The Cara Foundation

BROOKFIELD, WI EIN: 20-5640721

The Cara Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in BROOKFIELD, WI. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $1.2M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 19 grants totaling $98K. Net investment income was $111K.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$1.2M

+0.5% YoY

Annual Giving

$98K

-11.8% YoY

Grant Count

19

+0.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$5K

-11.8% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Cara Foundation reported a distributable amount of $111K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

About The Cara Foundation

Based on IRS filings

The Cara Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in BROOKFIELD, WI. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $1.2M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 19 grants totaling $98K. Net investment income was $111K.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

14states
+6 more states

Cities

AlpineAthensBarabooBrookfieldChestnut HillChicagoCudahyDelafieldDenverGraftonHaikuJacksonvilleKaysvilleKeenesburgLittle RockMequonMilwaukeePark CityPeoaPort Washington

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$59K$118K$177K$236K20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$1,169,667$1,164,146$1,303,326
Revenue$116,111$-15,986$-48,725
Expenses$110,590$123,444$97,428
Qualifying Distributions$107,321$120,089$93,637
Net Investment Income$110,743$15,826$19,183
Distributable Amount$110,790$98,524$102,192

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$29K$59K$88K$117K33 grants202024 grants202114 grants202219 grants202319 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

BOSTON COLLEGE - CITY CO…$22KFISH OF SANCAP$15KINTERNATIONAL CRANE FOUN…$15KPARENTS PLACE$10KNATIONAL ABILITY CENTER$8KWISCONSIN ADAPTIVE SPORT…$5KMANKIND PROJECT USA INC$5KOZAUKEE WASHINGTON LAND …$4KTHE WOMEN'S CENTER$3KMAXFUND ANIMAL ADOPTION …$2K

Grant Size Distribution

109 grants across all recorded years

109<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Boston College - City Connects ($22,000), Fish of Sancap ($15,000), International Crane Foundation ($15,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION WISCONSIN CHAPTER MILWAUKEE, WIUNRESTRICTED GRANT$500
WORLD WILDLIFE FUND INC WASHINGTON, DCUNRESTRICTED GRANT$1,000
BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF GREATER MILWAUKEE MILWAUKEE, WIUNRESTRICTED GRANT$1,000
UTAH'S HOGLE ZOO SALT LAKE CITY, UTUNRESTRICTED GRANT$1,000
MILWAUKEE DIAPER MISSION CUDAHY, WIUNRESTRICTED GRANT$1,000
WEST SUBURBAN COMMUNITY PANTRY WOODRIDGE, ILUNRESTRICTED GRANT$1,000
NUZZLES & CO PET RESCUE & ADOPTION PEOA, UTUNRESTRICTED GRANT$1,000
STRAIN FOR THE BRAIN INC MILWAUKEE, WIUNRESTRICTED GRANT$1,040
MAXFUND ANIMAL ADOPTION CENTER DENVER, COUNRESTRICTED GRANT$2,000
MEQUON NATURE PRESERVE INC MEQUON, WIUNRESTRICTED GRANT$2,000

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
DANIEL R DOUCETTEPRESIDENT/DIRECTOR1
PATRICE L BOTTONITREASURER/SECRETARY/DIRECT1
JOSEPH C BRANCHVICE PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR1
BENJAMIN DOUCETTEDIRECTOR1
MATTHEW BRANCHDIRECTOR1
SHANNA DOUCETTE KNIERIMDIRECTOR1
JESSICA L OWENSDIRECTOR1

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Cara Foundation?

The Cara Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in BROOKFIELD, WI. It holds $1.2M in total assets as of 2024.

How large is The Cara Foundation?

As of 2024, The Cara Foundation holds $1.2M in total assets with $116K in annual revenue. It awarded 19 grants totaling $98K in 2024.

Where does The Cara Foundation operate?

The Cara Foundation has awarded grants in Arkansas, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin.

What size grants does The Cara Foundation award?

In 2024, The Cara Foundation awarded 19 grants totaling $98K — an average of about $5K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is The Cara Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Cara Foundation reported a distributable amount of $111K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is The Cara Foundation's EIN?

The Cara Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-5640721. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Explore Open Grants

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Related Funders

Similar funders by location and focus area

Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

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