The Karen Katen Foundation is a private foundation based in Westport, Connecticut, established in 2007. It operates as a family foundation supported by Karen L. Katen and focuses on philanthropic grantmaking across education, human services, and related fields.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.3M
+103.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$325K
-43.8% YoY
Grant Count
63
+16.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
-51.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Karen Katen Foundation reported a distributable amount of $256K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding interests include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Science and STEM Education
Grantmaking
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Florida
- Connecticut
- New York
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $1,607,272
- Total giving: $584,050
- Total revenues: -$20,443
- Total expenses: $599,198
- Number of employees: 0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,265,005 | $1,607,272 | $2,230,804 |
| Revenue | $1,996,997 | $-20,443 | $-373,598 |
| Expenses | $341,962 | $599,198 | $697,156 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $324,800 | $584,050 | $679,150 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,980,235 | $90,076 | $72,911 |
| Distributable Amount | $255,989 | $246,450 | $290,695 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Cleveland Clinic Indian River ($88,200), University of Chicago ($50,000), Connecticut River Museum ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimers Assn Chicago, IL | unrestricted grant | $7,500 |
| Camp Haven Vero beach, FL | unrestrictedgrant | $250 |
| ASPCA New York, NY | unrestrictedgrant | $1,000 |
| Essex Library Assn Essex, CT | unrestrictedgrant | $250 |
| The Learning Alliance New York, NY | unrestrictedgrant | $2,000 |
| Brady United Washington, DC | unrestrictedgrant | $250 |
| Capitol Squash Hartfod, CT | unrestrictedgrant | $1,000 |
| Valley Shore YMCA Westbrook, CT | unresricted grant | $250 |
| Boys and Girls Club Palm Desert, CA | unrestrictedgrant | $250 |
| Court Appt Special Advocate New Haven, CT | unrestrictedgrant | $1,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Elwood B Davis — Trustee (as of 2024)
The foundation is supported by Karen L. Katen, a pharmaceutical executive with a 33-year career at Pfizer Inc., where she served as Vice Chairman. She holds trustee positions at the University of Chicago and the New York Botanical Garden.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karen L Katen | Trustee | 0.5 | — |
| Donna Katen-Bahensky | Trustee | 0.5 | — |
| Elwood B Davis | Trustee | 0.5 | — |
| Robert E Williams Jr | Trustee | 0.5 | — |
Contact Information
Address: PO Box 2630, Westport, CT 06880-0630
Telephone: 203-226-8997
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Karen Katen Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary funding interests include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Science and STEM Education
How do I apply for a grant from The Karen Katen Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $100,000–$400,000 • Recent annual giving: $584,050 (2023) • Grant volume: 58 grants made in 2023 **Recent Grants (2023):** • The University of Chicago: $400,000 (unrestricted grant) • McKee Botanical Garden: $25,000 (unrestricted grant) • Connecticut River Museum: $25,000 (unrestricted grant) • Additional 55 grants totaling approximately $134,050
Where does The Karen Katen Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Florida • Connecticut • New York
What size grants does The Karen Katen Foundation award?
In 2024, The Karen Katen Foundation awarded 63 grants totaling $325K — an average of about $5K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Karen Katen Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Karen Katen Foundation reported a distributable amount of $256K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Karen Katen Foundation's EIN?
The Karen Katen Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-7103490. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Karen Katen 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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