Paulsen Family Foundation
The Paulsen Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Uniondale, New York. It supports conservation initiatives connected to outdoor exploration, including efforts to promote outdoor recreation, environmental education, and access to nature.
Paulsen Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Paulsen Family Foundation gave $226K across 30 grants in 2024 (avg $8K), top state Georgia. 27% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $225,500
- -48.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 30
- -36.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $7,517
- -18.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $7,234,161
- +6.9% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 27% first-time grantees (8 of 30, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Georgia (24% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Paulsen Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: Co Csv 50 Chas Lindbrgh Bvd 605, Uniondale, NY 11553
Phone: (516) 483-5800
Website: https://paulsenfamilyfoundation.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Paulsen Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Earth Justice ($20K). Together the top 10 received $140K.
Grant Size Distribution
180 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 174 grants of 180 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in multiple states. The largest reported shares were Georgia (24%), California (22%), North Carolina (20%), the District of Columbia (14%), and Utah (9%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 30 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Paulsen Family Foundation open to new grantees?
27%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 8 of 30 grantees (27%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $9K; repeat grants $7K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 70% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 30% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 54% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $147K (2020) to $435K (2023). In 2024 it made 30 grants totaling $226K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Earth Justice San Francisco, CA | Unrestricted | $20,000 |
| Democracy Forward Foundation Washington, DC | Unrestricted | $20,000 |
| Outdoor Afro Oakland, CA | Unrestricted | $15,000 |
| Outdoor Alliance Washington, SC | Unrestricted | $15,000 |
| She Jumps Salt Lake City, UT | Unrestricted | $15,000 |
| Trust for Public Land Los Angeles, CA | Unrestricted | $15,000 |
| Asheville on Bikes Asheville, NC | Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| Environmental Defense Fund Washington, DC | Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| Live Thrive Atlanta, GA | Unrestricted Grant | $10,000 |
| Northeast Georgia Sobra Woodstock, GA | Unrestricted | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Paulsen Family Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $7,234,161 | $899,703 | $398,580 | $225,500 | 30 | $225,594 | $837,717 | $414,064 |
| 2023 | $6,768,238 | $5,476,626 | $447,527 | $435,000 | 47 | $435,090 | $5,470,689 | $269,508 |
| 2022 | $1,469,602 | $1,357,824 | $221,156 | $217,700 | 40 | $217,700 | $274,608 | $330,968 |
| 2021 | $462,434 | $283,758 | $328,228 | $323,580 | 37 | $323,580 | $79,110 | $303,876 |
| 2020 | $427,293 | $93,099 | $168,140 | $147,300 | 26 | — | $71,259 | $190,874 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Paulsen Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $414K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation says its mission is to promote and fund initiatives that prioritize conservation and outdoor exploration. Its website highlights education and outreach about conservation and outdoor activities, access to outdoor recreation for people regardless of proximity or physical abilities, and funding organizations working toward conservation and sustainability goals.
Examples of supported organizations span several fields. Outdoor Afro describes its work as celebrating Black connections and leadership in nature and advancing Black leadership in conservation. Asheville GreenWorks says it mobilizes communities toward an equitable, climate-resilient future. RiverLink describes its mission as promoting the environmental and economic vitality of the French Broad River and its watershed for all.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation made 30 grants totaling $225,500. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $20,000, with a median of $5,000. Among the largest reported grants were $20,000 each to Earthjustice and Democracy Forward Foundation; $15,000 each to Outdoor Afro, Outdoor Alliance, SheJumps, and Trust for Public Land; and $10,000 each to Asheville on Bikes, Environmental Defense Fund, Live Thrive, and Northeast Georgia Sobra. The listed grants were described as unrestricted or unrestricted grants.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Katherine C. Paulsen and Caroline E. Paulsen as directors.
Paulsen Family Foundation's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Katherine C. Paulsen
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Caroline E. Paulsen
Director
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Laura E. Taft (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: William F. Paulsen (2020–2023) — Director
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.
Frequently asked questions about Paulsen Family Foundation
How much does Paulsen Family Foundation give each year?
Paulsen Family Foundation gave $226K across 30 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $435K across 47 grants.
What is Paulsen Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Paulsen Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $7,517, across 30 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Paulsen Family Foundation that year got $9K on average.
Where does Paulsen Family Foundation give grants?
Paulsen Family Foundation's top state is Georgia, with 24% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (22%) and North Carolina (20%). The most frequent recipient cities were Asheville, NC (6 grants), Atlanta, GA (4 grants), Washington, DC (3 grants) and Salt Lake City, UT (2 grants).
Does Paulsen Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Paulsen Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (30 of 30) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Paulsen Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Paulsen Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Earth Justice ($20,000), Democracy Forward Foundation ($20,000) and Outdoor Afro ($15,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 24% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Paulsen Family Foundation?
Paulsen Family Foundation reported $7.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $226K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $414K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Paulsen Family Foundation fund?
The foundation says its mission is to promote and fund initiatives that prioritize conservation and outdoor exploration. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Paulsen Family Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Paulsen Family Foundation's EIN?
Paulsen Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1604299. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Paulsen Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Paulsen Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/paulsen-family-foundation-morg_9bb8a80e886b49fd8d20cc33a1fa7748
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_311604299_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Paulsen Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/paulsen-family-foundation-morg_9bb8a80e886b49fd8d20cc33a1fa7748},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Paulsen Family Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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