Karuna Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization registered in Colorado and headquartered in Niwot, Colorado. The foundation supports the wellbeing of animals, the natural environment, and global citizens by making distributions to individuals and organizations that align with its mission. The foundation provides grants, loans, and fiscal sponsorship to mission-aligned charitable initiatives.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.8M
+36.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.8M
-46.8% YoY
Grant Count
37
-21.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$104K
-32.4% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: Karuna Foundation funds activism that reaches a mainstream and/or influential audience with a compelling vegan diet or menu change message in a cost-effective way.
Vision: A Vegan World
Primary Focus Areas:
- Animal welfare and advocacy
- Vegan lifestyle promotion
- Food systems and nutrition
- Removal of animals from the food system
- Addressing humanitarian crises and nutritional deficiencies
The foundation's work is categorized under Alliance/Advocacy Organizations (NTEE code D01) and encompasses animals, food, agriculture, and nutrition philanthropy.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 32 grants totaling $3,309,423 in 2024. Recent grantees include:
Grant Types
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation has made distributions in multiple states, with documented activity in New York, California, and the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $2,801,014
- Total Revenues: $35,412,280
- Total Expenses: $35,569,695
- Total Giving: $32,856,443
- Number of Employees: 2
Executive Compensation: $0 reported
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,801,014 | $2,052,850 | $843,277 |
| Revenue | $35,412,280 | $34,504,274 | $26,842,823 |
| Expenses | $35,569,695 | $33,757,901 | $26,494,769 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
153 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Vegan Hacktivists ($535,586), Vegan Friendly USA ($465,500), Food Solutions Action ($400,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Afro-Vegan Society Baltimore, MD | Advocate for the wellbeing of animals. | $87,500 |
| Animal & Vegan Advocacy International Washington, DC | Advocate for the wellbeing of animals. | $10,000 |
| Animal Advocates International Portland, OR | Advocate for the wellbeing of animals. | $35,000 |
| Animal Rights Initiative Seattle, WA | Advocate for the wellbeing of animals. | $40,000 |
| Animal Wellness Action Washington, DC | Advocate for the wellbeing of animals. | $50,000 |
| Asha's Farm Sanctuary Newfane, NY | Advocate for the wellbeing of animals. | $136,823 |
| Bluegrass Veg Louisville, KY | Advocate for the wellbeing of animals. | $85,000 |
| Cotton Branch Farm Leesville, SC | Advocate for the wellbeing of animals. | $25,000 |
| DC Voters for Animals Education Fund Washington, DC | Advocate for the wellbeing of animals. | $20,000 |
| Effect Partners FBO Vegan Strong Minneapolis, MN | Advocate for the wellbeing of animals. | $340,457 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Shaleen Shah – Executive Director
- Jay Karandikar – Foundation Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shilpi Shah | President/Treasurer | 12 | — |
| Patricia Kowalewski | Director | 2 | — |
| Shaleen Shah | Executive Director | 15 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Karuna Foundation fund?
**Mission Statement:** Karuna Foundation funds activism that reaches a mainstream and/or influential audience with a compelling vegan diet or menu change message in a cost-effective way. **Vision:** A Vegan World **Primary Focus Areas:** • Animal welfare and advocacy • Vegan lifestyle promotion • Food systems and nutrition • Removal of animals from the food system • Addressing humanitarian crises and nutritional deficiencies The foundation's work is categorized under Alliance/Advocacy Organizat…
How do I apply for a grant from Karuna Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** The foundation made 32 grants totaling $3,309,423 in 2024. Recent grantees include: • Vegan Hacktivists: $535,586 (to advocate for animal wellbeing) • Vegan Friendly: $465,500 (to advocate for animal wellbeing) • Food Solutions Action: $400,000 (to advocate for animal wellbeing) **Grant Types:** • Direct distributions to organizations and individuals • Loans to organizations • Fiscal sponsorship of mission-aligned charitable initiatives **Application Process:** Inquiries abo…
Where does Karuna Foundation make grants?
The foundation has made distributions in multiple states, with documented activity in New York, California, and the District of Columbia.
What size grants does Karuna Foundation award?
In 2024, Karuna Foundation awarded 37 grants totaling $3.8M — an average of about $104K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Karuna Foundation's EIN?
Karuna Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 85-4026412. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Karuna Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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