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.
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
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.
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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
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
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 ProgramData last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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