The Carole Desoto Foundation
The Carole Desoto Foundation is a private foundation based in Lemoyne, Pennsylvania. Its 2024 grants supported charitable organizations, including arts and cultural organizations, community-serving organizations, and a veterans’ organization.
The Carole Desoto Foundation at a glance
In short: The Carole Desoto Foundation gave $120K across 16 grants in 2024 (avg $8K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 44% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $120,233
- -81.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 16
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $7,515
- -81.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $7,050
- Total assets
- $308,924
- -20.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 44% first-time grantees (7 of 16, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (88% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Carole Desoto Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 525 Bridgeview Drive Box 87, Lemoyne, PA 17043
Phone: (610) 458-3121
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Carole Desoto Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra ($20K). Together the top 10 received $104K.
Grant Size Distribution
63 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 56 grants of 63 (89%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 88% of grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania and 12% to recipients in Washington.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Carole Desoto Foundation open to new grantees?
44%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 7 of 16 grantees (44%) were first-time recipients. With only 16 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $6K; repeat grants $8K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $9K repeat.
- 44% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 59% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 706% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $120K (2024) to $635K (2023). In 2024 it made 16 grants totaling $120K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra Harrisburg, PA | General Support | $20,000 |
| CASA Seattle, WA | General Support | $15,000 |
| Market Square Concerts Harrisburg, PA | Sponsorship | $12,000 |
| United Way of the Capital Region Enola, PA | General Support | $10,000 |
| Veterans Outreach Harrisburg, PA | General Support | $10,000 |
| Market Square Presbyterian Church Harrisburg, PA | General Support | $9,000 |
| Twin Valley Players Millersburg, PA | General Support | $8,633 |
| West Shore Theatre New Cumberland, PA | General Support | $7,500 |
| Ned Smith Center for Nature & Art Millersburg, PA | General Fund Purpose | $6,600 |
| Gretna Theater Mt Gretna, PA | General Support | $5,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $308,924 | $53,031 | $130,419 | $120,233 | 16 | $121,325 | $1,939 | $17,195 |
| 2023 | $387,312 | $660,821 | $636,700 | $635,000 | 16 | $635,850 | $659,971 | $27,715 |
| 2022 | $362,191 | $99,173 | $145,982 | $138,250 | 10 | $139,616 | $22,807 | $49,384 |
| 2021 | $409,000 | $316,910 | $294,491 | $293,000 | 11 | $293,600 | $216,274 | $53,292 |
| 2020 | $365,034 | $119,010 | $132,102 | $130,500 | 10 | — | $18,375 | $50,136 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Carole Desoto Foundation reported a distributable amount of $17K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants included general support, sponsorship, and general fund purposes. Among its grantees, Market Square Concerts says it presents chamber music and engages the public in the art form; United Way of the Capital Region says it works to address community needs in Cumberland, Dauphin, and Perry counties; and Twin Valley Players says it promotes and supports theater in the community.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation awarded 16 grants totaling $120,233. Awards ranged from $500 to $20,000, with a median of $7,050. Notable grants included $20,000 to Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra, $15,000 to CASA in Seattle, $12,000 to Market Square Concerts, $10,000 each to United Way of the Capital Region and Veterans Outreach, and $9,000 to Market Square Presbyterian Church.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Carole DeSoto as president and director; Matthew G. DeSoto as vice president and director; Michael J. DeSoto as treasurer and director; and Randall N. DeSoto as secretary and director.
The Carole Desoto Foundation is led by Carole Desoto, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Carole Desoto
President & Director
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matthew G. Desoto
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael J. Desoto
Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Randall N. Desoto
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 The Carole Desoto Foundation
How much does The Carole Desoto Foundation give each year?
The Carole Desoto Foundation gave $120K across 16 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $635K across 16 grants.
What is The Carole Desoto Foundation's typical grant size?
The Carole Desoto Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $7,050, and its average grant was $7,515, across 16 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Carole Desoto Foundation that year got $6K on average.
Where does The Carole Desoto Foundation give grants?
The Carole Desoto Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 88% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Washington (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Harrisburg, PA (8 grants) and Millersburg, PA (2 grants).
Does The Carole Desoto Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 94% of The Carole Desoto Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (15 of 16) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Carole Desoto Foundation's largest grantees?
The Carole Desoto Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra ($20,000), CASA ($15,000) and Market Square Concerts ($12,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 39% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Carole Desoto Foundation?
The Carole Desoto Foundation reported $309K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $121K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $17K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Carole Desoto Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants included general support, sponsorship, and general fund purposes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Carole Desoto Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Carole Desoto Foundation's EIN?
The Carole Desoto Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-1576948. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Carole Desoto Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 23, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 23, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Carole Desoto Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Carole Desoto Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-carole-desoto-foundation-morg_ba6bb3dcdf3840918cf08a7fa0277876
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_471576948_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Carole Desoto Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-carole-desoto-foundation-morg_ba6bb3dcdf3840918cf08a7fa0277876},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Carole Desoto 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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