Dawn's Light Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker Kirkland, WA EIN: 85-3988396

Dawn's Light Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Kirkland, WA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $5.0M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 2 grants totaling $261K. Net investment income was $142K.

Key facts about Dawn's Light Foundation

EIN: 85-3988396
Latest 990 filing: Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024): $261,200
Grants made (2024): 2
Average grant: $130,600
Median grant: $130,600
Total assets: $5,033,019
Primary geography: Washington (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.

How Dawn's Light Foundation gives

Giving grew 2512% from 2021 to 2024. Method
In 2024 it paid out 98% 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.

Next steps with Dawn's Light Foundation

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Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$5.0M

-2.5% YoY

Annual Giving

$261K

-5.0% YoY

Grant Count

+0.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$131K

-5.0% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Dawn's Light Foundation reported a distributable amount of $266K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

About Dawn's Light Foundation

Based on IRS filings

Focus Areas

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

Washington $261K (100%)

Share of all 2 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

States

New York Washington

Cities

SeattleNew York

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$5,033,019	$5,159,608	$5,547,712
Revenue	$182,252	$70,377	$63,728
Expenses	$308,841	$374,756	$344,556
Qualifying Distributions	$261,245	$288,970	$287,180
Net Investment Income	$142,290	$60,409	$120,392
Distributable Amount	$266,377	$226,190	$293,338

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

March 3, 2026 IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 1 recipients in 2024

Grant Size Distribution

7 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include The University of Washington ($261,200 across 2 grants).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON Seattle, WA	DAWN'S LIGHT FOUNDATION TERM FUND FOR ADVANCING IRD RESEARCH	$236,200
THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON Seattle, WA	STUDENT EPIDEMIC ACTION LEADERS (SEAL) TEAM SUPPORT FUND	$25,000

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.

From 2024 IRS filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
Jennifer Scherer Carlson	President, Treasurer	0.5	—
Christopher Scott Carlson	Vice President, Secretary	0.5	—

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Dawn's Light Foundation?

Dawn's Light Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Kirkland, WA. It holds $5.0M in total assets as of 2024.

How large is Dawn's Light Foundation?

As of 2024, Dawn's Light Foundation holds $5.0M in total assets with $182K in annual revenue. It awarded 2 grants totaling $261K in 2024.

Where does Dawn's Light Foundation operate?

Dawn's Light Foundation has awarded grants in New York, Washington.

What size grants does Dawn's Light Foundation award?

In 2024, Dawn's Light Foundation awarded 2 grants totaling $261K — an average of about $131K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Dawn's Light Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Dawn's Light Foundation reported a distributable amount of $266K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.