The Kristina & William Catto Foundation
The Kristina & William Catto Foundation is a private foundation based in Bethesda, Maryland. It makes grants to charitable organizations; its 2024 recipients included organizations working in education, environmental conservation, reproductive care, arts, public media, and community services.
The Kristina & William Catto Foundation at a glance
In short: The Kristina & William Catto Foundation gave $899K across 33 grants in 2024 (avg $27K), mostly in District of Columbia. 12% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $899,000
- -15.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 33
- -19.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $27,242
- +4.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $25,784,616
- +13.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 12% first-time grantees (4 of 33, 2024)
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (67% 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 Kristina & William Catto Foundation
- 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 for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 4938 Hampden Lane 232, Bethesda, MD 20814
Phone: (301) 718-4239
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Kristina & William Catto Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Georgetown University Scholarship Fund ($250K). Together the top 10 received $650K.
Grant Size Distribution
202 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 177 grants of 202 (88%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 67% of grant dollars went to recipients in Washington, DC, 11% to Maryland, 7% each to Colorado and New York, and 2% to South Dakota. The foundation also made 2024 grants to recipients in other states, including Michigan and Georgia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 33 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Kristina & William Catto Foundation open to new grantees?
12%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 4 of 33 grantees (12%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $12K; repeat grants $29K. How we count
Medians: $13K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 76% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 80% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 110% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $500K (2021) to $1.1M (2023). In 2024 it made 33 grants totaling $899K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Georgetown University Scholarship Fund Washington, DC | General Mission | $250,000 |
| Optimal Wellness Research Foundation Elkridge, MD | General Mission | $100,000 |
| Oceana Washington, DC | General Mission | $80,000 |
| National Resources Defense Council Washington, DC | General Mission | $50,000 |
| Planned Parenthood Washington, DC | General Mission | $50,000 |
| Aspen Valley Land Trust Carbondale, CO | General Mission | $25,000 |
| Defenders of Wildlife National Headquarters Washington, DC | General Mission | $25,000 |
| The Bishop John T Walker School for Boys Development Office Washington, DC | General Mission | $25,000 |
| The University of Colorado Foundation Denver, CO | General Mission | $25,000 |
| Levine Music Development Washington, DC | General Mission | $20,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Kristina & William Catto 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 | $25,784,616 | $1,749,016 | $1,226,054 | $899,000 | 33 | $1,243,365 | $1,170,810 | $1,133,990 |
| 2023 | $22,813,426 | $821,361 | $1,401,635 | $1,064,500 | 41 | $1,223,641 | $249,442 | $1,038,176 |
| 2022 | $19,637,289 | $1,627,767 | $1,382,614 | $1,064,100 | 28 | $1,192,022 | $120,088 | $1,117,379 |
| 2021 | $26,174,039 | $2,053,804 | $834,191 | $499,500 | 48 | $644,025 | $1,358,369 | $1,195,489 |
| 2020 | $22,704,744 | $1,161,217 | $1,099,492 | $820,994 | 52 | — | $617,567 | $967,676 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Kristina & William Catto Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s filing describes its grants as being for “general mission” and does not state an overall mission. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, Aspen Valley Land Trust describes its mission as protecting open land and special places in Colorado’s Roaring Fork and Middle Colorado River valleys for wildlife, agriculture, and community. The Brigid Alliance describes its work as helping people who must travel for family planning services with transportation, accommodation, meals, childcare, and emotional support. Peace for DC says it works to end gun violence and build a peaceful city through community violence intervention, trauma healing, and coordinated strategies.
Other 2024 recipients included the Phillips Collection, which describes its work as presenting modern and contemporary art and maintaining educational, academic, and public programs; Friends of the High Line, which works to build and maintain a public space on the High Line; and Building Bridges Across the River, which supports children, youth, and families east of the Anacostia River through leadership and management of community campuses.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 33 grants totaling $899,000. Grant amounts ranged from $2,000 to $250,000, with a median of $15,000. In 2023, it made 41 grants totaling $1,064,500; in 2022, it made 28 grants totaling $1,064,100.
The largest 2024 grants included $250,000 to Georgetown University Scholarship Fund, $100,000 to Optimal Wellness Research Foundation, $80,000 to Oceana, and $50,000 each to National Resources Defense Council and Planned Parenthood. Other notable grants included $25,000 each to Aspen Valley Land Trust, Defenders of Wildlife National Headquarters, the Bishop John T. Walker School for Boys Development Office, and the University of Colorado Foundation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Kristina K. Catto and William H. Catto as directors.
The Kristina & William Catto Foundation's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; all 2 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Kristina K. Catto
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$2K (2024)
William H. Catto
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$100K (2020) → $100K (2024)
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 $100K, to William H Catto (Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Kristina & William Catto Foundation
How much does The Kristina & William Catto Foundation give each year?
The Kristina & William Catto Foundation gave $899K across 33 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.1M across 41 grants.
What is The Kristina & William Catto Foundation's typical grant size?
The Kristina & William Catto Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $15,000, and its average grant was $27,242, across 33 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Kristina & William Catto Foundation that year got $12K on average.
Where does The Kristina & William Catto Foundation give grants?
The Kristina & William Catto Foundation gives mostly in District of Columbia: 67% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Maryland (11%) and Colorado (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (18 grants), New York, NY (5 grants) and Aspen, CO (2 grants).
Does The Kristina & William Catto Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Kristina & William Catto Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (33 of 33) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Kristina & William Catto Foundation's largest grantees?
The Kristina & William Catto Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Georgetown University Scholarship Fund ($250,000), Optimal Wellness Research Foundation ($100,000) and Oceana ($80,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 48% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Kristina & William Catto Foundation?
The Kristina & William Catto Foundation reported $25.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.1M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Kristina & William Catto Foundation fund?
The foundation’s filing describes its grants as being for “general mission” and does not state an overall mission. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Kristina & William Catto Foundation?
The foundation states that it 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 Kristina & William Catto Foundation's EIN?
The Kristina & William Catto Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-2508692. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Kristina & William Catto 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 5, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Kristina & William Catto Foundation funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Kristina & William Catto Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-kristina-and-william-catto-foundation-morg_584bcc3392c84d4184e24df63c3fdf07
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_472508692_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Kristina \& William Catto Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-kristina-and-william-catto-foundation-morg_584bcc3392c84d4184e24df63c3fdf07},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. 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 Kristina & William Catto 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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