Karen Organization of San Diego
Our primary purpose is to provide social services, educational enhancement, opportunities for cultural preservation and community building for the Karen and other ethnic minority groups from Burma who reside in San Diego.
Karen Organization of San Diego at a glance
In short: Karen Organization of San Diego gave $377K across 9 grants in 2024 (avg $42K), mostly in California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $376,819
- -24.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 9
- -10.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $41,869
- -15.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $33,000
- Total assets
- $489,197
- -54.7% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- California (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Karen Organization of San Diego funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was United Women of East Africa Support Team ($93K). Together the top 9 received $377K.
Grant Size Distribution
38 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 34 grants of 38 (89%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Karen Organization of San Diego gives
- Giving grew 79% from 2021 to 2024. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $167K (2022) to $496K (2023). In 2024 it made 9 grants totaling $377K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| United Women of East Africa Support Team San Diego, CA | Assistance | $93,320 |
| Southern Sudanese Community Center of San Diego San Diego, CA | Assistance | $61,500 |
| Teaching and Learning Collaborative San Diego, CA | Assistance | $48,000 |
| UC San Diego La Jolla, CA | Assistance | $33,999 |
| Somali Bautu Community of San Diego San Diego, CA | Assistance | $33,000 |
| Majdal Center San Diego, CA | Assistance | $33,000 |
| License to Freedom El Cajon, CA | Assistance | $31,000 |
| Refugee Assistance Center San Diego, CA | Assistance | $31,000 |
| OneOC Santa Ana, CA | Assistance | $12,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $489,197 | $1,187,474 | $1,690,469 | $376,819 | 9 |
| 2023 | $1,080,360 | $1,654,703 | $1,732,644 | $495,500 | 10 |
| 2022 | $1,062,041 | $1,820,546 | $1,208,880 | $167,000 | 9 |
| 2021 | $367,790 | $981,434 | $851,828 | $211,000 | 10 |
| 2020 | $281,182 | $510,639 | $375,653 | — | — |
About Karen Organization of San Diego
Based on IRS filings
Karen Organization of San Diego is a public charity focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in San Diego, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $489K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 9 grants totaling $377K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Karen Organization of San Diego is led by Nao Kabashima, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 13 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Nao Kabashima
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$40K (2020) → $82K (2024)
Andrew Rae
Board Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Claire Enemark
Board Co-Chair
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gregory Stone
Board Co- Treasurer
Board Treasurer → Board Co- Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Law Mae
Board Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ma Nyo
Board Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thager Mweeheh
Board Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Yaw Lay Htoo
Board Co-Chair
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alice Guittard
Board Co-Secretary
Board Member → Board Secretary, 2023
Board Secretary → Board Co-Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lucia Klaw Meh
Board Member
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nyint Kyi
Board Member
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Seng Myu Awng N Hkum
Board Member
Board Member → Board Co-Treasurer, 2023
Board Co-Treasurer → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Eh Khu Wah
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (5)
- Former: Bu Lei (2020–2022) — Board Co-Secretary
- Former: Carolyn Smyth (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Hanh Tran (2020–2022) — Board Co-Secretary
- Former: Maung Tin Win (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Po Grip (2020) — Board Member
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 $82K, to Nao Kabashima (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Karen Organization of San Diego
How much does Karen Organization of San Diego give each year?
Karen Organization of San Diego gave $377K across 9 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $496K across 10 grants.
What is Karen Organization of San Diego's typical grant size?
Karen Organization of San Diego's median grant in 2024 was $33,000, and its average grant was $41,869, across 9 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does Karen Organization of San Diego give grants?
Karen Organization of San Diego gives mostly in California: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were San Diego, CA (6 grants).
Does Karen Organization of San Diego give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 9 grants with a stated purpose on Karen Organization of San Diego's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Assistance" (9 grants).
Who are Karen Organization of San Diego's largest grantees?
Karen Organization of San Diego's largest 2024 grantees include United Women of East Africa Support Team ($93,320), Southern Sudanese Community Center of San Diego ($61,500) and Teaching and Learning Collaborative ($48,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 54% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Karen Organization of San Diego?
Karen Organization of San Diego reported $489K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.2M.
What is Karen Organization of San Diego?
Karen Organization of San Diego is a public charity focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in San Diego, CA. It holds $489K in total assets as of 2024.
What is Karen Organization of San Diego's EIN?
Karen Organization of San Diego's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-2917644. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 17, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 1, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 13, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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