The Karakin Foundation
The Karakin Foundation is based in Abilene, Texas, and files as a private foundation on Form 990-PF. Its 2024 filing lists grants totaling $16,362,428 to 121 recipients. The filing describes its purpose as empowering people to make a lasting impact in the Abilene region through charitable giving and strategic investments.
The Karakin Foundation at a glance
In short: The Karakin Foundation gave $16.4M across 121 grants in 2024 (avg $135K), mostly in Texas. 35% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $16,362,428
- +11.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 121
- -6.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $135,227
- +18.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $30,000
- Total assets
- $193,655,902
- +4.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 35% first-time grantees (39 of 110, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Texas (55% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Karakin Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 2079, Abilene, TX 79604
Phone: (325) 673-6429
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Karakin Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Community Foundation of Abilene ($3.3M across 6 grants). Together the top 10 received $9.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
512 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 245 grants of 512 (48%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 55% of grant dollars went to recipients in Texas, 13% to California, 5% to the District of Columbia, and 3% each to Maine and Florida. The listed grants include organizations in Abilene and elsewhere in Texas, as well as recipients working in Cambodia and Vietnam.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 121 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Karakin Foundation open to new grantees?
35%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 39 of 110 grantees (35%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $119K; repeat grants $165K. How we count
Medians: $30K first-time, $50K repeat.
- 55% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 22% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 99% 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 (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $9.6M (2020) to $16.4M (2024). In 2024 it made 121 grants totaling $16.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Community Foundation of Abilene Abilene, TX | To Support Abilene Heritage Square Project | $3,000,000 |
| Abilene Youth Sports Authority Abilene, TX | Soccer Fields | $1,000,000 |
| Grover Nelson Park Zoological Foundation Abilene, TX | Capital Expansion | $1,000,000 |
| West Texas Rehabilitation Center Foundation Abilene, TX | Capital Project | $833,333 |
| Hendrick Medical Center Foundation Abilene, TX | A Foundation for the Future | $800,000 |
| Everfree San Juan Capistrano, CA | Freedom Lifemap | $500,000 |
| Hardin-Simmons University Abilene, TX | School of Nursing | $500,000 |
| Healthy Kids Brighter Future Inc Brunswick, ME | Healthy Learners | $500,000 |
| Chenla Children's Health Inc Louisville, KY | Operations - Kratie, Mondulkiri and Stung Treng Cambodia | $410,000 |
| Neurokids Fairfax, VA | Bridge Programs in Vietnam | $373,136 |
Ready to take the next step with The Karakin 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $193,655,902 | $28,798,340 | $20,245,695 | $16,362,428 | 121 | $16,906,784 | $26,334,413 | $17,040,576 |
| 2023 | $185,140,803 | $58,001,484 | $18,174,121 | $14,716,337 | 129 | $15,270,941 | $30,252,561 | $14,240,405 |
| 2022 | $145,162,912 | $29,695,673 | $17,446,254 | $13,456,916 | 134 | $13,996,276 | $20,625,511 | $13,594,773 |
| 2021 | $132,653,937 | $29,351,833 | $16,258,487 | $13,364,208 | 74 | $13,796,514 | $22,166,357 | $13,396,552 |
| 2020 | $119,457,630 | $17,649,967 | $12,030,031 | $9,587,940 | 54 | — | $15,247,801 | $10,387,870 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Karakin Foundation reported a distributable amount of $17.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The purpose statement in the filing describes connecting donors with causes, managing endowments, and making grants aligned with donors’ charitable interests. The 2024 grants show support for organizations working in areas including community projects, youth sports, a zoo, rehabilitation, health care, education, and international health and humanitarian work.
