The Caruso Family Foundation
The Caruso Family Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) grantmaking foundation based in Los Angeles, California. Established in 1991, the foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of at-risk children and their families, with particular emphasis on the Los Angeles metropolitan area and Southern California.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$36K
-71.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.7M
-12.9% YoY
Grant Count
34
-20.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$108K
+10.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary areas of interest include:
- High-quality educational opportunities
- Access to superior healthcare
- Transforming the lives of underserved youth, with initiatives beginning as early as 6 months old
The foundation's grant-making focuses on Education, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, and Human Services.
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept applications.
Grant Range
$750 to $2,204,845
Average Grant
amount: $403
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports various cities across the United States with primary focus on:
- Los Angeles metropolitan area
- Southern California
- Additional funding in states including California, New York, Texas, Indiana, and Ohio
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Data (2024):
- Total Assets: $35,674
- Total Revenue: $3.52 million
- Total Expenses: $3.72 million
- Total Liabilities: $109,000
Prior Year Data (2023):
- Total Assets: $125,596
- Total Revenue: $4,348,174
- Total Expenses: $4,246,694
- Total Grants, Contributions: $4,347,606
Historical Giving Trends:
- 2023: $3.6 million in grants (26 grants)
- 2022: $5.0 million in grants (27 grants)
- 2021: $4.0 million in grants (22 grants)
- 2020: $7.5 million in grants (33 grants)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $35,674 | $125,596 | $58,051 |
| Revenue | $3,516,698 | $4,348,174 | $3,360,874 |
| Expenses | $3,715,987 | $4,246,694 | $3,620,016 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,683,699 | $4,231,565 | $3,561,720 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,013,335 | $1,723,324 | $565,940 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | $1,912 |
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
152 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Pepperdine University ($1,224,410), Baby2baby ($350,000), Para Los Ninos ($308,199).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A CHANCE FOR CHILDREN FOUNDATION MALIBU, CA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $42,007 |
| AVAS HEART INC BEVERLY HILLS, CA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $60,000 |
| BABY2BABY LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $350,000 |
| CALIFORNIA BUSINESS PROPERTIES ASSOCIATION SACRAMENTO, CA | AWARDS DINNER SPONSORSHIP | $5,000 |
| CITY OF HOPE DUARTE, CA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $10,000 |
| FRIENDS OF UNITED HATZALAH INC NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $286,000 |
| HOAG HOSPITAL FOUNDATION NEWPORT BEACH, CA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $100,000 |
| HOLOCAUST MUSEUM LA LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $12,000 |
| KERING FOUNDATION IN THE AMERICAS INC NEW YORK, NY | CARING FOR WOMEN CONTRIBUTION | $100,000 |
| KIPP SOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Rick J. Caruso – President and Trustee
- Christina J. Caruso – Vice President and Trustee
- Marc A. Caruso – Vice President and Trustee
- Tina P. Caruso – Trustee
None of the trustees receive compensation for their roles.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RICK J CARUSO | PRESIDENT/TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| CHRISTINA J CARUSO | VICE PRESIDENT/TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| MARC A CARUSO | VICE PRESIDENT/TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| TINA P CARUSO | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has committed significant resources to educational initiatives in underserved communities, including a $5 million commitment to support a path to college for students in Los Angeles's Watts neighborhood. The foundation has also been involved in fire recovery efforts through nonprofit partnerships in California.
Caruso Nonprofit Fire-Recovery Group Plans Free Prefab Home ...Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Caruso Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary areas of interest include: • High-quality educational opportunities • Access to superior healthcare • Transforming the lives of underserved youth, with initiatives beginning as early as 6 months old The foundation's grant-making focuses on Education, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, and Human Services.
How do I apply for a grant from The Caruso Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 26-33 grants annually in recent years • Grant range: $750 to $2,204,845 • Median grant size: $10,000 to $55,000 (varies by year) • Average grant amount: $403 **Recent Grant Recipients (2023):** • Pepperdine University: $2,204,845 (General Operations) • Operation Progress Student Assistance Foundation: $275,000 (General Operations) • Para Los Ninos: $256,151 (General Operations) • Loyola High School of Los Angeles: $250,000 (Education) • USC Caruso Catholic Center: $20…
Where does The Caruso Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports various cities across the United States with primary focus on: • Los Angeles metropolitan area • Southern California • Additional funding in states including California, New York, Texas, Indiana, and Ohio
What size grants does The Caruso Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Caruso Family Foundation awarded 34 grants totaling $3.7M — an average of about $108K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Caruso Family Foundation's EIN?
The Caruso Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-4317077. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Caruso Family 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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