The Carpenter Foundation
The Carpenter Foundation is a private family foundation based in Medford, Oregon. Established in 1942 as the Jackson County Recreation Agency to fund entertainment for U.S. servicemen, it was incorporated as a foundation in 1957. The foundation operates with a focused mission to serve the Rogue Valley region of Oregon.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$18.6M
-0.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$949K
+4.8% YoY
Grant Count
116
+14.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$8K
-8.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Carpenter Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The primary purpose of the foundation is to add opportunity, choice, inclusiveness, enrichment, and a climate for change for those living in the Rogue Valley, Oregon.
Primary funding areas include:
- Arts
- Education
- Human Services (including child welfare and youth support)
- Public Interest
- Regional Planning
Grantmaking
Notable grants include:
Review Cycle
**Required Application Materials:**
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with The Carpenter Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Carpenter Foundation restricts its grantmaking to Jackson and Josephine Counties in Oregon (the Rogue Valley region). The foundation occasionally makes grants to statewide or national funders for projects with direct impact on the Rogue Valley, but strongly prefers to support local nonprofits and community organizations.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $18,649,940 (as of June 2024)
- Total Annual Giving: $1,004,850
- Total Revenues: $920,491 (FY 2024)
- Total Expenses: $1,302,923 (FY 2024)
- Staff: 2 employees
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $18,558,346 | $18,649,940 | $18,955,238 |
| Revenue | $1,149,641 | $920,491 | $1,367,354 |
| Expenses | $1,323,837 | $1,302,923 | $1,188,495 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,177,886 | $1,151,836 | $1,050,312 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,039,772 | $808,374 | $1,256,122 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,076,618 | $1,011,341 | $964,665 |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Carpenter Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Oregon Shakespeare Festival Association ($30,000), Britt Festivals ($30,000), United Way of Jackson County ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| THE UNDERSTORY INITIATIVE MEDFORD, OR | TOWARD OPERATING SUPPORT TO HELP MANAGE GRANTS FOR ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION. | $3,000 |
| KIDS UNLIMITED MEDFORD, OR | IN SUPPORT OF THE FOOD FOR THOUGHTFULNESS PROJECT THAT DEVELOPS CULINARY SKILLS AND CAREER TRAINING. | $10,000 |
| OREGON SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL ASSOCIATION ASHLAND, OR | IN SUPPORT OF THE 2025 OSF 90TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON. | $30,000 |
| UNIQUE PROJECT INC NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR ROGUE THEATER COMPANY'S 2025 SEASON. | $7,500 |
| SISKIYOU FIELD INSTITUTE SELMA, OR | IN SUPPORT OF GENERAL OPERATING FUNDS TO MANAGE OUTDOOR EDUCATION PROGRAMS. | $10,000 |
| GRANTS PASS FAMILY YMCA GRANTS PASS, OR | TOWARD AN ART MENTOR PROGRAM LINKING THE ARTS TO THE TEENAGE POPULATION. | $4,000 |
| HOPE EQUESTRIAN CENTER EAGLE POINT, OR | TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR RIDERS TO PARTICIPATE IN A THERAPEUTIC RIDING PROGRAM. | $10,000 |
| MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION OF OREGON INC PORTLAND, OR | TOWARD GRANTING WISHES FOR SERIOUSLY ILL CHILDREN. | $3,000 |
| THREE RIVERS COMMUNITY ORCHESTRA ROGUE RIVER, OR | TOWARD A CONDUCTOR STIPEND AND VENUE RENTAL FUNDING. | $2,500 |
| ASANTE FOUNDATION MEDFORD, OR | IN SUPPORT OF THE PEDIATRIC SEXUAL ASSAULT EXAMINER PROGRAM AT ASANTE. | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Emily Mostue – Trustee/President
- Karen C. Allan – Trustee/Vice President & Secretary
- Dan Thorndike – Trustee/Treasurer/Investment Advisor
- Paula Williams – Program Officer
- Amy Cuddy – Public Trustee
- Sue Naumes – Family Trustee
- Susan Cohen – Public Trustee
- Steve Boyarsky – Public Trustee
- Brian Gross – Public Trustee
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| EMILY MOSTUE | TRUSTEE/PRESIDENT | 30 | $51,617 |
| KAREN C ALLAN | TRUSTEE/VP & SEC | 3 | — |
| DAN THORNDIKE | TRUSTEE/TREASURER/INVESTMENT ADVISOR | 5 | — |
| SUE NAUMES | FAMILY TRUSTEE | 3 | — |
| DEBORAH AMEEN | PUBLIC TRUSTEE | 3 | — |
| STEVE BOYARSKY | PUBLIC TRUSTEE | 3 | — |
| BRUCE VAN ZEE | PUBLIC TRUSTEE | 3 | — |
| AMY CUDDY | PUBLIC TRUSTEE | 3 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 824 E Main St Ste 102, Medford, OR 97504-7135
Phone: 541-772-5732 or 541-772-5851
Website: www.carpenter-foundation.org
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Carpenter Foundation fund?
The primary purpose of the foundation is to add opportunity, choice, inclusiveness, enrichment, and a climate for change for those living in the Rogue Valley, Oregon. Primary funding areas include: • **Arts** • **Education** • **Human Services** (including child welfare and youth support) • **Public Interest** • **Regional Planning**
How do I apply for a grant from The Carpenter Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical grant awards range from $1,000 to $30,000 • Median grant amount: $7,100 • Most grants are modest in size • Only one grant per year to any agency is usually considered • The foundation rarely makes multi-year grants, grants for historical applications, hospital construction or equipment, group or individual trips, or activities for religious purposes **Eligibility Requirements:** • Grant applications accepted only from tax-exempt agencies (501(c)(3)) • No gra…
Where does The Carpenter Foundation make grants?
The Carpenter Foundation restricts its grantmaking to **Jackson and Josephine Counties in Oregon** (the Rogue Valley region). The foundation occasionally makes grants to statewide or national funders for projects with direct impact on the Rogue Valley, but strongly prefers to support local nonprofits and community organizations.
What size grants does The Carpenter Foundation award?
In 2025, The Carpenter Foundation awarded 116 grants totaling $949K — an average of about $8K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Carpenter Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, The Carpenter Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Carpenter Foundation's EIN?
The Carpenter Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 93-0491360. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Carpenter 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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