Johnny Carson Foundation
The Johnny Carson Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Encino, California. Founded by the late television host and comedian Johnny Carson, the foundation was established in 1981 as the John W. Carson Foundation and was restructured in 2006 as a successor foundation. The foundation is financed by Carson's estate and operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Key facts about Johnny Carson Foundation
- EIN
- 20-5885752
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $13,302,700
- Grants made (2024)
- 252
- Average grant
- $52,788
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $120,469,895
- Primary geography
- California (50% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated August 2026.
Who Johnny Carson Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Johnny Carson Foundation's 252 itemized 2024 grants were California (50%) and Nebraska (44%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (112 grants), Santa Monica, CA (11 grants), Norfolk, NE (7 grants) and Culver City, CA (6 grants). 83% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$120.5M
-2.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$13.3M
-14.0% YoY
Grant Count
252
+0.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$53K
-14.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Johnny Carson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $7.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grant-making focuses on:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Science and STEM Education
- Dental Health
Nearly all of the foundation's grants go to Los Angeles-area charities and nonprofits, as well as to Carson's alma mater.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s:** Typical awards range from $1,000 to $5,020,000.
Ready to take the next step with Johnny Carson Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- California (particularly the Los Angeles area)
- Nebraska
- New York
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 252 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending June 2024:
- Total Assets: $120,469,895
- Total Revenue: $13,128,284
- Total Expenses: $16,317,304
- Total Giving: $13,302,700
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $120,469,895 | $123,658,915 | $131,959,998 |
| Revenue | $13,128,284 | $10,509,086 | $12,550,122 |
| Expenses | $16,317,304 | $18,820,169 | $16,466,077 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $13,964,881 | $16,075,717 | $13,828,024 |
| Net Investment Income | $11,914,560 | $8,167,315 | $10,531,682 |
| Distributable Amount | $7,690,449 | $8,025,607 | $8,912,588 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
1,150 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include University of Nebraska Foundation ($4,500,000), Faith Regional Health Services Foundation ($500,000), La Regional Food Bank ($405,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA FOUNDATION LINCOLN, NE | CARSON CENTER FOR EMERGING MEDIA ARTS - $2,000,000LIED CENTER BUILDING FUND-$2,500,000 | $4,500,000 |
| FAITH REGIONAL HEALTH SERVICES FOUNDATION NORFOLK, NE | VARIAN TRUBEAM RADIOTHERAPY SYSTEM & VAULT | $500,000 |
| LA REGIONAL FOOD BANK LOS ANGELES, CA | UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT | $405,000 |
| WESTSIDE FOOD BANK SANTA MONICA, CA | UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT | $305,000 |
| HOMEBOY INDUSTRIES LOS ANGELES, CA | UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT | $285,000 |
| NATIONAL COMEDY CENTER JAMESTOWN, NY | JOHNNY CARSON EXHIBIT | $250,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA LINCOLN, NE | LAPTOPS FOR CARSON CENTER FOR EMERGING MEDIA ARTS | $220,000 |
| ALLIANCE FOR COLLEGE READY PUBLIC SCHOOLS LOS ANGELES, CA | SCHOLARSHIPS - $135,000BLACK, PROUD AND COLLEGE BOUND INITIATIVE - $50,000UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT-$20,000 | $205,000 |
| NEBRASKA CULTURAL ENDOWMENT OMAHA, NE | UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT | $200,000 |
| TEACH FOR AMERICA LOS ANGELES, CA | LOS ANGELES AREA PROGRAMS UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT | $155,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAWRENCE L WITZER | COO/CFO/SEC/DIRECTOR | 20 | $242,000 |
| ALLAN L ALEXANDER | CEO/PRES/GEN COUNSEL/DIREC | 20 | $242,000 |
| STEVEN SOTZING | DIRECTOR | 3 | $52,000 |
| LAWRENCE HELLER | DIRECTOR | 3 | $50,200 |
| JEFFREY SOTZING | CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER/DIRE | 16 | $85,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Johnny Carson Foundation awarded a $2 million gift to California State University, Fullerton's Jazz Program, recognizing the importance of music education and the arts.
Johnny Carson Foundation Gives $2 Million To CSUF's Jazz ProgramFrequently Asked Questions
What does Johnny Carson Foundation fund?
The foundation's grant-making focuses on: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Science and STEM Education • Dental Health Nearly all of the foundation's grants go to Los Angeles-area charities and nonprofits, as well as to Carson's alma mater.
How do I apply for a grant from Johnny Carson Foundation?
**Grant Sizes:** Typical awards range from $1,000 to $5,020,000. **Recent Activity:** The foundation awarded a $2 million grant to California State University, Fullerton's Jazz Program.
Where does Johnny Carson Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • California (particularly the Los Angeles area) • Nebraska • New York
What size grants does Johnny Carson Foundation award?
In 2024, Johnny Carson Foundation awarded 252 grants totaling $13.3M — an average of about $53K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Johnny Carson Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Johnny Carson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $7.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Johnny Carson Foundation's EIN?
Johnny Carson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-5885752. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Johnny Carson Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated August 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.