Frank & Ruth E Caruso Foundation
The Frank & Ruth E Caruso Foundation is a private foundation based in New York, NY. Its 2025 grants supported organizations providing therapy, mental health services, arts and music programs, and general operating support.
Frank & Ruth E Caruso Foundation at a glance
In short: Frank & Ruth E Caruso Foundation gave $108K across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $9K), mostly in New York. 9% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $108,050
- -6.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 12
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $9,004
- -6.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $8,250
- Total assets
- $4,120,412
- -0.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 9% first-time grantees (1 of 11, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New York (99% 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 Frank & Ruth E Caruso Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 399, New York, NY 10040
Phone: (212) 567-1168
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Frank & Ruth E Caruso Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Brooklyn Conservatory of Music ($18K). Together the top 10 received $107K.
Grant Size Distribution
61 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 61 grants of 61 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 99% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York and 1% to recipients in Maryland. The listed grants went primarily to New York organizations, with one grant to an organization in Silver Spring, Maryland.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Frank & Ruth E Caruso Foundation open to new grantees?
9%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 11 grantees (9%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $11K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 91% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 31% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 97% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $108K (2025) to $160K (2020). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $108K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Brooklyn Conservatory of Music Brooklyn, NY | Music Therapy Program | $18,000 |
| New York Center for Children New York, NY | Therapy Program | $18,000 |
| The Art Therapy Project New York, NY | Community Art Therapy Program | $18,000 |
| Artistic Noise New York, NY | Art Therapy Services | $10,000 |
| Children of Promise Brooklyn, NY | Mental Health and Art Therapy Programs | $10,000 |
| Day One New York, NY | Mental Health Services | $10,000 |
| Center for Anti-Violence Education Brooklyn, NY | General Operating Support | $6,500 |
| Possibility Project New York, NY | General Operating Support | $6,500 |
| Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls Brooklyn, NY | General Operating Support | $6,500 |
| A Fair Shake for Youth New York, NY | General Operating Support | $3,500 |
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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 | $4,120,412 | $226,112 | $242,746 | $108,050 | 12 | $206,433 | $193,299 | $213,676 |
| 2024 | $4,137,046 | $273,954 | $246,778 | $115,500 | 12 | $210,102 | $242,460 | $207,334 |
| 2023 | $4,109,870 | $312,040 | $262,348 | $135,500 | 11 | $231,543 | $281,235 | $208,287 |
| 2022 | $4,060,178 | $124,004 | $283,812 | $157,000 | 12 | $245,526 | $91,573 | $233,603 |
| 2021 | $4,219,986 | $368,114 | $279,536 | $158,000 | 14 | $242,158 | $330,746 | $237,029 |
| 2020 | $4,131,601 | $-172,689 | $278,190 | $160,000 | 17 | — | $28,677 | $236,668 |
| 2019 | $4,582,287 | $240,714 | $296,385 | $160,000 | 12 | — | $196,173 | $240,391 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Frank & Ruth E Caruso Foundation reported a distributable amount of $214K 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 2025 grants include support for music therapy, art therapy, mental health services, and general operating costs.
Among its grantees, The Art Therapy Project describes its mission as providing free group art therapy to adults and youth affected by trauma. Artistic Noise says it uses the therapeutic potential of art making to build community with system-impacted youth. Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls describes its work as empowering girls and gender-expansive youth through music education and mentorship. A Fair Shake for Youth says it helps underserved and vulnerable NYC youth build social and emotional skills through a structured program with therapy dogs.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation awarded 12 grants totaling $108,050. Grants ranged from $50 to $18,000, with a median grant of $8,250. Its largest listed grants were $18,000 each to Brooklyn Conservatory of Music for a music therapy program, New York Center for Children for a therapy program, and The Art Therapy Project for a community art therapy program. Other notable grants included $10,000 each to Artistic Noise for art therapy services, Children of Promise for mental health and art therapy programs, and Day One for mental health services.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Lisa Turngren as president, Edward Turngren as vice president, and Cynthia Turngren as secretary.
Frank & Ruth E Caruso Foundation is led by Lisa Turngren, President on every filing since 2019; all 3 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Lisa Turngren
President
On filings since 2019
30 hrs/week
$69K (2019) → $90K (2025)
Edward Turngren
Vice President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$2K (2019) → $2K (2025)
Cynthia Turngren
Secretary
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
$2K (2024) → $2K (2025)
Former officers (2)
- Former: Carmela Turngren (2019–2024) — Secretary
- Former: Joseph Caruso (2019–2020) — Trustee · Filing note: Through May 2020
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $90K, to Lisa Turngren (President). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Frank & Ruth E Caruso Foundation
How much does Frank & Ruth E Caruso Foundation give each year?
Frank & Ruth E Caruso Foundation gave $108K across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $116K across 12 grants.
What is Frank & Ruth E Caruso Foundation's typical grant size?
Frank & Ruth E Caruso Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $8,250, and its average grant was $9,004, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Frank & Ruth E Caruso Foundation that year got $1K on average.
Where does Frank & Ruth E Caruso Foundation give grants?
Frank & Ruth E Caruso Foundation gives mostly in New York: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (7 grants) and Brooklyn, NY (4 grants).
Does Frank & Ruth E Caruso Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 42% of Frank & Ruth E Caruso Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (5 of 12) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Frank & Ruth E Caruso Foundation's largest grantees?
Frank & Ruth E Caruso Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Brooklyn Conservatory of Music ($18,000), New York Center for Children ($18,000) and The Art Therapy Project ($18,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 50% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Frank & Ruth E Caruso Foundation?
Frank & Ruth E Caruso Foundation reported $4.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $206K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $214K (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 does Frank & Ruth E Caruso Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants include support for music therapy, art therapy, mental health services, and general operating costs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Frank & Ruth E Caruso Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Frank & Ruth E Caruso Foundation's EIN?
Frank & Ruth E Caruso Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-0581784. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Frank & Ruth E Caruso 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
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 4, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 26, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 18, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 7, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Live grants for the work Frank & Ruth E Caruso Foundation funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Frank & Ruth E Caruso Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/frank-and-ruth-e-caruso-foundation-morg_872c3dbfbc494e93bf27bf39ecbb9b7b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_820581784_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Frank \& Ruth E Caruso Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/frank-and-ruth-e-caruso-foundation-morg_872c3dbfbc494e93bf27bf39ecbb9b7b},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 Frank & Ruth E Caruso 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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