Tom J & Edna Mae Carson Foundation
The Tom J & Edna Mae Carson Foundation is a private foundation established in 1989 and headquartered in Fort Smith, Arkansas. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and has been tax-exempt since August 1990. As a grantmaking foundation, it distributes funds to carefully selected nonprofit organizations across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$9.6M
+6.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$595K
-37.2% YoY
Grant Count
17
-22.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$35K
-18.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Tom J & Edna Mae Carson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $630K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not maintain a publicly stated mission statement. However, based on its grantmaking history, the foundation supports:
- Christian agencies and churches
- Community and economic development
- Education
- Health organizations and medical services
- Higher education
- Historical activities and cultural organizations
- Human services
- Native American/American Indian organizations
Grantmaking
The foundation contributes only to pre-selected organizations and does not accept unsolicited applications. No grants are made to individuals.
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Oklahoma, with a service area centered in that state. However, historical grants indicate some national reach, with past support for organizations in California, Colorado, South Dakota, and Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2023:
- Total Assets: $8,961,879
- Total Revenues: $1,464,567
- Total Expenses: $1,098,897
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Investment Income and Dividends: $426,798
- Net Gain from Sale of Non-Inventory Assets: $1,036,274
Historical Assets:
- 2024: $9,553,034 (total assets reported)
The foundation maintains a strong financial position with no liabilities and generates revenue primarily through investment income and asset sales.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $9,553,034 | $8,961,879 | $9,453,785 |
| Revenue | $836,925 | $1,464,567 | $1,675,034 |
| Expenses | $684,098 | $1,098,897 | $1,585,145 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $594,525 | $946,900 | $1,368,187 |
| Net Investment Income | $777,735 | $1,366,835 | $1,566,357 |
| Distributable Amount | $629,838 | $878,301 | $899,833 |
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
95 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Westville Public Schools ($250,825), Northeastern University ($75,000), Orchard Road Community Outreach ($48,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Adair County Junior Livestock STILWELL, OK | GENERAL SUPPORT | $40,950 |
| Adair County Resouce Center STILWELL, OK | GENERAL SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| AR OK Reg Education & Promo Assn Inc FORT SMITH, AR | GENERAL SUPPORT | $3,150 |
| AR-OK State Fair FORT SMITH, AR | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,700 |
| Cave Springs School BUNCH, AR | GENERAL SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| Communities Foundation of Oklahoma OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | GENERAL SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| DCSLS JAY, OK | GENERAL SUPPORT | $450 |
| Jermiah 29 Foundation STILWELL, OK | GENERAL SUPPORT | $41,000 |
| Northeastern University TAHLEQUAH, OK | SCHOLARSHIPS | $75,000 |
| Orchard Road Community Outreach STILWELL, OK | GENERAL SUPPORT | $48,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Donors & Trustees:
- Tom J. Carson (Donor, Trustee)
- Mary Carson (Donor)
- Drew T. Carson (Trustee)
- James F. Carson (Trustee)
- Rita Kay Fowlkes (Trustee)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
No officer/director data available.
Contact Information
Address: 5000 Rogers Ave., Suite 700 Fort Smith, AR 72903-2079
EIN: 58-1880469
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Tom J & Edna Mae Carson Foundation fund?
The foundation does not maintain a publicly stated mission statement. However, based on its grantmaking history, the foundation supports: • Christian agencies and churches • Community and economic development • Education • Health organizations and medical services • Higher education • Historical activities and cultural organizations • Human services • Native American/American Indian organizations
How do I apply for a grant from Tom J & Edna Mae Carson Foundation?
**Grant Activity & Amounts:** • Made 22 grants in 2023 • Recent notable grants include: • $252,000 to Adair County Health Center (2023) • $250,000 to Adair County Free Fair Board (2023) • $37,800 to Orchard Road Community Outreach (2023) • $2,000 to Kiwanis International - K02720 Stilwell (2023) **Application Process:** The foundation contributes only to pre-selected organizations and does not accept unsolicited applications. No grants are made to individuals.
Where does Tom J & Edna Mae Carson Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Oklahoma, with a service area centered in that state. However, historical grants indicate some national reach, with past support for organizations in California, Colorado, South Dakota, and Texas.
What size grants does Tom J & Edna Mae Carson Foundation award?
In 2024, Tom J & Edna Mae Carson Foundation awarded 17 grants totaling $595K — an average of about $35K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Tom J & Edna Mae Carson Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Tom J & Edna Mae Carson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $630K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Tom J & Edna Mae Carson Foundation's EIN?
Tom J & Edna Mae Carson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-1880469. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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