John & Carolyn Peterson Charitable Foundation Inc
The John & Carolyn Peterson Charitable Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Brookfield, Wisconsin. Its 2024 grants supported organizations working in areas including the performing arts, arts and cultural education, music education, conservation, and hunger relief.
John & Carolyn Peterson Charitable Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: John & Carolyn Peterson Charitable Foundation Inc gave $426K across 20 grants in 2024 (avg $21K), top state South Carolina. 20% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $426,000
- +0.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 20
- -9.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $21,300
- +10.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $17,000
- Total assets
- $4,257,495
- -3.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 20% first-time grantees (4 of 20, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- South Carolina (47% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to John & Carolyn Peterson Charitable Foundation Inc
- 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 1507, Brookfield, WI 53005
Phone: (262) 993-0898
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who John & Carolyn Peterson Charitable Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Charleston Jazz ($45K). Together the top 10 received $342K.
Grant Size Distribution
106 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 104 grants of 106 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in South Carolina (47%) and Missouri (29%), followed by North Carolina (12%), California (6%), and Wisconsin (3%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.
Cities
Is John & Carolyn Peterson Charitable Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
20%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 4 of 20 grantees (20%) were first-time recipients. With only 20 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $13K; repeat grants $23K. How we count
Medians: $14K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 75% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+11%). Method
- In 2023 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
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $373K (2020) to $454K (2022). In 2024 it made 20 grants totaling $426K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Charleston Jazz N Charleston, SC | Jazz Performance, Education & Outreach | $45,000 |
| Cultural Leadership St. Louis, MO | Cultural Training | $44,000 |
| Charleston Stage Company Mount Pleasant, SC | Performing Arts | $40,000 |
| Prison Performing Arts St. Louis, MO | Program Funding | $40,000 |
| Public Works Art Center Summerville, SC | Art Eduction/Program Funding | $40,000 |
| Charleston Gaillard Center Charleston, SC | Performing Arts Education | $35,000 |
| South Carolina Aquarium Charleston, SC | Operation Support | $28,000 |
| Action Arts Collaborative St. Louis, MO | Cultural Awareness, Outreach & Support of the Arts | $25,000 |
| Brevard Music Center Inc Brevard, NC | Music Education | $25,000 |
| Community Arts San Francisco, CA | Art Education and Public Service | $20,000 |
Ready to take the next step with John & Carolyn Peterson Charitable Foundation Inc?
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 | $4,257,495 | $350,184 | $484,083 | $426,000 | 20 | $7,350 | $33,356 | — |
| 2023 | $4,391,394 | $836,211 | $477,304 | $422,500 | 22 | $429,718 | $788,625 | $437,891 |
| 2022 | $4,032,487 | $207,300 | $517,127 | $453,500 | 22 | $460,658 | $161,020 | $426,677 |
| 2021 | $4,342,314 | $671,386 | $463,321 | $385,000 | 19 | $391,873 | $604,193 | $460,785 |
| 2020 | $4,134,249 | $354,868 | $442,407 | $372,500 | 23 | — | $292,657 | $400,255 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations with varied charitable activities. For example, Charleston Jazz describes its mission as cultivating a local and global jazz community through performance, education, and outreach. Cultural Leadership says it conducts social justice education and leadership training for youth. The South Carolina Aquarium describes its mission as inspiring conservation through animal care, education, research, and visitor experiences. Feeding the Carolinas says it coordinates, supports, and advocates for member food banks across the Carolinas.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation awarded 20 grants totaling $426,000. Grants ranged from $4,000 to $45,000, with a median of $17,000. Among the largest grants were $45,000 to Charleston Jazz, $44,000 to Cultural Leadership, $40,000 each to Charleston Stage Company and Prison Performing Arts, and $40,000 to Public Works Art Center. Other notable awards included $35,000 to Charleston Gaillard Center, $28,000 to the South Carolina Aquarium, and $25,000 each to Action Arts Collaborative and Brevard Music Center.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Mark L Peterson as director and vice president; Elinor Guzniczak as director and president; Michael Guzniczak as director and treasurer; Ryia R Peterson as director and secretary; and Emily C Guzniczak, Lauren A Guzniczak, and Jake Peterson as directors.
John & Carolyn Peterson Charitable Foundation Inc is led by Elinor Guzniczak, Director & President on every filing since 2020; 1 of 7 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Elinor Guzniczak
Director & President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael J. Guzniczak
Director & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$9K (2020) → $9K (2024)
Emily C. Guzniczak
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jake Peterson
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lauren A. Guzniczak
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark L. Peterson
Director & Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ryia R. Peterson
Director & Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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 $9K, to Michael Guzniczak (DIR/Treasurer).
Frequently asked questions about John & Carolyn Peterson Charitable Foundation Inc
How much does John & Carolyn Peterson Charitable Foundation Inc give each year?
John & Carolyn Peterson Charitable Foundation Inc gave $426K across 20 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $423K across 22 grants.
What is John & Carolyn Peterson Charitable Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
John & Carolyn Peterson Charitable Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $17,000, and its average grant was $21,300, across 20 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from John & Carolyn Peterson Charitable Foundation Inc that year got $13K on average.
Where does John & Carolyn Peterson Charitable Foundation Inc give grants?
John & Carolyn Peterson Charitable Foundation Inc's top state is South Carolina, with 47% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Missouri (29%) and North Carolina (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were St. Louis, MO (4 grants), Charleston, SC (2 grants), N Charleston, SC (2 grants) and San Francisco, CA (2 grants).
Does John & Carolyn Peterson Charitable Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 20 grants with a stated purpose on John & Carolyn Peterson Charitable Foundation Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Operation Support" (4 grants).
Who are John & Carolyn Peterson Charitable Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
John & Carolyn Peterson Charitable Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Charleston Jazz ($45,000), Cultural Leadership ($44,000) and Charleston Stage Company ($40,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 30% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is John & Carolyn Peterson Charitable Foundation Inc?
John & Carolyn Peterson Charitable Foundation Inc reported $4.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $350K.
What does John & Carolyn Peterson Charitable Foundation Inc fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations with varied charitable activities. For example, Charleston Jazz describes its mission as cultivating a local and global jazz community through performance, education, and outreach. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from John & Carolyn Peterson Charitable Foundation Inc?
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 & Carolyn Peterson Charitable Foundation Inc's EIN?
John & Carolyn Peterson Charitable Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 43-1974269. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does John & Carolyn Peterson Charitable Foundation Inc 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 May 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 17, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 5, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). John & Carolyn Peterson Charitable Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/john-and-carolyn-peterson-charitable-foundation-inc-morg_895c5f9f1ed948dd8cee664c5dd9e90c
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_431974269_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{John \& Carolyn Peterson Charitable Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/john-and-carolyn-peterson-charitable-foundation-inc-morg_895c5f9f1ed948dd8cee664c5dd9e90c},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-05. 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 & Carolyn Peterson Charitable Foundation Inc'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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