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
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
No grants recorded for .
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
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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