The Carter Family Foundation
The Carter Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Wayzata, Minnesota. Its stated mission is to preserve and promote people’s God-given rights through education, rescue and rehabilitation, child protection, evangelism and missions.
Key facts about The Carter Family Foundation
In short: The Carter Family Foundation gave $923K across 27 grants in 2024 (avg $34K), mostly in Minnesota. 56% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 20-3311749
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $923,472
- Grants made (2024)
- 27
- Average grant
- $34,203
- Median grant
- $2,486
- New grantees (estimate)
- 56% first-time grantees (15 of 27, 2024)
- Total assets
- $12,586,814
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (90% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Applicants should review the foundation’s mission statement and submit a letter of interest describing the program’s focus, how it aligns with the foundation’s goals, and the amount and specific use of the requested… Full details ↓
- Deadline
- None.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$12.6M
-0.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$923K
-20.3% YoY
Grant Count
27
-43.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$34K
+41.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Carter Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $136K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is The Carter Family Foundation open to new grantees?
56%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 15 of 27 grantees (56%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $33K; repeat grants $36K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 33% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 39% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 679% 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation describes its vision as living as ambassadors of God’s grace in local communities, America and the world. Its mission fields include advancing a Biblical worldview and critical thinking; rescuing and restoring people affected by human trafficking, sexual exploitation and religious persecution; supporting first responders, veterans and Gold Star families; and supporting children, mothers in crisis, orphans and adoption into families.
Its 2024 grantees represent a range of activities. For example, the Kirsch Foundation describes its mission as funding initiatives to save lives, including evaluating medical interventions. Aerial Recovery says it works in disaster relief, anti-human trafficking, animal rescue and humanitarian aid. Young Life describes a ministry focused on introducing adolescents to Jesus Christ, while Charity Classic says it facilitates golf for young women in southwest Kansas.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 27 grants totaling $923,472. Awards ranged from $32 to $455,000, with a median grant of $2,486. Its largest reported grants included $455,000 to Minneapolis Foundation, $260,000 to Metropolitan State University Foundation to support natural-science students, and $95,288 to Westminster Church. Other notable grants included $52,575 to the Kirsch Foundation, $10,000 each to CCH Freedom and Saidiana, and $7,680 to Mighty Cause Charitable Foundation.
Review Cycle
None.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 90% of grant dollars went to recipients in Minnesota. California received 6%, and Nebraska, Florida and Texas each received 1%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 27 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $923K (2024) to $1.5M (2021). In 2024 it made 27 grants totaling $923K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Minneapolis Foundaton ($455K). Together the top 10 received $901K.
Grant Size Distribution
229 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 199 grants of 229 (87%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis Foundaton Minneapolis, MN | To support the Organization's mission. | $455,000 |
| Metropolitan State University Foundation St. Paul, MN | To support students in natural science at Metropolitan State Universtiy. | $260,000 |
| Westminster Church Minneapolis, MN | To support the Organization's mission. | $95,288 |
| The Kirsch Foundation Mountain View, CA | To support the Organization's mission. | $52,575 |
| CCH Freedom St. Paul, MN | To support the Organizaiton's mission. | $10,000 |
| Saidiana Edina, MN | To support the Organization's mission. | $10,000 |
| Mighty Cause Charitable Foundation Whiteclay, NE | To support the Organization's mission. | $7,680 |
| CCA Captiva Captiva, FL | To support the Organziation's mission. | $4,686 |
| Charity Classic Urbandale, IN | To support the Organization's mission. | $3,000 |
| Informed Consent Network Austin, TX | To support the Organization's mission. | $2,610 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $12,586,814 | $3,190,585 | $1,047,205 | $923,472 |
| 2023 | $12,639,625 | $294,051 | $1,236,593 | $1,158,694 |
| 2022 | $12,396,198 | $1,070,064 | $1,434,453 | $1,372,233 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $12,586,814 | $12,639,625 | $12,396,198 |
| Revenue | $3,190,585 | $294,051 | $1,070,064 |
| Expenses | $1,047,205 | $1,236,593 | $1,434,453 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $925,281 | $1,164,327 | $1,376,591 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,992,370 | $221,780 | $152,659 |
| Distributable Amount | $136,318 | $646,471 | $320,839 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Diana Clarke-Carter as Director and Chief Executive Officer; Robert Lowell Carter as Director and Officer; and Alison Clarke Carter Brown as Director and Executive Director.
The Carter Family Foundation is led by Diana Clarke-Carter, Director & Chief Executive Officer since 2022 (on filings since 2020); none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Diana Clarke-Carter
Director & Chief Executive Officer
Director & Chief Executive → Director & Chief Executive Officer, 2022
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alison Clarke Carter Brown
Director & Executive Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert Lowell Carter
Director & Officer
On filings since 2020
0.3 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.
Contact
Application contact: Carter Family Foundation
Mailing address: 130 Spur Circle, Wayzata, MN 55391
Phone: (612) 868-7745
Website: https://carterfamily.foundation
Frequently asked questions about The Carter Family Foundation
How much does The Carter Family Foundation give each year?
The Carter Family Foundation gave $923K across 27 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.2M across 48 grants.
What is The Carter Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Carter Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,486, and its average grant was $34,203, across 27 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Carter Family Foundation that year got $33K on average.
Where does The Carter Family Foundation give grants?
The Carter Family Foundation gives mostly in Minnesota: 90% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was California (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Minneapolis, MN (2 grants) and St. Paul, MN (2 grants).
Does The Carter Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 27 grants with a stated purpose on The Carter Family Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To support the Organization's mission." (22 grants) and "To support the Organizaiton's mission." (3 grants).
Who are The Carter Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Carter Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Minneapolis Foundaton ($455,000), Metropolitan State University Foundation ($260,000) and Westminster Church ($95,288), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 88% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Carter Family Foundation?
The Carter Family Foundation reported $12.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $925K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $136K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Carter Family Foundation fund?
The foundation describes its vision as living as ambassadors of God’s grace in local communities, America and the world. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Carter Family Foundation?
Applicants should review the foundation’s mission statement and submit a letter of interest describing the program’s focus, how it aligns with the foundation’s goals, and the amount and specific use of the requested… Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Carter Family Foundation's EIN?
The Carter Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-3311749. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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