John & Carol Walter Family Foundation
The John & Carol Walter Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Naples, Florida. Its 2025 filing lists 10 grants totaling $6,552,952, including support for conservation, arts, youth, animal welfare, and other charitable organizations.
John & Carol Walter Family Foundation at a glance
In short: John & Carol Walter Family Foundation gave $6.6M across 10 grants in 2025 (avg $655K), mostly in Florida. 0% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $6,552,952
- +668.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 10
- -33.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $655,295
- +1052.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $14,700
- Total assets
- $17,623,607
- -13.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 10, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Florida (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 John & Carol Walter Family 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: PO Box 3447, Naples, FL 34106
Phone: (239) 719-1666
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who John & Carol Walter Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Conservancy of Southwest Florida ($6.3M). Together the top 10 received $6.6M.
Grant Size Distribution
89 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 70 grants of 89 (79%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 99% of grant dollars went to Florida recipients; Illinois accounted for 1%. The filing lists grants to recipients in Florida, Illinois, Virginia, and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is John & Carol Walter Family Foundation open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 0 of 10 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. With only 10 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 10 points. How we count
- 100% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 411% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 642% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $844K (2020) to $6.6M (2025). In 2025 it made 10 grants totaling $6.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Conservancy of Southwest Florida Naples, FL | General Purpose | $6,252,052 |
| Gulfshore Playhouse Naples, FL | General Purpose | $200,000 |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago Chicago, IL | General Purpose | $32,000 |
| Artis-Naples Naples, FL | General Purpose | $15,000 |
| Paws Chicago Chicago, IL | General Purpose | $15,000 |
| Naples Community Church Naples, FL | General Purpose | $14,400 |
| Navy Seal Foundation Virginia Beach, VA | General Purpose | $10,000 |
| Naples Zoo Naples, FL | General Purpose | $7,500 |
| The Field Museum Chicago, IL | General Purpose | $5,000 |
| Tunnel to Towers Foundation Staten Island, NY | General Purpose | $2,000 |
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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 | $17,623,607 | $4,177,135 | $6,834,968 | $6,552,952 | 10 | $6,669,922 | $3,980,706 | $1,039,579 |
| 2024 | $20,281,440 | $1,452,759 | $1,098,395 | $852,832 | 15 | $965,197 | $1,253,700 | $1,254,990 |
| 2023 | $19,927,076 | $1,260,536 | $1,322,927 | $1,130,600 | 17 | $1,209,464 | $1,108,097 | $1,104,225 |
| 2022 | $19,989,467 | $1,754,062 | $1,546,472 | $1,283,472 | 23 | $1,364,241 | $1,622,092 | $1,112,067 |
| 2021 | $19,790,687 | $3,470,046 | $1,221,356 | $1,025,506 | 24 | $1,090,442 | $3,186,697 | $1,193,916 |
| 2020 | $17,551,954 | $1,292,606 | $974,883 | $844,017 | 33 | — | $805,230 | $1,031,771 |
| 2019 | $17,234,231 | $1,783,034 | $1,061,052 | $950,159 | 32 | — | $1,430,397 | $927,941 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, John & Carol Walter Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.0M 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 foundation mission statement is provided. Its grants include support for organizations whose stated missions address environmental conservation, theater, children’s services, animal welfare, and support for veterans and military families. For example, Gulfshore Playhouse says it aims to be a leading professional theater in Southwest Florida and to foster an expanding education department. PAWS Chicago describes its work as providing spay/neuter, medical, and adoption programs for homeless and at-risk pets.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 10 grants totaling $6,552,952. Grants ranged from $2,000 to $6,252,052, with a median grant of $14,700. The largest was $6,252,052 to the Conservancy of Southwest Florida for general purposes. Other 2025 grants included $200,000 to Gulfshore Playhouse, $32,000 to Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago, and $15,000 each to Artis-Naples and PAWS Chicago, all for general purposes.
In 2024, Gulfshore Playhouse received $200,000. Other reported 2024 grants included $25,000 to Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago Foundation and $25,000 to Guadalupe Center. Guadalupe Center describes its mission as breaking the cycle of poverty through education for children in Immokalee.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Lindsay Walter Carlton as director, president, and assistant treasurer; John R. Walter as director, vice president, and treasurer; and Carol A. Walter as director, vice president, and secretary. Scott George and Noah Pettit are also listed as directors.
John & Carol Walter Family Foundation is led by Lindsay Walter Carlton, Director, President & Assistant Tr since 2020 (on filings since 2019); 3 of 5 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Lindsay Walter Carlton
Director, President & Assistant Tr
Director, Vice President & Assistant Tr → Director, President & Assistant Tr, 2020
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
$19K (2020) → $75K (2025)
Noah Pettit
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
$8K (2023) → $10K (2025)
Scott George
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
$5K (2025)
Carol A. Walter
Director, Vice President & Secretary
Director, President & Secretary → Director, Vice President & Secretary, 2020
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John R. Walter
Director, Vice President & Treasurer
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: George Scott (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Ashley W. Pettit (2019–2022) — Director, Vice President & Assistant Se · Filing note: Through 112222
- Former: Helen Meissner (2021–2022) — Assistant Secretary · Filing note: Through 112222
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 $75K, to Lindsay Walter Carlton (Director/Pres/Asst Tr). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about John & Carol Walter Family Foundation
How much does John & Carol Walter Family Foundation give each year?
John & Carol Walter Family Foundation gave $6.6M across 10 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $853K across 15 grants.
What is John & Carol Walter Family Foundation's typical grant size?
John & Carol Walter Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $14,700, and its average grant was $655,295, across 10 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does John & Carol Walter Family Foundation give grants?
John & Carol Walter Family Foundation gives mostly in Florida: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Naples, FL (5 grants) and Chicago, IL (3 grants).
Does John & Carol Walter Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of John & Carol Walter Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (10 of 10) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are John & Carol Walter Family Foundation's largest grantees?
John & Carol Walter Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Conservancy of Southwest Florida ($6,252,052), Gulfshore Playhouse ($200,000) and Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago ($32,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 99% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is John & Carol Walter Family Foundation?
John & Carol Walter Family Foundation reported $17.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $6.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.0M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does John & Carol Walter Family Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its grants include support for organizations whose stated missions address environmental conservation, theater, children’s services, animal welfare, and support for veterans and military families. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from John & Carol Walter Family 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 John & Carol Walter Family Foundation's EIN?
John & Carol Walter Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-3382949. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does John & Carol Walter Family 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
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS April 10, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 7, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work John & Carol Walter Family Foundation funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). John & Carol Walter Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 25, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/john-and-carol-walter-family-foundation-morg_7216fdc1211a4ab1a2e235b64449546b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_263382949_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{John \& Carol Walter Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/john-and-carol-walter-family-foundation-morg_7216fdc1211a4ab1a2e235b64449546b},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-25. 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 John & Carol Walter Family 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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