The Kara Foundation
The Kara Foundation is a private foundation based in Libertyville, Illinois. It describes itself as a “go anywhere” philanthropist: although its roots are in healthcare and social services, it considers projects across charitable fields and favors working with grantees beyond providing money alone.
The Kara Foundation at a glance
In short: The Kara Foundation gave $425K across 23 grants in 2025 (avg $18K), mostly in Wisconsin. 70% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $425,000
- +4.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 23
- +53.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $18,478
- -31.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $13,081,891
- +3.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 70% first-time grantees (16 of 23, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (54% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Kara Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. It states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and looks for opportunities where its financial and human resources can make a difference.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1520 Artaius Pkwy, Libertyville, IL 60048
Phone: (262) 279-5168
Website: https://thekarafoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Kara Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Smiles ($125K). Together the top 10 received $384K.
Grant Size Distribution
106 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 98 grants of 106 (92%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation generally prefers projects in Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin, while noting that it makes exceptions. In 2025, 54% of grant dollars went to recipients in Wisconsin and 45% to recipients in Illinois.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 23 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Kara Foundation open to new grantees?
70%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 16 of 23 grantees (70%) were first-time recipients. With only 23 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $12K; repeat grants $34K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 30% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+13%). 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
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $314K (2020) to $425K (2025). In 2025 it made 23 grants totaling $425K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Smiles Darien, WI | Operational Support | $125,000 |
| 3 Fires Council St Charles, IL | Operational Support | $65,000 |
| Racine County Zoo Racine, WI | Operational Support | $50,000 |
| Lifeline Pilots Peoria, IL | Operational Support | $30,000 |
| Lakeland School of Walworth County Elkhorn, WI | Operational Support | $26,500 |
| Wetosha Senior Community Center Bristol, WI | Operational Support | $22,000 |
| Wayne Township Food Pantry West Chicago, IL | Operational Support | $20,000 |
| Mobile Care Chicago Chicago, IL | Operational Support | $20,000 |
| York Township Lombard, IL | Operational Support | $15,000 |
| Naperville Respons for Our Veterans Naperville, IL | Operational Support | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Kara Foundation?
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 | $13,081,891 | $1,146,881 | $706,139 | $425,000 | 23 | $673,368 | $1,114,110 | $700,068 |
| 2024 | $12,641,149 | $866,064 | $662,966 | $406,000 | 15 | $646,379 | $849,477 | $662,006 |
| 2023 | $12,438,051 | $138,639 | $605,034 | $379,400 | 17 | $589,550 | $149,139 | $620,102 |
| 2022 | $12,904,446 | $613,441 | $625,277 | $377,000 | 24 | $523,478 | $605,731 | $524,683 |
| 2021 | $12,916,282 | $2,952,860 | $532,461 | $328,700 | 27 | $462,690 | $2,945,808 | $510,631 |
| 2020 | $10,495,883 | $1,115,215 | $503,281 | $314,000 | 55 | — | $1,107,993 | $467,037 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Kara Foundation reported a distributable amount of $700K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not state a specific mission. Its motto, “Audacia et Ira,” reflects its stated belief in anger at the way things are and the courage to try to change them. It says its members can also share knowledge and connections with grantees, drawing on experience in education, law, agriculture, and marketing.
Its grants support varied organizations and projects. For example, SMILES describes its work as providing free or low-cost dental services to people without dental insurance or TennCare. Donka says it works to change the lives of people with disabilities through technology, while Tails Humane Society describes its mission as rescuing and placing companion animals and advocating for pets in its region. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own work.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 23 grants totaling $425,000. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $125,000, with a median grant of $10,000. Listed purposes for the largest grants were operational support. Notable grants included $125,000 to SMILES, $65,000 to 3 Fires Council, $50,000 to Racine County Zoo, and $30,000 to Lifeline Pilots.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Patrick S DeMoon III and Anthony DeMoon as co-presidents, Paul DeMoon as vice preside, and Judith DeMoon and Patrick DeMoon Sr as board members.
The Kara Foundation is led by Anthony Demoon, Co-President since 2025 (on filings since 2020); 3 of 5 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Anthony Demoon
Co-President
Co-President & Secretary → Co-President, 2025
On filings since 2020
25 hrs/week
$41K (2020) → $60K (2025)
Patrick S. Demoon III
Co-President
Co- President & Treasurer → Co-President, 2025
On filings since 2020
25 hrs/week
$43K (2020) → $60K (2025)
Paul Demoon
Vice President
On filings since 2020
25 hrs/week
$50K (2020) → $60K (2025)
Judith A. Demoon
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Patrick Demoon Sr.
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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 $60K, to Patrick S Demoon III (Co-President). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Kara Foundation
How much does The Kara Foundation give each year?
The Kara Foundation gave $425K across 23 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $406K across 15 grants.
What is The Kara Foundation's typical grant size?
The Kara Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $18,478, across 23 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Kara Foundation that year got $12K on average.
Where does The Kara Foundation give grants?
The Kara Foundation gives mostly in Wisconsin: 54% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Illinois (45%). The most frequent recipient cities were St Charles, IL (2 grants).
Does The Kara Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Kara Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (23 of 23) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Kara Foundation's largest grantees?
The Kara Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Smiles ($125,000), 3 Fires Council ($65,000) and Racine County Zoo ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 56% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Kara Foundation?
The Kara Foundation reported $13.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $673K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $700K (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.
What does The Kara Foundation fund?
The foundation does not state a specific mission. Its motto, “Audacia et Ira,” reflects its stated belief in anger at the way things are and the courage to try to change them. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Kara Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Kara Foundation's EIN?
The Kara Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3779796. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Kara Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 23, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 4, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 3, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 8, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 28, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Kara Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Kara Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-kara-foundation-morg_fff2b287f1714dd5acc94845a511c8d3
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_363779796_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Kara Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-kara-foundation-morg_fff2b287f1714dd5acc94845a511c8d3},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Kara Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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