George and Carol Olmsted Foundation
The George and Carol Olmsted Foundation is a private foundation based in Falls Church, Virginia. Its 2024 grantmaking included support for Olmsted Scholars’ tuition, language study, and overseas educational travel, as well as grants to educational institutions and organizations connected with US service academies.
George and Carol Olmsted Foundation at a glance
In short: George and Carol Olmsted Foundation gave $1.2M across 69 grants in 2024 (avg $17K), mostly in Virginia. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,157,370
- +14.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 69
- -4.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $16,773
- +19.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $14,224
- Total assets
- $48,490,520
- +5.3% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Virginia (61% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to George and Carol Olmsted Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 80 East Jefferson St 300B, Falls Church, VA 22046
Phone: (703) 536-3500
Website: https://olmstedfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who George and Carol Olmsted Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was University of North Georgia Foundation ($26K). Together the top 8 received $152K.
Organizations only. It also paid 61 grants to individuals ($1,005,370), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
340 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 325 grants of 340 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in Virginia (61%), Colorado (10%), New York (10%), and Maryland (10%); Georgia received 2%. These figures describe recipient locations, while listed grants also went to organizations in other states.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 69 itemized grants.
Cities
How George and Carol Olmsted Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−17%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 101% of 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
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.0M (2023) to $1.4M (2021). In 2024 it made 69 grants totaling $1.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 43 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $957,694 |
| University of North Georgia Foundation Dahlonega, GA | Undergraduate Immersion Travel | $26,000 |
| Norwich University Northfield, VT | Undergraduate Immersion Travel | $25,000 |
| The Citadel Foundation Charleston, SC | Undergraduate Immersion Travel | $20,000 |
| US Coast Guard Academy New London, CT | Undergraduate Immersion Travel | $20,000 |
| Virginia Military Institute Foundation Lexington, VA | Undergraduate Immersion Travel | $20,000 |
| Virginia Tech Foundation Blacksburg, VA | Undergraduate Immersion Travel | $20,000 |
| The Society of the Cincinnati Washington, DC | Public Education | $15,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $48,490,520 | $3,913,058 | $2,747,772 | $1,157,370 | 69 | $2,322,894 | $3,680,767 | $2,306,473 |
| 2023 | $46,049,159 | $1,815,568 | $2,664,935 | $1,010,121 | 72 | $2,168,478 | $1,525,081 | $2,155,577 |
| 2022 | $42,983,087 | $2,147,522 | $2,272,858 | $1,192,799 | 68 | $2,300,492 | $1,916,826 | $2,254,322 |
| 2021 | $53,120,582 | $4,282,432 | $3,400,656 | $1,401,643 | 62 | $2,553,544 | $4,450,253 | $2,500,588 |
| 2020 | $49,068,652 | $2,447,975 | $2,474,659 | $1,038,577 | 69 | — | $2,090,760 | $2,119,942 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, George and Carol Olmsted Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s materials describe an Olmsted Scholar community whose members study and live abroad; a 2024 newsletter reported that a Scholar highlighted how that experience can help military leaders appreciate different perspectives. The foundation’s listed 2024 grant purposes include undergraduate overseas and immersion travel, tuition, and language-related support.
Recipients include educational institutions and organizations associated with military academies. Norwich University describes its mission as giving young people an education that is American in character. The US Coast Guard Academy says its association raises funds for “margin of excellence” support for cadets and seeks to preserve academy traditions. The Citadel Foundation says it exists exclusively to support The Citadel’s mission. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 69 grants totaling $1,157,370. Grants ranged from $151 to $115,000, with a median of $14,224.
