The Leo J & Celia Carlin Fund
The Leo J & Celia Carlin Fund is a private foundation based in Berkeley, California, established in 1991. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit entity with no paid staff.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$7K
-98.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$331K
+992.7% YoY
Grant Count
1
-97.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$331K
+37050.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Leo J & Celia Carlin Fund reported a distributable amount of $5K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The fund supports a diverse range of causes including education, philanthropy and voluntarism, and human services, primarily within California. Named grants and initiatives supported by the fund include the Nicholas Carlin Class of '77 Fund, the Morton Grodzins Fellowship Fund, and the IMO Ann Lipow General Support program. The foundation also provides general operating support to various organizations.
Grantmaking
The Leo J & Celia Carlin Fund makes grants ranging from $1,000 to $6,000, with a median grant size of $1,000. Recent grantmaking activity includes:
Grant Range
of $1,000. Recent grantmaking activity includes:
Ready to take the next step with The Leo J & Celia Carlin Fund?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations and initiatives in California, with a particular emphasis on the Berkeley area.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $323,381
- Total revenues: $42,714
- Total expenses: $49,310
- Number of employees: 0
- Giving rate: 6.6% of assets
The foundation operates with minimal overhead, relying on volunteer leadership rather than paid staff.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $6,569 | $323,381 | $332,268 |
| Revenue | $186,830 | $42,714 | $56,933 |
| Expenses | $339,124 | $49,310 | $49,029 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $337,160 | $47,441 | $40,638 |
| Net Investment Income | $185,074 | $39,311 | $51,485 |
| Distributable Amount | $5,334 | $16,188 | $17,995 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 1 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
163 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Tides Foundation ($330,531).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Tides Foundation Los Angeles, CA | General Support | $330,531 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Alex Carlin serves as a Director of The Leo J & Celia Carlin Fund. Nicholas Carlin is listed in personnel records. Dion Griffin serves as Chief Financial Officer.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joy Carlin | Secretary/Dir | 1 | — |
| Nicholas Carlin | President/Dir | 1 | — |
| Alexander Carlin | VP/Dir | 1 | — |
| Nancy Carlin | Treasurer/Dir | 1 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Leo J & Celia Carlin Fund fund?
The fund supports a diverse range of causes including education, philanthropy and voluntarism, and human services, primarily within California. Named grants and initiatives supported by the fund include the Nicholas Carlin Class of '77 Fund, the Morton Grodzins Fellowship Fund, and the IMO Ann Lipow General Support program. The foundation also provides general operating support to various organizations.
How do I apply for a grant from The Leo J & Celia Carlin Fund?
The Leo J & Celia Carlin Fund makes grants ranging from $1,000 to $6,000, with a median grant size of $1,000. Recent grantmaking activity includes: • Global Land Alliance: $6,000 (Yilaa Africa Climate Band Campaign, 2023) • Berkeley Symphony Orchestra: $2,000 (General Operating Support, 2023) • Berkeley Public Library Foundation: $1,000 (In Memory of Ann Lipow, 2023) • Center for Media & Democracy (among other grantees) The foundation made 44 grants in its most recent reporting year, with total…
Where does The Leo J & Celia Carlin Fund make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations and initiatives in California, with a particular emphasis on the Berkeley area.
What size grants does The Leo J & Celia Carlin Fund award?
In 2024, The Leo J & Celia Carlin Fund awarded 1 grants totaling $331K — an average of about $331K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Leo J & Celia Carlin Fund required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Leo J & Celia Carlin Fund reported a distributable amount of $5K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Leo J & Celia Carlin Fund's EIN?
The Leo J & Celia Carlin Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-3143163. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Leo J & Celia Carlin Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Gochnauer Family Foundation
CORONA DEL MAR, CA
Assets
$15.2M
Grants
39
Total Given
$313K
Cottage Health
SANTA BARBARA, CA
Assets
$172.1M
Grants
6
Total Given
$179K
International Right of Way Association
GARDENA, CA
Assets
$5.7M
Grants
1
Total Given
$9K
Quince Interfaith Housing Corporation
LEMON GROVE, CA
Assets
—
Grants
0
Total Given
—
William & Lillian Schwartz Charitable Foundation
LA JOLLA, CA
Assets
$325K
Grants
1
Total Given
$3K
Covia Foundation
GLENDALE, CA
Assets
$15.2M
Grants
1
Total Given
$4.8M
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with The Leo J & Celia Carlin Fund on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching The Leo J & Celia Carlin Fund to a real strategy.