Shirley C Caris Family Foundation
The Shirley C Caris Family Foundation is a private, non-operating foundation based in Scottsdale, Arizona. Established in 1999, the foundation operates as a charitable grantmaking organization with a focus on supporting programs across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$12.2M
+5.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$526K
+2.6% YoY
Grant Count
26
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$20K
+2.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Shirley C Caris Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $632K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding priorities include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
Grantmaking
The foundation made 21 grants in 2024. Typical grant awards range from $1,000 to $148,136.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Arizona
- California
- Texas
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total Assets: $12,151,998
- Total Giving: $525,835
- Total Revenues: $1,078,544
- Total Expenses: $782,121
- Investment Income and Dividends: $398,423
- Net Gain from Sale of Non-Inventory Assets: $333,803
Staffing: The foundation operates with 0 employees.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $12,151,998 | $11,514,474 | $10,487,786 |
| Revenue | $1,078,544 | $1,034,029 | $818,143 |
| Expenses | $782,121 | $675,906 | $848,058 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $589,271 | $571,904 | $711,464 |
| Net Investment Income | $437,204 | $388,815 | $317,196 |
| Distributable Amount | $631,988 | $578,706 | $585,557 |
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
121 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Payson Unified Schools ($140,000), Boston Childrens Hospital ($125,000), Child Crisis Arizona ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ARIZONA WOMENS BOARD PARADISE VALLEY, AZ | CHARITABLE PROGRAM | $5,000 |
| BARROW NEUROLOGICAL FOUNDATION PHOENIX, AZ | CHARITABLE PROGRAM | $10,000 |
| BLUE LATITUDES FOUNDATION LAGUNA BEACH, CA | CHARITABLE PROGRAM | $1,000 |
| BOARD OF VISITORS PHOENIX, AZ | CHARITABLE PROGRAM | $10,000 |
| BOSTON CHILDRENS HOSPITAL BOSTON, MA | CHARITABLE PROGRAM | $125,000 |
| BROWNSVILLE WESTERN HERITAGE PAYSON, AZ | CHARITABLE PROGRAM | $18,000 |
| CHANGING TIDES FOUNDATION OCEANSIDE, CA | CHARITABLE PROGRAM | $1,000 |
| CHILD CRISIS ARIZONA MESA, AZ | CHARITABLE PROGRAM | $50,000 |
| DESERT BOTANICAL GARDENS PHOENIX, AZ | CHARITABLE PROGRAM | $10,000 |
| DUEKER RANCH INC PAYSON, AZ | CHARITABLE PROGRAM | $8,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Shirley C Caris is listed as the primary contact for the foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CATHERINE ANN CARIS | PRESIDENT | 3 | $39,648 |
| SHERRY LYNN COWAN | SECR/TREAS. | 3 | $39,648 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Shirley C Caris Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary funding priorities include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services
How do I apply for a grant from Shirley C Caris Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** The foundation made 21 grants in 2024. Typical grant awards range from $1,000 to $148,136. **Recent Grants (2024):** • Time Out: $35,000 • Rim Country Arizonans for Children: $18,585 • Brownsville Western Heritage: $18,000 **Total Giving:** $525,835 (2024)
Where does Shirley C Caris Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Arizona • California • Texas
What size grants does Shirley C Caris Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Shirley C Caris Family Foundation awarded 26 grants totaling $526K — an average of about $20K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Shirley C Caris Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Shirley C Caris Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $632K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Shirley C Caris Family Foundation's EIN?
Shirley C Caris Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 86-0965394. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Shirley C Caris Family 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.