund$23KCommunity Foundation of Middle TN -: $23KCommunity Foundation of MiddleTN -$23K

The largest 2025 recipient was Community Foundation of Acadiana - ($139K across 2 grants). Together the top 6 received $348K.

Grant Size Distribution

36 grants across all recorded years

21<$50K$50–100K13$100–250K$250–500K2$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 21 grants of 36 (58%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

8states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.

Cities

LafayetteNashvilleJenkintownJacksonOrlandoAbbevilleBismarckRye BrookSewaneeWoodberry Forest

How Charles Foundation gives

  • Giving fell 29% from 2022 to 2025. Method
  • In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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

$0$500K$1M$1.5M$2M13 grants2019 12 grants2020 7 grants2021 8 grants2022 7 grants2023 7 grants2024 7 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $107K (2019) to $1.9M (2021). In 2025 it made 7 grants totaling $348K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Community Foundation of Acadiana - Lafayette, LAConservation, ReligiousHealthcare,Education$116,000
Community Foundation of Jackson Hol Jackson, WYConservation, ReligiousHealthcareEducation$116,000
Community Foundation of Acadiana - Lafayette, LAConservation, ReligiousHealthcare,Education$23,200
Schwab Charitable - 909 Charitable Orlando, FLConservation, ReligiousHealthcare,Education$23,200
NPT - JP Morgan - Payne Family Char Jenkintown, PAConservation, ReligiousHealthcareEducation$23,200
NPT - JP Morgan - Magnolia Fund Jenkintown, PAConservation, ReligiousHealthcareEducation$23,200
Community Foundation of Middle TN - Nashville, TNConservation, ReligiousHealthcareEducation$23,200
Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with Charles Foundation?

Fully replaces Grant database subscriptions Instrumentl · Foundation Directory · GrantStation & similar

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2025$24,810$350,518$349,639$348,0007$348,000—$1,162
2024$23,931$333,071$342,040$342,0007$342,000—$1,588
2023$32,900$322,812$324,040$324,0007$324,000—$1,674
2022$34,128$484,926$491,050$491,0008$491,000—$2,212
2021$40,252$1,326,638$1,896,040$1,896,0007$1,896,000$1$18,668
2020$609,654$681,324$115,913$107,50012——$6,236
2019$44,243$75,003$109,426$106,50013——$2,628

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Charles Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Charles Foundation is led by Julian B Payne, President & Director since 2024 (on filings since 2019); none of the 8 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Julian B Payne

    President & Director

    Director → President & Director, 2024

    On filings since 2019

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Charles R G Payne

    Vice President & Director

    On filings since 2019

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Dorothy M Clyne

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • G Nelson Payne

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Rebecca P Spence

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Rebecca R Godchaux

    Director

    President & Director → Director, 2024

    On filings since 2019

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Theresa P Godchaux

    Vice President & Director

    On filings since 2019

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Stephen M Meador

    Secretary Treasurer

    On filings since 2019

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Charles Foundation

How much does Charles Foundation give each year?

Charles Foundation gave $348K across 7 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $342K across 7 grants.

What is Charles Foundation's typical grant size?

Charles Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $23,200, and its average grant was $49,714, across 7 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Charles Foundation give grants?

Charles Foundation's top state is Louisiana, with 40% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Wyoming (33%) and Pennsylvania (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Lafayette, LA (2 grants) and Jenkintown, PA (2 grants).

Does Charles Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 7 grants with a stated purpose on Charles Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Conservation, ReligiousHealthcareEducation" (4 grants) and "Conservation, ReligiousHealthcare,Education" (3 grants).

Who are Charles Foundation's largest grantees?

Charles Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Community Foundation of Acadiana - ($139,200 across 2 grants), Community Foundation of Jackson Hol ($116,000) and Schwab Charitable - 909 Charitable ($23,200), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 80% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Charles Foundation?

Charles Foundation reported $25K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $348K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What is Charles Foundation's EIN?

Charles Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-1625912. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

Data update history

(8)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS April 17, 2020)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 13, 2021)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 25, 2022)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 29, 2023)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 21, 2024)
  6. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 23, 2025)
  7. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 14, 2026)
  8. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in Charles Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database

Similar Funders

Funders that support many of the same organizations

IBM International Foundation

Armonk, NY

The IBM International Foundation funds education and workforce programs that build 21st-century and technology job skills, including initiatives for underserved students and job seekers. Its 2024 grants ranged from $10,000 to $8.48 million, with a median of $100,000, and went to organizations across several U.S. states, especially Delaware and Massachusetts. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Assets

$357.7M

Grants

16

Total Given

$11.7M

William H Frist Family Foundation

Nashville, TN

The William H Frist Family Foundation funds charitable, educational, scientific, health, research, conservation, and historic-preservation work, with most of its giving going to Tennessee organizations. Its 2025 grants ranged from $3,000 to $300,000, with a median of $12,500; it gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Assets

$3.9M

Grants

18

Total Given

$1.3M

The Cartinhour-Woods Foundation Inc

Chattanooga, TN

The Cartinhour-Woods Foundation supports schools, religious organizations, community-support groups, and arts and environmental organizations. Its 2025 grants ranged from $1,000 to $39,000, with a median of $5,000, and 80% of grant dollars went to Tennessee, with additional giving in New York and Virginia. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Assets

$5.6M

Grants

31

Total Given

$264K

Henry Laird Smith Foundation

Nashville, TN

The Henry Laird Smith Foundation’s grants support organizations working in areas including food assistance, conservation, education, health, community services, and the arts; most funding goes to Tennessee. In 2025, grants ranged from $250 to $150,000, with a median of $3,000. It funds only preselected charities and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Assets

$12.8M

Grants

49

Total Given

$601K

Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana

Lake Charles, LA

The Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana supports charitable, social, educational, and human-services programs, including arts, scholarships, community projects, and emergency support. In 2024, its grants ranged from $5,100 to $640,079, with a median of $15,125, mainly serving Calcasieu, Beauregard, Allen, Cameron, and Jefferson Davis parishes. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited grant requests.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$39.6M

Grants

72

Total Given

$2.9M

MSB Cockayne Fund Inc

Nashville, TN

MSB Cockayne Fund Inc supports preselected charitable organizations, including schools, environmental and conservation groups, civic design, and health-related organizations. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,000 to $600,000, with a median of $10,000, and most funding went to Tennessee and California. It does not accept unsolicited requests.

Assets

$25.1M

Grants

111

Total Given

$3.2M

More similar funders

More Funders in Louisiana

The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open

Figures come from Charles 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.

Charles Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?

Want AI to do this for you?