Karl O & Helen W Knaths Trust
Karl O & Helen W Knaths Trust is a private foundation focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Dallas, TX. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $2.3M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 2 grants totaling $123K. Net investment income was $186K.
Karl O & Helen W Knaths Trust at a glance
In short: Karl O & Helen W Knaths Trust gave $123K across 2 grants in 2025 (avg $61K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $122,534
- +14.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 2
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $61,267
- +14.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $61,267
- Total assets
- $2,280,129
- +2.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Illinois (50% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Karl O & Helen W Knaths Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The Art Institute of Chicago ($61K). Together the top 2 received $123K.
Grant Size Distribution
10 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 8 grants of 10 (80%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Karl O & Helen W Knaths Trust gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−10%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 102% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $91K (2023) to $144K (2021). In 2025 it made 2 grants totaling $123K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Art Institute of Chicago Chicago, IL | Unrestricted General | $61,267 |
| The Phillips Collection Washington, DC | Unrestricted General | $61,267 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,280,129 | $213,020 | $162,976 | $122,534 | 2 | $136,977 | $185,706 | $134,014 |
| 2024 | $2,232,113 | $79,925 | $143,106 | $107,020 | 2 | $120,315 | $51,059 | $125,222 |
| 2023 | $2,228,614 | $-26,344 | $134,279 | $90,514 | 2 | $102,896 | $27,767 | $116,562 |
| 2022 | $2,343,833 | $455,182 | $173,284 | $135,624 | 2 | $149,157 | $429,061 | $125,517 |
| 2021 | $2,430,248 | $164,131 | $184,844 | $143,974 | 2 | — | $141,375 | $134,202 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Karl O & Helen W Knaths Trust reported a distributable amount of $134K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Karl O & Helen W Knaths Trust's only listed officer is Bank Of America, Trustee on every filing since 2021 (compensated).
Officers on the 2025 filing
Bank Of America
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$33K (2021) → $35K (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $35K, to Bank of America (Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about Karl O & Helen W Knaths Trust
How much does Karl O & Helen W Knaths Trust give each year?
Karl O & Helen W Knaths Trust gave $123K across 2 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $107K across 2 grants.
How large is Karl O & Helen W Knaths Trust?
Karl O & Helen W Knaths Trust reported $2.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $137K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $134K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Karl O & Helen W Knaths Trust?
Karl O & Helen W Knaths Trust is a private foundation focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Dallas, TX. It holds $2.3M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Karl O & Helen W Knaths Trust operate?
Karl O & Helen W Knaths Trust has awarded grants in District of Columbia, Illinois.
What is Karl O & Helen W Knaths Trust's EIN?
Karl O & Helen W Knaths Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6937814. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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