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Robert C Vance Char Fdn

Foundation · Grantmaker Dallas, TX EIN: 06-6050188 Website

ROBERT C VANCE CHAR FDN is a private foundation based in Dallas, Texas. Its 2025 filing reports 11 grants totaling $945,740, all to recipients in Connecticut.

Key facts about Robert C Vance Char Fdn

In short: Robert C Vance Char Fdn gave $946K across 11 grants in 2025 (avg $86K), mostly in Connecticut. 27% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
06-6050188
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$945,740
Grants made (2025)
11
Average grant
$85,976
Median grant
$17,690
New grantees (estimate)
27% first-time grantees (3 of 11, 2025)
Total assets
$2,647,387
Primary geography
Connecticut (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
How to apply
The 2024 filing lists Herbert E Carlson as the contact and says application materials must conform to the United Community Service format. Full details ↓
Deadline
None.

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$2.6M

+15.6% YoY

Annual Giving

$946K

-8.8% YoY

Grant Count

11

+0.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$86K

-8.8% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Robert C Vance Char Fdn reported a distributable amount of $897K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Is Robert C Vance Char Fdn open to new grantees?

27%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 3 of 11 grantees (27%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $88K; repeat grants $85K. How we count

Medians: $48K first-time, $9K repeat.

  • 73% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving grew 30% from 2022 to 2025. Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 107% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants supported organizations in the arts, music, human services, and community sectors. For example, the New Britain Museum of American Art says it provides public enrichment and inspiration through American art, while the New Britain Institute says it promotes literacy, science, and culture in New Britain through its library and museums. Connecticut Choral Artists describes its work as presenting choral music through programs intended to challenge, excite, educate, and inspire audiences.

Grantmaking

In 2025, the foundation made 11 grants totaling $945,740. Grants ranged from $3,500 to $500,000, with a median of $17,690. The largest awards were $500,000 to the New Britain Museum of American Art for unrestricted general support, $199,000 to Trinity on Main for building repairs, and $125,000 to United Way of Central & Northeastern Connecticut for unrestricted general support. Other grants included $48,300 to the Prudence Crandall Center and $25,000 to the Salvation Army of New Britain, both for unrestricted general support.

Review Cycle

** None.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

All reported 2025 grant dollars went to Connecticut recipients. The foundation’s 2024 filing states that awards are restricted to organizations serving the New Britain, Connecticut area.

Grant Distribution by State

1state

Share of all 11 itemized 2025 grant dollars.

States

Cities

New BritainBerlinHartfordKensington

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$500K$1M$1.5M13 grants202112 grants202211 grants202311 grants202411 grants2025

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

New Britain Museum of American Art: $500KNew Britain Museum of AmericanArt$500KTrinity on Main: $199KTrinity on Main$199KUnited Way of Central & Northeastern CT: $125KUnited Way of Central &Northeastern CT$125KThe Prudence Crandall Center: $48KThe Prudence Crandall Center$48KSalvation Army of New Britain: $25KSalvation Army of New Britain$25KPastor & Standing Committee: $18KPastor & Standing Committee$18KNew Britain Symphony Orchestra: $11KNew Britain Symphony Orchestra$11KNew Britain Institute: $8KNew Britain Institute$8KPeck Memorial Library of Berlin: $5KPeck Memorial Library ofBerlin$5KThe Music Series at South Church: $4KThe Music Series at SouthChurch$4K

