The Carter Family Charitable Trust
The Carter Family Charitable Trust is a private foundation, based in Little Compton, RI. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $44.9M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $2.1M. Net investment income was $3.3M.
The Carter Family Charitable Trust at a glance
In short: The Carter Family Charitable Trust gave $2.1M across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $2.1M), mostly in Rhode Island. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,120,773
- -1.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,120,773
- -1.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,120,773
- Total assets
- $44,858,262
- +2.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Rhode Island (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who The Carter Family Charitable Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Rhode Island Foundation ($2.1M).
Grant Size Distribution
6 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $1–5M range: 5 grants of 6 (83%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How The Carter Family Charitable Trust gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−8%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 96% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $794K (2020) to $2.3M (2023). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $2.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island Foundation Providence, RI | General Support | $2,120,773 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $44,858,262 | $3,777,081 | $2,816,736 | $2,120,773 | 1 | $2,332,314 | $3,337,659 | $2,439,505 |
| 2024 | $43,897,917 | $811,820 | $2,727,108 | $2,141,555 | 1 | $2,326,815 | $1,001,692 | $2,306,033 |
| 2023 | $45,813,205 | $1,275,934 | $2,906,080 | $2,349,852 | 1 | $2,479,852 | $869,123 | $2,271,555 |
| 2022 | $46,177,642 | $4,994,922 | $2,978,375 | $2,309,632 | 1 | $2,429,632 | $2,455,054 | $2,469,852 |
| 2021 | $45,507,590 | $4,362,619 | $2,691,845 | $2,134,144 | 2 | — | $2,737,655 | $2,432,332 |
| 2020 | $43,903,880 | $2,967,074 | $1,274,427 | $794,261 | 3 | — | $1,034,877 | $2,251,444 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Carter Family Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $2.4M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Carter Family Charitable Trust's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; all 2 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
John S. Carter III
Trustee
On filings since 2020
12 hrs/week
$120K (2020) → $120K (2025)
Richard G. Small
Trustee
On filings since 2020
12 hrs/week
$120K (2020) → $120K (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Letitia M. Carter (2020–2024) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $120K, to Richard G Small (Trustee). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Carter Family Charitable Trust
How much does The Carter Family Charitable Trust give each year?
The Carter Family Charitable Trust gave $2.1M across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $2.1M across 1 grant.
How large is The Carter Family Charitable Trust?
The Carter Family Charitable Trust reported $44.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.4M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
Where does The Carter Family Charitable Trust operate?
The Carter Family Charitable Trust has awarded grants in Rhode Island.
What is The Carter Family Charitable Trust's EIN?
The Carter Family Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 05-6093256. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Carter Family Charitable Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
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