Sean Karl Foundation

Public charity · Grantmaker Franklin, TN EIN: 81-3665645

Raising awareness of ewing sarcoma, publicizing the inadequacy of funding for research into pediatric cancer, and raising funds for a $1,000,000 challenge research grant.

Sean Karl Foundation at a glance

In short: Sean Karl Foundation gave $643K across 5 grants in 2025 (avg $129K), mostly in Texas. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

Annual giving (2025)
$643,120
+60.8% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
5
+400.0% vs 2024
Average grant
$128,624
-67.8% vs 2024
Median grant
$53,120
Total assets
$601,419
-24.0% vs 2024
Primary geography
Texas (56% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.

Who Sean Karl Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 5 recipients in 2025

Ewing Sarcoma Institute Inc: $360KEwing Sarcoma Institute Inc$360KMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: $160KMemorial Sloan KetteringCancer Center$160KRegents of the University of Michigan: $53KRegents of the University ofMichigan$53KChildren's Hospital Foundation: $50KChildren's Hospital Foundation$50KMayo Clinic - Department of Development: $20KMayo Clinic - Department ofDevelopment$20K

The largest 2025 recipient was Ewing Sarcoma Institute Inc ($360K). Together the top 5 received $643K.

Grant Size Distribution

6 grants across all recorded years

1<$50K2$50–100K1$100–250K2$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 2 grants of 6 (33%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

5states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.

Cities

PittsburghAnn ArborDallasNew YorkRochester

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$200K$400K$600K$800K0 grants2020 0 grants2021 0 grants2022 0 grants2023 1 grant2024 5 grants2025

From 2024 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $400K (2024) to $643K (2025). In 2025 it made 5 grants totaling $643K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Ewing Sarcoma Institute Inc Dallas, TXSupport Ewing Sarcoma Cancer Research$360,000
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center New York, NYSupport Ewing Sarcoma Cancer Research$160,000
Regents of the University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MISupport Ewing Sarcoma Cancer Research$53,120
Children's Hospital Foundation Pittsburgh, PASupport Ewing Sarcoma Cancer Research$50,000
Mayo Clinic - Department of Development Rochester, MNSupport Ewing Sarcoma Cancer Research$20,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsNet Investment Income
2025$601,419$460,805$650,297$643,1205$32,345
2024$790,911$68,198$408,618$400,0001$42,748
2023$1,131,331$120,129$10,242——$24,510
2022$1,021,444$197,906$13,145——$2,912
2021$836,683$204,507$11,587——$1,096
2020$643,763$178,724$20,475——$2,525

About Sean Karl Foundation

Based on IRS filings

Sean Karl Foundation is a public charity focused on Medical Research, based in Franklin, TN. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $601K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 5 grants totaling $643K. Net investment income was $32K.

Focus Areas

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Sean Karl Foundation is led by Laurie Dynes, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Laurie Dynes

    President

    On filings since 2020

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Ben Testerman

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Mike Karl

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Tamela Caballero

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Steven Priest

    Secretary & Treasurer

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Sean Karl Foundation

How much does Sean Karl Foundation give each year?

Sean Karl Foundation gave $643K across 5 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $400K across 1 grant.

What is Sean Karl Foundation's typical grant size?

Sean Karl Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $53,120, and its average grant was $128,624, across 5 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.

Where does Sean Karl Foundation give grants?

Sean Karl Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 56% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (25%) and Michigan (8%).

Does Sean Karl Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 5 grants with a stated purpose on Sean Karl Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support Ewing Sarcoma Cancer Research" (5 grants).

Who are Sean Karl Foundation's largest grantees?

Sean Karl Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Ewing Sarcoma Institute Inc ($360,000), Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center ($160,000) and Regents of the University of Michigan ($53,120), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 89% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Sean Karl Foundation?

Sean Karl Foundation reported $601K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $461K.

What is Sean Karl Foundation?

Sean Karl Foundation is a public charity focused on Medical Research, based in Franklin, TN. It holds $601K in total assets as of 2025.

What is Sean Karl Foundation's EIN?

Sean Karl Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-3665645. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.

Data update history

(3)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 15, 2025)
  2. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 5, 2026)
  3. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open

Figures come from Sean Karl 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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