The Karpus Family Foundation Inc
The Karpus Family Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Pittsford, New York. Its stated aim is to help people and animals in need through pride in work and education, with the goal of helping people live productive lives.
Key facts about The Karpus Family Foundation Inc
In short: The Karpus Family Foundation Inc gave $812K across 36 grants in 2025 (avg $23K), top state New York. 17% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 47-2479174
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $812,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 36
- Average grant
- $22,556
- Median grant
- $15,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 17% first-time grantees (6 of 36, 2025)
- Total assets
- $25,053,301
- Primary geography
- New York (38% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- The website says LOIs can be submitted year-round.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$25.1M
+22.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$812K
-13.2% YoY
Grant Count
36
-18.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$23K
+6.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Karpus Family Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.1M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is The Karpus Family Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
17%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 6 of 36 grantees (17%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $17K; repeat grants $24K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $18K repeat.
- 64% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−19%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 88% 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation describes its mission as “helping people and animals in need through pride in work and education.” It also identifies education as a goal. Its published grant information lists support for organizations focused on disabled veterans, prevention of domestic abuse, and animal welfare.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate a range of work. Family Promise of Ontario County says its mission is to help families experiencing homelessness and low-income families achieve sustainable independence. The Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation says it funds research on cures and treatments for neuroendocrine cancers and provides information and educational resources. Disability EmpowHER Network describes its work connecting and guiding girls and women with disabilities. The Potter’s Hands Foundation says it supports women affected by abuse, while Live Action describes its work as defending the rights of preborn children through educational media and reporting.
Grantmaking
The foundation awarded 36 grants totaling $812,000 in 2025. Grants ranged from $2,500 to $50,000, with a median of $15,500. In 2024, it awarded 44 grants totaling $935,000; in 2023, it awarded 36 grants totaling $889,100.
Among its 2025 grants, the foundation awarded $50,000 each to Family Promise of Ontario County, Friendship Circle of Cleveland, the Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation, Semper Fi Fund, and EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant Institute. Other grants included $40,000 to the Humane Society of Rochester and $40,000 to Leadership Institute.
Review Cycle
The website says LOIs can be submitted year-round. Invited full applications are due at least one month before board meetings for three annual cycles: late March, late May–June, and late August.
How to Apply
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Its website describes an LOI process through an online grant portal: eligible 501(c)(3) organizations or equivalents may submit an LOI for review, with a stated review period of 21 days. Organizations invited to submit a full application can access it through the portal.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Karpus Family Foundation Inc
Ready to take the next step with The Karpus Family Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, recipients in New York received 38% of grant dollars, followed by Virginia at 15%, Florida at 14%, Ohio at 12%, and Massachusetts at 6%. The foundation’s grant-program description says organizations in the Greater Rochester area, Florida, and Cleveland are prioritized.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 36 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $801K (2021) to $999K (2022). In 2025 it made 36 grants totaling $812K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Edwins Leaderships & Restaurant Institute ($50K). Together the top 10 received $440K.
Grant Size Distribution
176 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 149 grants of 176 (85%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Edwins Leaderships & Restaurant Institute Cleveland, OH | General Purpose | $50,000 |
| Family Promise of Ontario County Canandaigua, NY | General Purpose | $50,000 |
| Friendship Circle of Cleveland OH Pepper Pike, OH | General Purpose | $50,000 |
| Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation Boston, MA | General Purpose | $50,000 |
| Semper Fi Fund Oceanside, CA | General Purpose | $50,000 |
| Compass Care Pregnancy Services Rochester, NY | General Purpose | $40,000 |
| Humane Society of Rochester Fairport, NY | General Purpose | $40,000 |
| Leadership Institute Arlington, VA | General Purpose | $40,000 |
| Live Action Arlington, VA | General Purpose | $35,000 |
| The Potters Hands Foundation Corning, NY | General Purpose | $35,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Grant total | Number of grants |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $812,000 | 36 |
| 2024 | $935,000 | 44 |
| 2023 | $889,100 | 36 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $25,053,301 | $20,495,962 | $19,839,021 |
| Revenue | $5,695,699 | $1,879,431 | $1,275,875 |
| Expenses | $1,116,427 | $1,202,871 | $1,180,221 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $922,346 | $1,016,698 | $1,017,622 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,844,824 | $1,710,377 | $1,115,781 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,050,654 | $1,002,206 | $957,419 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 19, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 1, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 20, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 29, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 21, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 5, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists George W. Karpus as president and director, Kathleen P. Karpus as vice president and secretary, and Rodd Riesenberger as treasurer. The listed directors are Anthony Mirrione, Paul Lipari, Joan Riesenberger, Gerard Wenzke, Deborah Haehl, and Donald Haehl.
The Karpus Family Foundation Inc is led by George W. Karpus, President & Director on every filing since 2020; 6 of 9 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
George W. Karpus
President & Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$8K (2021) → $8K (2025)
Gerard Wenzke
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$8K (2021) → $8K (2025)
Joan Riesenberger
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$8K (2021) → $8K (2025)
Deborah Haehl
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
$6K (2023) → $8K (2025)
Donald Haehl
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
$6K (2023) → $8K (2025)
Anthony Mirrione
Director
Secretary, Treasurer & Director → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Paul Lipari
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kathleen P. Karpus
Vice President & Secretary
Vice President & Director → Vice President & Secretary, 2021
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$4K (2021) → $0 (2025)
Rodd Riesenberger
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2021
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$18K (2021) → $18K (2025)
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 $18K, to Rodd Riesenberger (Treasurer). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 1061, Pittsford, NY 14534
Phone: (585) 586-4680
Website: https://karpusfamilyfoundation.org
Frequently asked questions about The Karpus Family Foundation Inc
How much does The Karpus Family Foundation Inc give each year?
The Karpus Family Foundation Inc gave $812K across 36 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $935K across 44 grants.
What is The Karpus Family Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Karpus Family Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $15,500, and its average grant was $22,556, across 36 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Karpus Family Foundation Inc that year got $17K on average.
Where does The Karpus Family Foundation Inc give grants?
The Karpus Family Foundation Inc's top state is New York, with 38% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Virginia (15%) and Florida (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Rochester, NY (7 grants), Arlington, VA (3 grants), Webster, NY (3 grants) and Naples, FL (2 grants).
Does The Karpus Family Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Karpus Family Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (36 of 36) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Karpus Family Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Karpus Family Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Edwins Leaderships & Restaurant Institute ($50,000), Family Promise of Ontario County ($50,000) and Friendship Circle of Cleveland OH ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 18% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Karpus Family Foundation Inc?
The Karpus Family Foundation Inc reported $25.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $922K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.1M (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 Karpus Family Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation describes its mission as “helping people and animals in need through pride in work and education.” It also identifies education as a goal. Its published grant information lists support for organizations focused on disabled veterans, prevention of domestic abuse, and animal welfare. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Karpus Family Foundation Inc?
The foundation states 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 Karpus Family Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Karpus Family Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-2479174. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Karpus Family Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching The Karpus Family Foundation Inc by hand.
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