The Catherine Jefferson Foundation Inc
The Catherine Jefferson Foundation Inc is a private philanthropic foundation based in Durham, North Carolina. Established in 2014, it operates as a 501(c)(3) organization focused on grantmaking and fund distribution. The foundation manages substantial assets and distributes grants across multiple states and communities throughout the United States.
Key facts about The Catherine Jefferson Foundation Inc
- EIN
- 35-7004054
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,641,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 33
- Average grant
- $80,030
- Median grant
- $5,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 36% first-time grantees (12 of 33, 2024)
- Total assets
- $30,583,118
- Primary geography
- New York (40% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who The Catherine Jefferson Foundation Inc funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Catherine Jefferson Foundation Inc's 33 itemized 2024 grants were New York (40%) and Connecticut (39%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Diego, CA (3 grants), Key Largo, FL (2 grants), Durham, NC (2 grants) and Boston, MA (2 grants). None of its 33 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Contribution" (33 grants).
Is The Catherine Jefferson Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
36%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 12 of 33 grantees (36%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $123K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 58% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 24% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 198% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2019–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with The Catherine Jefferson Foundation Inc
- How to evaluate The Catherine Jefferson Foundation Inc as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$30.6M
+46.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.6M
+31.8% YoY
Grant Count
33
-10.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$80K
+47.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Catherine Jefferson Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Grantmaking
The foundation is an active grantmaker with a demonstrated commitment to supporting various causes. Recent grantmaking activity includes:
Grant Range
range**: Typical awards range from $100 to $2,275,000, with recent activity showing significant variation in award amounts.
Ready to take the next step with The Catherine Jefferson Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports a wide range of communities across the United States, including major urban centers and smaller communities. States with documented funding activity include California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 33 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $20,816,650
- Total Revenue: $5,780,506
- Total Expenses: $2,682,799
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Total Giving: $2,003,352
The foundation maintains a strong financial position with no outstanding liabilities.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $30,583,118 | $20,816,650 | $17,718,943 |
| Revenue | $14,254,680 | $5,780,506 | $901,803 |
| Expenses | $4,488,212 | $2,682,799 | $2,170,661 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,641,000 | $2,003,352 | $1,855,813 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,711,282 | $2,101,059 | $574,326 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,336,464 | $902,182 | $867,422 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
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
137 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Avon Old Farms ($1,001,000), Syracuse University ($980,000), Kellogg School of Management ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AVON OLD FARMS Avon, CT | CONTRIBUTION | $1,001,000 |
| SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY Syracuse, NY | CONTRIBUTION | $980,000 |
| KELLOGG SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT Evanston, IL | CONTRIBUTION | $100,000 |
| ORMCF INC Key Largo, FL | CONTRIBUTION | $100,000 |
| TEAM IMPACT Quincy, MA | CONTRIBUTION | $100,000 |
| PLL ASSISTS Torrance, CA | CONTRIBUTION | $55,000 |
| GIFT HILL | CONTRIBUTION | $50,000 |
| THE PURCHASE COLLEGE FOUNDATION Purchase, NY | CONTRIBUTION | $50,000 |
| FOLDS OF HONOR Center Valley, PA | CONTRIBUTION | $41,600 |
| SANDY HOOK PROMISE FUND Newtown, CT | CONTRIBUTION | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is managed by trustees who serve without compensation:
- Catherine Jefferson (Trustee)
- Brett Jefferson
- Karen Carlisle
The foundation has no employees and is supported by BRJ Holdings III LLC.
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catherine Jefferson | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Brett Jefferson | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Karen Carlisle | Trustee | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has maintained active grantmaking operations with multiple funding rounds announced in recent years, including dedicated grant cycles in 2024 and 2025.
Jefferson Foundation doles out 54 grants for $10,000 or lessSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for a grant from The Catherine Jefferson Foundation Inc?
The foundation is an active grantmaker with a demonstrated commitment to supporting various causes. Recent grantmaking activity includes: • **2023 grants**: Made 14 grants totaling $2,003,352 • **2024 grants**: Awarded 129 grants totaling nearly $3.75 million • **2025 grants**: Distributed 54 grants for $10,000 or less in one funding round **Grant size range**: Typical awards range from $100 to $2,275,000, with recent activity showing significant variation in award amounts. **Recent recipients*…
Where does The Catherine Jefferson Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation supports a wide range of communities across the United States, including major urban centers and smaller communities. States with documented funding activity include California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
What size grants does The Catherine Jefferson Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, The Catherine Jefferson Foundation Inc awarded 33 grants totaling $2.6M — an average of about $80K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Catherine Jefferson Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Catherine Jefferson Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.3M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Catherine Jefferson Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Catherine Jefferson Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 35-7004054. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.