Grant Size Distribution

58 grants across all recorded years

37<$50K4$50–100K15$100–250K1$250–500K1$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
NEW BRITAIN MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART New Britain, CTUNRESTRICTED GENERAL$500,000
TRINITY ON MAIN New Britain, CTSUPPORTS BUILDING REPAIRS$199,000
UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL & NORTHEASTERN CT Hartford, CTUNRESTRICTED GENERAL$125,000
THE PRUDENCE CRANDALL CENTER New Britain, CTUNRESTRICTED GENERAL$48,300
SALVATION ARMY OF NEW BRITAIN New Britain, CTUNRESTRICTED GENERAL$25,000
PASTOR & STANDING COMMITTEE New Britain, CTUNRESTRICTED GENERAL$17,690
NEW BRITAIN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA New Britain, CTUNRESTRICTED GENERAL$10,500
NEW BRITAIN INSTITUTE New Britain, CTUNRESTRICTED GENERAL$8,250
PECK MEMORIAL LIBRARY OF BERLIN Berlin, CTUNRESTRICTED GENERAL$5,000
THE MUSIC SERIES AT SOUTH CHURCH New Britain, CTSUPPORT FOR 2022-2023$3,500

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants Grant count
2025 $2,647,387 $1,352,527 $995,996 $945,740 11
2024 $2,290,856 $963,849 $1,073,793 $1,036,500 11
2023 $2,400,632 $494,345 $730,111 $693,000 11
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$500K$1M$1.5M20212022202320242025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$2,647,387$2,290,856$2,400,632
Revenue$1,352,527$963,849$494,345
Expenses$995,996$1,073,793$730,111
Qualifying Distributions$961,513$1,051,171$702,708
Net Investment Income$1,337,886$949,367$472,505
Distributable Amount$897,317$757,332$740,285

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Herbert E Carlson Jr as director, chairman, and president; Cheryl C Carlson as director and secretary; and Cynthia A Carlson as director and treasurer. Bank of America N.A. is listed as agent for fiduciary.

Robert C Vance Char Fdn is led by Herbert E. Carlson Jr., Director, Chairman & President on every filing since 2021; 1 of 4 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Herbert E. Carlson Jr.

    Director, Chairman & President

    On filings since 2021

    4 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Cheryl C. Carlson

    Director & Secretary

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Cynthia A. Carlson

    Director & Treasurer

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Bank Of America N A

    Agent for Fiduciary

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    $20K (2021) → $22K (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

Bank of America N a — Agent for Fiduciary: $22KBank of America N aAgent for Fiduciary$22K

Contact

Application contact: Herbert E Carlson
Mailing address: 21 Winesap Road, Kensington, CT 06037
Phone: (860) 566-3190
Website: https://vanguardcharitable.org

Frequently asked questions about Robert C Vance Char Fdn

How much does Robert C Vance Char Fdn give each year?

Robert C Vance Char Fdn gave $946K across 11 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.0M across 11 grants.

What is Robert C Vance Char Fdn's typical grant size?

Robert C Vance Char Fdn's median grant in 2025 was $17,690, and its average grant was $85,976, across 11 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Robert C Vance Char Fdn that year got $88K on average.

Where does Robert C Vance Char Fdn give grants?

Robert C Vance Char Fdn gives mostly in Connecticut: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were New Britain, CT (9 grants).

Does Robert C Vance Char Fdn give general operating support?

Yes: 82% of Robert C Vance Char Fdn's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (9 of 11) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Robert C Vance Char Fdn's largest grantees?

Robert C Vance Char Fdn's largest 2025 grantees include New Britain Museum of American Art ($500,000), Trinity on Main ($199,000) and United Way of Central & Northeastern CT ($125,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 87% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Robert C Vance Char Fdn?

Robert C Vance Char Fdn reported $2.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $962K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $897K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Robert C Vance Char Fdn fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants supported organizations in the arts, music, human services, and community sectors. For example, the New Britain Museum of American Art says it provides public enrichment and inspiration through American art, while the New Britain Institute says it promotes literacy, science, and culture in New Britain through its library and museums. Connecticut Choral Artists describes its work as presenting choral music through programs inte…

How do I apply for a grant from Robert C Vance Char Fdn?

The 2024 filing lists Herbert E Carlson as the contact and says application materials must conform to the United Community Service format. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Robert C Vance Char Fdn's EIN?

Robert C Vance Char Fdn's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 06-6050188. 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. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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