The Karen Katen Foundation
The Karen Katen Foundation is a private foundation based in Westport, Connecticut. It makes grants to charitable organizations; its 2025 grants include recipients in Florida, Connecticut, Illinois, New York, and Washington, DC.
The Karen Katen Foundation at a glance
In short: The Karen Katen Foundation gave $368K across 60 grants in 2025 (avg $6K), top state Florida. 12% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $368,050
- +13.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 60
- -4.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $6,134
- +19.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,750
- Total assets
- $4,010,772
- +22.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 12% first-time grantees (7 of 60, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Florida (34% 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 Karen Katen Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation stated on its 2024 filing that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 2630, Westport, CT 06880
Phone: (203) 226-8997
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Karen Katen Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Cleveland Clinic Indian River ($73K). Together the top 10 received $292K.
Grant Size Distribution
301 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 291 grants of 301 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, grant dollars were distributed among recipients in Florida (34%), Connecticut (30%), Illinois (22%), New York (11%), and Washington, DC (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 60 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Karen Katen Foundation open to new grantees?
12%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 7 of 60 grantees (12%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $7K. How we count
Medians: $500 first-time, $2K repeat.
- 87% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 45% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 129% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $325K (2024) to $673K (2022). In 2025 it made 60 grants totaling $368K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Clinic Indian River Vero Beach, FL | unrestrictedgrant | $73,200 |
| University of Chicago Chicago, IL | unrestrictedgraant | $50,000 |
| Simpson College New London, CT | unrestrictedgrant | $30,000 |
| Alzheimers Assn Chicago, IL | unrestricted grant | $25,000 |
| Connecticut River Museum Essex, CT | unrestrictedgrant | $25,000 |
| McKee Botanical Gardens Vero Beach, FL | unrestrictedgrant | $25,000 |
| NY Botanical Garden Center Bronx, NY | unrestictedgrant | $25,000 |
| Middlesex Health Philanthropy Middlesex, CT | unrestrictedgrant | $25,000 |
| Miss Stacie's Foundation Centerbrook, CT | unrestrictedgrant | $7,000 |
| Youth Guidance Chicago, IL | unrestrictedgrant | $6,300 |
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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 | $4,010,772 | $1,171,259 | $416,764 | $368,050 | 60 | $368,050 | $1,153,769 | $284,982 |
| 2024 | $3,265,005 | $1,996,997 | $341,962 | $324,800 | 63 | $324,800 | $1,980,235 | $255,989 |
| 2023 | $1,607,272 | $-20,443 | $599,198 | $578,050 | 54 | $584,050 | $90,076 | $246,450 |
| 2022 | $2,230,804 | $-373,598 | $697,156 | $673,150 | 63 | $679,150 | $72,911 | $290,695 |
| 2021 | $3,336,133 | $223,301 | $670,259 | $644,500 | 61 | $644,500 | $203,542 | $348,778 |
| 2020 | $3,783,939 | $1,283,669 | $683,036 | $615,600 | 57 | — | $1,271,049 | $300,643 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Karen Katen Foundation reported a distributable amount of $285K 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its grants support organizations working in areas including health, education, youth development, arts and history, cancer support, and conservation. These are areas reflected in the grantees’ own descriptions: for example, Youth Guidance describes its work in social and emotional development and positive youth development, while the Indian River Land Trust describes protecting waterways and open spaces in Indian River County. The Florence Griswold Museum says it promotes understanding of Connecticut’s contributions to American art and history, and Red Door Community describes providing free cancer support.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 60 grants totaling $368,050. Awards ranged from $250 to $73,200, with a median of $1,750. Among the largest grants were $73,200 to Cleveland Clinic Indian River in Vero Beach, Florida; $50,000 to the University of Chicago; $30,000 to Simpson College in New London, Connecticut; and $25,000 each to the Alzheimer’s Association, Connecticut River Museum, McKee Botanical Gardens, NY Botanical Garden Center, and Middlesex Health Philanthropy.
Other 2025 grants included $6,300 to Youth Guidance, $5,000 to Help Me See, and $2,500 each to the Florence Griswold Museum and Red Door Community. The University of Chicago describes its mission as communicating and creating knowledge and fostering a community of scholars and students. Global Kids, which received $1,000, says it prepares and mobilizes young people to become engaged global citizens.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Karen L Katen, Donna Katen-Bahensky, Elwood B Davis, and Robert E Williams Jr as trustees.
The Karen Katen Foundation's 2025 filing lists 4 officers; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Donna Katen-Bahensky
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elwood B Davis
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Karen L Katen
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert E Williams Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/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.
Frequently asked questions about The Karen Katen Foundation
How much does The Karen Katen Foundation give each year?
The Karen Katen Foundation gave $368K across 60 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $325K across 63 grants.
What is The Karen Katen Foundation's typical grant size?
The Karen Katen Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,750, and its average grant was $6,134, across 60 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Karen Katen Foundation that year got $1K on average.
Where does The Karen Katen Foundation give grants?
The Karen Katen Foundation's top state is Florida, with 34% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Connecticut (30%) and Illinois (22%). The most frequent recipient cities were Vero Beach, FL (13 grants), New York, NY (7 grants), Essex, CT (5 grants) and Deep River, CT (4 grants).
Does The Karen Katen Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 5% of The Karen Katen Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (3 of 60) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Unrestrictedgrant" (53 grants).
Who are The Karen Katen Foundation's largest grantees?
The Karen Katen Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Cleveland Clinic Indian River ($73,200), University of Chicago ($50,000) and Simpson College ($30,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 42% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Karen Katen Foundation?
The Karen Katen Foundation reported $4.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $368K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $285K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Karen Katen Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its grants support organizations working in areas including health, education, youth development, arts and history, cancer support, and conservation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Karen Katen Foundation?
The foundation stated on its 2024 filing that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 2020–2025.
Does The Karen Katen 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 9, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 28, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 11, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 26, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 22, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Live grants for the work The Karen Katen Foundation funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Karen Katen Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 23, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-karen-katen-foundation-morg_492861b814444ecca213496e85bb2f77
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_207103490_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Karen Katen Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-karen-katen-foundation-morg_492861b814444ecca213496e85bb2f77},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-23. 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 Karen Katen 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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