Robert W Carlson Foundation
Robert W Carlson Foundation is a private foundation, based in Eden Prairie, MN. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.0M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 8 grants totaling $28K. Net investment income was $106K.
Robert W Carlson Foundation at a glance
In short: Robert W Carlson Foundation gave $28K across 8 grants in 2025 (avg $4K), mostly in Minnesota. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $28,000
- -48.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 8
- -46.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $3,500
- -3.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $1,024,315
- +8.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (82% 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 Robert W Carlson Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Ascension Catholic School ($5K). Together the top 8 received $28K.
Grant Size Distribution
66 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 66 grants of 66 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
Cities
How Robert W Carlson Foundation gives
- Giving fell 32% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 53% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $28K (2025) to $59K (2021). In 2025 it made 8 grants totaling $28K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ascension Catholic School Minneapolis, MN | Charitable | $5,000 |
| Dunwoody College of Technology Minneapolis, MN | Charitable | $5,000 |
| Edallies Minneapolis, MN | Charitable | $5,000 |
| Project Build- Southwest Flordia Naples, FL | Charitable | $5,000 |
| Urban Roots St. Paul, MN | Charitable | $5,000 |
| Hazelden Foundation Center City, MN | Charitable | $1,000 |
| Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN | Charitable | $1,000 |
| St Mary's Greek Orthodox Church Minneapolis, MN | Charitable | $1,000 |
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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 | $1,024,315 | $112,927 | $37,793 | $28,000 | 8 | $29,590 | $106,412 | $56,158 |
| 2024 | $945,810 | $95,761 | $63,064 | $54,500 | 15 | $56,008 | $89,615 | $53,725 |
| 2023 | $912,113 | $63,642 | $53,226 | $45,700 | 14 | $47,208 | $57,934 | $48,429 |
| 2022 | $901,697 | $58,269 | $49,270 | $41,000 | 12 | $42,312 | $52,902 | $48,720 |
| 2021 | $892,698 | $88,303 | $65,369 | $58,500 | 17 | $59,680 | $82,798 | $52,362 |
| 2020 | $869,764 | $55,637 | $56,690 | $49,000 | 12 | — | $50,649 | $44,858 |
| 2019 | $870,817 | $65,154 | $42,679 | $35,750 | 15 | — | $60,118 | $45,079 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Robert W Carlson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $56K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Robert W Carlson Foundation is led by Dana Carlson Smith, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Dana Carlson Smith
President
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Robert W. Carlson Jr.
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Virginia D. Carlson
Secretary
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Robert W Carlson Foundation
How much does Robert W Carlson Foundation give each year?
Robert W Carlson Foundation gave $28K across 8 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $55K across 15 grants.
What is Robert W Carlson Foundation's typical grant size?
Robert W Carlson Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $3,500, across 8 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Robert W Carlson Foundation give grants?
Robert W Carlson Foundation gives mostly in Minnesota: 82% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Florida (18%). The most frequent recipient cities were Minneapolis, MN (4 grants).
Does Robert W Carlson Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 8 grants with a stated purpose on Robert W Carlson Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (8 grants).
Who are Robert W Carlson Foundation's largest grantees?
Robert W Carlson Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Ascension Catholic School ($5,000), Dunwoody College of Technology ($5,000) and Edallies ($5,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 54% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Robert W Carlson Foundation?
Robert W Carlson Foundation reported $1.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $30K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $56K (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 is Robert W Carlson Foundation's EIN?
Robert W Carlson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-1377918. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 11, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 4, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
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