Josephine de Karman Trust

Foundation · Grantmaker Pasadena, CA EIN: 95-6019527

Josephine de Karman Trust is a private foundation, based in Pasadena, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2023. In 2023, it awarded 6 grants totaling $3.7M. Net investment income was $72K.

Key facts about Josephine de Karman Trust

EIN: 95-6019527
Latest 990 filing: Form 990-PF, 2023
Annual giving (2023): $3,700,944
Grants made (2023): 6
Average grant: $616,824
Median grant: $25,000
Primary geography: California (100% of itemized 2023 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2023; updated September 2026.

Who Josephine de Karman Trust funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Josephine de Karman Trust's 6 itemized 2023 grants were California (100%). The most frequent recipient cities were Oakland, CA (3 grants) and Pasadena, CA (2 grants). None of its 6 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Scholarship" (5 grants).

How Josephine de Karman Trust gives

In 2023 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

Next steps with Josephine de Karman Trust

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Financial Overview

From 2023 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

—

-100.0% YoY

Annual Giving

$3.7M

+2367.3% YoY

Grant Count

+20.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$617K

+1956.1% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Josephine de Karman Trust reported a distributable amount of $166K for 2023 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

About Josephine de Karman Trust

Based on IRS filings

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

California $3.7M (100%)

Share of all 6 itemized 2023 grant dollars.

States

California Indiana Minnesota New Jersey Rhode Island

Cities

OaklandPasadenaRedwood CityLos AngelesChicagoMinneapolisPrincetonProvidence

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2023	2022	2021
Total Assets	—	$3,220,905	$3,292,317
Revenue	$35,800	$189,883	$770,509
Expenses	$3,745,334	$261,295	$243,065
Qualifying Distributions	$3,733,658	$168,555	$154,198
Net Investment Income	$72,296	$112,037	$671,895
Distributable Amount	$165,849	$177,534	$197,558

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

March 3, 2026 IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2023

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 6 recipients in 2023

Grant Size Distribution

20 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2023 grants, the largest recipients include Pasadena Community Foundation ($3,550,944), California Institute of Technology ($50,000), Stanford University ($25,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
Pasadena Community Foundation Pasadena, CA	Josephine de Karman Trust Fellowship Endowment - See statement 8	$3,550,944
California Institute of Technology Pasadena, CA	Scholarship	$50,000
Stanford University Redwood City, CA	Scholarship	$25,000
UC Regents - UC Berkeley Oakland, CA	Scholarship	$25,000
UC Regents - UC Santa Barbara Oakland, CA	Scholarship	$25,000
UC Regents - UC Santa Cruz Oakland, CA	Scholarship	$25,000

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2023 IRS filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
Comerica Bank	Trustee (End 08/23)	2	—
Pasadena Community Foundation	Trustee (Start 09/23)	2	$16,642

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does Josephine de Karman Trust operate?

Josephine de Karman Trust has awarded grants in California, Indiana, Minnesota, New Jersey, Rhode Island.

What size grants does Josephine de Karman Trust award?

In 2023, Josephine de Karman Trust awarded 6 grants totaling $3.7M — an average of about $617K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Josephine de Karman Trust required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2023, Josephine de Karman Trust reported a distributable amount of $166K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.