Among the recipients, Abilene Youth Sports Authority says its mission is to help create a safe and encouraging environment where young people can develop skills, character, and confidence through sports. Grover Nelson Park Zoological Foundation describes its work as raising funds for capital projects at the Abilene Zoo, which provides animal enrichment, education and recreation, and promotes conservation. Chenla Children’s Health says it provides pediatric and neonatal care, strengthens health systems, and trains local health workers in eastern Cambodia.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 121 grants totaling $16,362,428. Grants ranged from $500 to $3,000,000, with a median of $30,000. Notable grants included $3,000,000 to Community Foundation of Abilene for the Abilene Heritage Square project; $1,000,000 each to Abilene Youth Sports Authority for soccer fields and Grover Nelson Park Zoological Foundation for capital expansion; and $833,333 to West Texas Rehabilitation Center Foundation for a capital project. Other large grants included $800,000 to Hendrick Medical Center Foundation and $500,000 each to Everfree, Hardin-Simmons University, and Healthy Kids Brighter Future Inc.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Kade L. Matthews as chairman/president; Joseph E. Canon as executive vice president; John A. Matthews Jr. as vice president; Jeff Blanks as senior vice president/operations officer; Aaron Miller as vice president, treasurer, and CFO; Watt R. Matthews as executive vice president/CIO; Elyse Lewis as secretary/senior grants officer; Brenda Casselberry as property administrator; Margaret Matthews Frederick as assistant vice president/grants; and Sarah Comerford as grants officer.
The Karakin Foundation is led by Kade L. Matthews, Chairman & President on every filing since 2020; 5 of 10 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Kade L. Matthews
Chairman & President
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$54K (2020) → $114K (2024)
Jeff Blanks
Senior Vice President & Operations Officer
Vice President, Treasurer & Chief Finance → Senior Vice President & Operations Officer, 2023
On filings since 2020
13.3 hrs/week
$48K (2020) → $107K (2024)
John A. Matthews Jr.
Vice President
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$28K (2020) → $65K (2024)
Joseph E. Canon
Executive Vice President & Executive D
On filings since 2020
11.7 hrs/week
$56K (2020) → $104K (2024)
Aaron Miller
Vice President, Treasurer & CFO
On filings since 2023
4 hrs/week
$31K (2023) → $63K (2024)
Brenda Casselberry
Property & Administrator
New on the 2024 filing
No compensation reported
Elyse Lewis
Secretary & Senior Grants Officer
New on the 2024 filing
No compensation reported
Margaret Matthews Frederick
Assistant Vice President & Grants
New on the 2024 filing
No compensation reported
Sarah Comerford
Grants Officer
New on the 2024 filing
No compensation reported
Watt R. Matthews
Executive Vice President & CIO
New on the 2024 filing
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Linda S. Buckner (2020–2022) — Vice President, Secretary & Property
- Former: Dixie Morris (2021) — Vice President & Grants Officer
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $114K, to Kade L Matthews (Chairman/President). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Karakin Foundation
How much does The Karakin Foundation give each year?
The Karakin Foundation gave $16.4M across 121 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $14.7M across 129 grants.
What is The Karakin Foundation's typical grant size?
The Karakin Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $30,000, and its average grant was $135,227, across 121 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Karakin Foundation that year got $119K on average.
Where does The Karakin Foundation give grants?
The Karakin Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 55% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was California (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Abilene, TX (34 grants), Washington, DC (9 grants), New York, NY (6 grants) and San Juan Capistrano, CA (3 grants).
Does The Karakin Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 2% of The Karakin Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (3 of 121) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Operations" (25 grants).
Who are The Karakin Foundation's largest grantees?
The Karakin Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Community Foundation of Abilene ($3,266,000 across 6 grants), Abilene Youth Sports Authority ($1,000,000) and Grover Nelson Park Zoological Foundation ($1,000,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 32% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Karakin Foundation?
The Karakin Foundation reported $193.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $16.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $17.0M (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 Karakin Foundation fund?
The purpose statement in the filing describes connecting donors with causes, managing endowments, and making grants aligned with donors’ charitable interests. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Karakin Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Karakin Foundation's EIN?
The Karakin Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 75-2692023. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Karakin 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Karakin Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-karakin-foundation-morg_e050e2ba24754a158265291a0216ae41
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_752692023_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Karakin Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-karakin-foundation-morg_e050e2ba24754a158265291a0216ae41},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Karakin 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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