The Carlson Foundation is a private independent foundation based in Dallas, Texas, established in 2002. It operates as the philanthropic vehicle of Clint Carlson, founder of Carlson Capital, and his wife Nancy. The foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization designated for charitable, educational, and philanthropic purposes.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$14.4M
-7.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$907K
-9.1% YoY
Grant Count
19
-9.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$48K
+0.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Carlson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $727K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving primarily focuses on:
- Arts
- Education
- Science and STEM education
- Human services
- Philanthropy and grantmaking
The foundation's grantmaking strongly tracks with board memberships and other personal connections in Dallas and Houston.
Grantmaking
The foundation typically selects grantees rather than accepting unsolicited proposals. It makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
Average Grant
amount: $66,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Texas and Colorado, which account for the majority of grants. Grantmaking also reaches organizations in New York and extends across five states total.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $14.4 million
- Total revenue: $1.64 million
- Total expenses: $1.1 million
- Total liabilities: $757,000
Historical Growth:
- Total assets have grown from $5.7 million in 2011 to $14.4 million in 2024
- Annual giving has decreased from $2.7 million in 2020 to $998,000 in 2023
Investment Income:
- Investment income and dividends increased significantly to $301,166 in 2023 (a 398% increase from prior year)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $14,411,489 | $15,551,247 | $16,845,871 |
| Revenue | $1,636,667 | $847,992 | $907,277 |
| Expenses | $1,102,601 | $1,154,246 | $1,432,207 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $911,016 | $1,001,219 | $1,288,865 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,439,953 | $659,965 | $642,618 |
| Distributable Amount | $726,729 | $796,156 | $856,161 |
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
128 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Colorado College ($200,000), The Crystal Charity Ball ($125,000), Ut Law School Foundation ($115,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ASPEN ART MUSEUM ASPEN, CO | GENERAL FUND | $12,500 |
| COLORADO COLLEGE COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | GENERAL FUND | $200,000 |
| DALLAS CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER DALLAS, TX | GENERAL FUND | $25,000 |
| River Pierce Foundation San Ygnacio, TX | GENERAL FUND | $5,000 |
| DALLAS MUSEUM OF ART DALLAS, TX | GENERAL FUND | $75,000 |
| Southern Methodist University DALLAS, TX | GENERAL FUND | $7,500 |
| NASHER SCULPTURE CENTER DALLAS, TX | GENERAL FUND | $10,000 |
| NORTH TEXAS FOOD BANK DALLAS, TX | GENERAL FUND | $50,000 |
| ORCHESTRA OF NEW SPAIN Dallas, TX | GENERAL FUND | $60,000 |
| PEROT MUSEUM OF NATURE AND SCIENCE dallas, TX | GENERAL FUND | $20,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Clint Carlson – Director and principal officer
- Nancy Carlson – Co-founder
The foundation is governed by three officers and trustees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLINT D CARLSON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| NANCY PACKER CARLSON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KEITH T ANDERSON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Contact Information
- Address: 2100 McKinney Ave, Suite 1900, Dallas, TX 75201-2101
- Phone: 214-932-9600
- EIN: 27-0005700
- Tax-exempt status: Since February 2003
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Carlson Foundation fund?
The foundation's giving primarily focuses on: • Arts • Education • Science and STEM education • Human services • Philanthropy and grantmaking The foundation's grantmaking strongly tracks with board memberships and other personal connections in Dallas and Houston.
How do I apply for a grant from The Carlson Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving: $907,000 (2024) • Typical award range: $5,000–$210,000 • Median grant amount: $20,000 • Average grant amount: $66,000 • Historical grants have ranged from $5,000 to $1.1 million **Recent Grants (2023):** • The Colorado College: $200,000 • Crystal Charity Ball: $125,000 • Services OF HOPE ENTITIES Inc: $98,000 **Application Process:** The foundation typically selects grantees rather than accepting unsolicited proposals. It makes contributions only to preselect…
Where does The Carlson Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Texas and Colorado, which account for the majority of grants. Grantmaking also reaches organizations in New York and extends across five states total.
What size grants does The Carlson Foundation award?
In 2024, The Carlson Foundation awarded 19 grants totaling $907K — an average of about $48K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Carlson Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Carlson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $727K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Carlson Foundation's EIN?
The Carlson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-0005700. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Carlson 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.
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