George C Karlson Foundation
The George C Karlson Foundation is a private foundation based in New York, NY. In its 2025 filing, it reported giving $125,500 in grants to 15 organizations; its own filing states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
George C Karlson Foundation at a glance
In short: George C Karlson Foundation gave $126K across 15 grants in 2025 (avg $8K), mostly in California. 0% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $125,500
- +2.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 15
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $8,367
- +2.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $8,500
- Total assets
- $1,509,446
- +0.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 15, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (76% 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 George C Karlson 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: Co Ftci - One Madison Ave Ste 200, New York, NY 10010
Phone: (212) 632-3000
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who George C Karlson Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Hoover Institution of Stanford University ($25K). Together the top 10 received $116K.
Grant Size Distribution
68 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 68 grants of 68 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 76% of grant dollars went to recipients in California, 8% to New York, 8% to New Jersey, and 8% to Florida.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
Cities
Is George C Karlson Foundation open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 0 of 15 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. With only 15 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. How we count
- 87% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 50% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 122% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $84K (2022) to $133K (2020). In 2025 it made 15 grants totaling $126K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Hoover Institution of Stanford University Stanford, CA | General Purposes | $25,000 |
| YMCA Youth and Family Services Santa Barbara, CA | General Purposes | $20,000 |
| Friends of the IDF Los Angeles, CA | General Purposes | $10,000 |
| Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation Tuckahoe, NY | General Purposes | $10,000 |
| Semper Fi Fund Oceanside, CA | General Purposes | $10,000 |
| The Hun School of Princeton Princeton, NJ | General Purposes | $10,000 |
| Wounded Warriors Project Jacksonville, FL | General Purposes | $10,000 |
| Santa Barbara Rescue Mission Santa Barbara, CA | General Purposes | $8,500 |
| Transition House Santa Barbara, CA | General Purposes | $7,500 |
| Lompoc Family YMCA Lompoc, CA | General Purposes | $5,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,509,446 | $193,393 | $149,650 | $125,500 | 15 | $132,036 | $180,001 | $108,521 |
| 2024 | $1,495,746 | $200,653 | $143,579 | $123,000 | 15 | $131,276 | $188,635 | $101,453 |
| 2023 | $1,408,922 | $76,947 | $127,191 | $108,500 | 13 | $115,653 | $65,260 | $97,429 |
| 2022 | $1,469,809 | $101,504 | $107,410 | $83,500 | 11 | $91,320 | $88,176 | $98,653 |
| 2021 | $1,466,420 | $203,587 | $134,554 | $110,000 | 14 | $119,295 | $188,171 | $112,306 |
| 2020 | $1,396,215 | $214,806 | $158,633 | $132,500 | 15 | — | $200,250 | $99,980 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, George C Karlson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $109K 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 went to organizations whose work, as described by the grantees, includes education, homelessness and addiction services, support for families and children, and assistance to people in need. For example, the Santa Barbara Rescue Mission describes its work as providing physical, emotional, educational, and spiritual resources to people struggling with homelessness and addiction. Transition House says it provides residential services and life tools to families with children experiencing homelessness. The Hun School of Princeton says it supports students through mentorship and learning.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation awarded 15 grants totaling $125,500. Grants ranged from $500 to $25,000, with a median of $8,500. The largest awards included $25,000 to the Hoover Institution of Stanford University; $20,000 to YMCA Youth and Family Services; and $10,000 each to Friends of the IDF, Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation, Semper Fi Fund, The Hun School of Princeton, and Wounded Warriors Project. All are listed with the purpose “general purposes.”
Other 2025 recipients included Santa Barbara Rescue Mission ($8,500), Transition House ($7,500), Lompoc Family YMCA ($5,000), Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara ($3,500), and Carpinteria Children’s Project ($2,000). The Women’s Fund describes itself as a volunteer-led donor organization making grants to address needs of women, children, and families in south Santa Barbara County. Carpinteria Children’s Project says it connects families with early education, care, resources, and support services.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Roger A. Karlson was listed as a trustee on the 2025 filing.
George C Karlson Foundation is led by Roger A. Karlson, Trustee on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Roger A. Karlson
Trustee
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about George C Karlson Foundation
How much does George C Karlson Foundation give each year?
George C Karlson Foundation gave $126K across 15 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $123K across 15 grants.
What is George C Karlson Foundation's typical grant size?
George C Karlson Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $8,500, and its average grant was $8,367, across 15 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does George C Karlson Foundation give grants?
George C Karlson Foundation gives mostly in California: 76% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (8%) and New Jersey (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Santa Barbara, CA (7 grants).
Does George C Karlson Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of George C Karlson Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (15 of 15) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are George C Karlson Foundation's largest grantees?
George C Karlson Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Hoover Institution of Stanford University ($25,000), YMCA Youth and Family Services ($20,000) and Friends of the IDF ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 44% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is George C Karlson Foundation?
George C Karlson Foundation reported $1.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $132K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $109K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does George C Karlson Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations whose work, as described by the grantees, includes education, homelessness and addiction services, support for families and children, and assistance to people in need. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from George C Karlson 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 C Karlson Foundation's EIN?
George C Karlson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 11-6043764. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does George C Karlson 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 28, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). George C Karlson Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 23, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/george-c-karlson-foundation-morg_bbfc98ba5a7b416eaaaf8d6dfda4a966
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_116043764_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{George C Karlson Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/george-c-karlson-foundation-morg_bbfc98ba5a7b416eaaaf8d6dfda4a966},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-23. 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 C Karlson 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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