The largest grants included $115,000 each to the an individual recipient Force Academy Association of Graduates and Foundation, the US Military Academy Association of Graduates, and the US Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation. Each grant’s stated purpose was undergraduate overseas travel or a student conference. Other notable grants included $26,000 to the University of North Georgia Foundation for undergraduate immersion travel; $25,000 to Norwich University for undergraduate immersion travel; and $20,000 each to The Citadel Foundation and the US Coast Guard Academy for undergraduate immersion travel. Individual grants included tuition, grant-year, and language-related purposes.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing listed Bruce K. Scott as president, Mark B. Elfendahl as executive vice president, and Sean J. Cosden as vice president. James G. Foggo was listed as chairman. Directors listed were Kurt W. Tidd, Kristie A. Kenney, Steven M. Shepro, Patrick J. Donahue, Nadja Y. West, and Robert A. Gleckler.
George and Carol Olmsted Foundation is led by Bruce K. Scott, President on every filing since 2020; all 13 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Bruce K. Scott
President
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$249K (2020) → $288K (2024)
James G. Foggo
Chairman
Director → Chairman, 2023
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$6K (2021) → $9K (2024)
Kristie A. Kenney
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$8K (2020) → $9K (2024)
Kurt W. Tidd
Director
Chairman → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$8K (2020) → $9K (2024)
Patrick J. Donahue
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$8K (2020) → $9K (2024)
Nadja Y. West
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$2K (2021) → $9K (2024)
Robert A. Gleckler
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$2K (2021) → $9K (2024)
Steven M. Shepro
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$6K (2021) → $9K (2024)
Edward V. Holton
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
$6K (2022) → $9K (2024)
Jonathan Ahlstrom
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
$6K (2023) → $9K (2024)
Michal Polidor
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
$6K (2023) → $9K (2024)
Mark B. Elfendahl
Executive Vice President
Vice President, Secretary & Treasurer → Executive Vice President, 2021
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$155K (2020) → $210K (2024)
Sean J. Cosden
Vice President
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$64K (2021) → $168K (2024)
Former officers (13)
- Former: Patrick R. Murphy (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Robert L. McClure (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Tobias B. Switzer (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Torkel L. Patterson (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Matthew R. Crouch (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Christopher Howard (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: David G. Estep (2020–2021) — Executive Vice President
- Former: James P. Wisecup (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Joshua D. Anderson (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Kathryn L. Gauthier (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Parker L. Frawley (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Scott T. Wallace (2020) — Director
- Former: Steven Wolf (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $288K, to Bruce K Scott (President). 13 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about George and Carol Olmsted Foundation
How much does George and Carol Olmsted Foundation give each year?
George and Carol Olmsted Foundation gave $1.2M across 69 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.0M across 72 grants.
What is George and Carol Olmsted Foundation's typical grant size?
George and Carol Olmsted Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $14,224, and its average grant was $16,773, across 69 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does George and Carol Olmsted Foundation give grants?
George and Carol Olmsted Foundation gives mostly in Virginia: 61% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Colorado (10%) and New York (10%).
Does George and Carol Olmsted Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 69 grants with a stated purpose on George and Carol Olmsted Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Undergraduate Immersion Travel" (7 grants), "Spouse Language" (6 grants) and "Grant Year 2" (6 grants).
Who are George and Carol Olmsted Foundation's largest grantees?
George and Carol Olmsted Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include University of North Georgia Foundation ($26,000), Norwich University ($25,000) and The Citadel Foundation ($20,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 61 grants to individuals ($1,005,370), which are not listed by name. Together they received 6% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is George and Carol Olmsted Foundation?
George and Carol Olmsted Foundation reported $48.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.3M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does George and Carol Olmsted Foundation fund?
The foundation’s materials describe an Olmsted Scholar community whose members study and live abroad; a 2024 newsletter reported that a Scholar highlighted how that experience can help military leaders appreciate different perspectives. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from George and Carol Olmsted Foundation?
The foundation 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 George and Carol Olmsted Foundation's EIN?
George and Carol Olmsted Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 54-6049005. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does George and Carol Olmsted 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). George and Carol Olmsted Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 7, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/george-and-carol-olmsted-foundation-morg_8d5a126937764041832d80bf31501793
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_546049005_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{George and Carol Olmsted Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/george-and-carol-olmsted-foundation-morg_8d5a126937764041832d80bf31501793},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-07. 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 George and Carol Olmsted 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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