The Karlgaard Family Foundation is a private independent foundation established in December 2001 and based in Great Falls, Virginia. The foundation was created by David and Marilyn Karlgaard, both alumni of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) private foundation with a strategic focus on supporting higher education, particularly in STEM fields through scholarships, faculty excellence awards, and endowed professorships.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$32.8M
+55.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.3M
+22.7% YoY
Grant Count
17
+30.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$133K
-6.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Karlgaard Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary purpose is to provide support for scholarships, teaching awards, professorships, nursing scholarships, and artificial kidney research. Its strategic focus centers on supporting STEM education through scholarships, faculty excellence awards, and endowed professorships at institutions where the Karlgaards studied.
Key funding areas include:
- University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire: Scholarships, teaching awards, and general use
- Inova Health Care Foundation: Nursing scholarships
- George Washington University: Scholarships and professorships
Grantmaking
Nearly 100% of the foundation's expenses are allocated to charitable disbursements, demonstrating a strong commitment to direct giving.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's giving is primarily national, with a focus on higher education institutions. Primary geographic areas of support include Wisconsin, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Giving:
- Total assets: $32,831,642 (2024)
- Total assets: $21,096,570 (2023)
- Total giving: $2,256,853 (2024)
- Total revenues: $1,698,332 (2023)
- Total expenses: $1,846,336 (2023)
Asset Growth: The foundation has grown substantially over two decades, with total assets increasing from $3.6 million in 2011 to $32.8 million in 2024.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $32,831,642 | $21,096,570 | $22,099,056 |
| Revenue | $15,646,704 | $1,698,332 | $1,068,598 |
| Expenses | $2,266,317 | $1,846,336 | $1,738,997 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,259,910 | $1,841,581 | $1,689,440 |
| Net Investment Income | $13,104,932 | $278,553 | $213,185 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,091,917 | $1,833,062 | $1,754,865 |
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
57 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include University of Wisconsin Eau Claire Foundation ($1,365,000), George Washington University ($340,000), Inova Health Foundation ($250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CLOVERLEAF EQUINE CENTER CLIFTON, VA | THERAPEUTIC HORSEBACK RIDING | $1,035 |
| CORNELL UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE BOONE, IA | VETERINARY SCHOLARSHIP | $20,000 |
| EDUCATE FAIRFAX FALLS CHURCH, VA | SCHOLARSHIP TO FAIRFAX STUDENTS | $15,000 |
| GIRL SCOUTS NATIONS CAPITAL WASHINGTON, DC | SHARE PROGRAM | $10,000 |
| MCINTOSH MEMORIAL LIBRARY VIROQUA, WI | NEW COMMUNITY CENTER | $20,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO FOUNDATION SAN FRANCISCO, CA | ARTIFICIAL KIDNEY RESEARCH | $25,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN EAU CLAIRE FOUNDATION EAU CLAIRE, WI | SCHOLARSHIPS, TEACHING AWARDS, GENERAL USE | $1,365,000 |
| VIRGINIA TECH FOUNDATION BLACKSBURG, VA | SCHOLARSHIPS IN HONOR OF FRED LUTZE | $25,000 |
| VIROQUA AREA FOUNDATION VIROQUA, WI | SCHOLARSHIPS FOR VIROQUA STUDENTS | $120,000 |
| GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY WASHINGTON, DC | SCHOLARSHIPS, PROFESSORSHIP | $340,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Founders:
- David Karlgaard (holds a doctorate in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from George Washington University and an MBA from Wharton; founded PEC Solutions in 1985)
- Marilyn Karlgaard
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAVID C KARLGAARD | PRES & TREAS | 2 | — |
| MARILYN E KARLGAARD | VP & SEC | 2 | — |
| JOANNA V KARLGAARD | ASST VP | 1 | — |
| CHRISTOPHER D KARLGAARD | ASST VP | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Faculty members at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire have been recognized as recipients of Karlgaard Faculty Excellence Awards in recent years, with honorees recognized in 2024-25 and prior academic years across the physics and astronomy, computer science, and mathematics departments.
Physics and Astronomy Department | UW-Eau ClaireContact Information
Address: 5 Clarks Branch Rd, Great Falls, Virginia 22066-4157
EIN: 31-1810538
Note: No public website or contact information is publicly available for this foundation.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Karlgaard Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary purpose is to provide support for scholarships, teaching awards, professorships, nursing scholarships, and artificial kidney research. Its strategic focus centers on supporting STEM education through scholarships, faculty excellence awards, and endowed professorships at institutions where the Karlgaards studied. Key funding areas include: • **University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire**: Scholarships, teaching awards, and general use • **Inova Health Care Foundation**: Nursing …
How do I apply for a grant from Karlgaard Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving: $2,256,853 (2024) • Annual giving: $2,259,910 (2024) • Typical award range: $104–$1,365,000 **Recent Grants (2023):** • University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Foundation: $1,175,000 (Scholarships, Teaching Awards, General Use) • Inova Health System: $250,000 (Nursing Scholarships) **Notable Programs:** *Karlgaard Towers at UW-Eau Claire:* Over $6 million in contributions led to the naming of residence halls on campus. *Karlgaard Faculty Excellence Awards:* $10,00…
Where does Karlgaard Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation's giving is primarily national, with a focus on higher education institutions. Primary geographic areas of support include Wisconsin, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.
What size grants does Karlgaard Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Karlgaard Family Foundation awarded 17 grants totaling $2.3M — an average of about $133K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Karlgaard Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Karlgaard Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Karlgaard Family Foundation's EIN?
Karlgaard Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1810538. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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