William & Karen Tell Foundation
William & Karen Tell Foundation is a private foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware. Established in 1987, the foundation operates as a corporation and maintains tax-exempt status. The foundation is governed by 5 officers and trustees.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.4M
+0.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$96K
+22.7% YoY
Grant Count
81
+15.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$1K
+6.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, William & Karen Tell Foundation reported a distributable amount of $259K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Grantmaking
The foundation operates on a preselected grantee model, meaning it typically selects charitable organizations to support rather than accepting unsolicited applications.
Grant Range
$1,000
Average Grant
$3,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation distributes funding across multiple states. Primary funding regions include Massachusetts, District of Columbia, and Florida. The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated in Florida, Virginia, and New York, which account for 27% of all grants. Overall, the foundation's reach extends to organizations across 25 states.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $3.4 million
- Annual Income: $2 million
- Tax-Exempt Status: Tax-deductible contributions; IRS ruling year 1987
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,361,445 | $3,348,969 | $3,591,138 |
| Revenue | $308,341 | $8,238 | $-33,757 |
| Expenses | $295,865 | $250,407 | $268,107 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $247,955 | $203,479 | $220,327 |
| Net Investment Income | $261,231 | $47,611 | $37,342 |
| Distributable Amount | $258,604 | $243,127 | $244,358 |
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
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Houston Symphony Society ($10,000), International Printing Museum Foundation ($10,000), All Saints Church ($7,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 4 PITS SAKE RESCUE SAINT PAUL, MN | General & Unrestricted | $250 |
| ACADEMY FOUNDATION BEVERLY HILLS, CA | Funds to support Academy Museum | $1,000 |
| ALL SAINTS CHURCH CHEVY CHASE, MD | General & Unrestricted | $7,500 |
| ALLEY CAT ALLIES INCORPORATED BETHESDA, MD | General & Unrestricted | $250 |
| ALLEY THEATRE HOUSTON, TX | General & Unrestricted | $250 |
| ALLIANCE TO PROTECT NANTUCKET SOUND INC HYANNIS, MA | General & Unrestricted | $1,000 |
| AMERICAN CHORAL DIRECTORS OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | General & Unrestricted | $200 |
| AMERICAN KIDNEY FUND INC ROCKVILLE, MD | General & Unrestricted | $1,000 |
| ANACOSTIA WATERSHED SOCIETY INC BLADENSBURG, MD | General & Unrestricted | $250 |
| ANGLICAN HOUSE MEDIA MINISTRY INC NEWPORT BEACH, CA | General & Unrestricted | $200 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is administered by Foundation Source, which serves as the principal officer.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caroline Tell Falk | Dir, Chair, VP | 10 | $35,138 |
| Katie Falk | Dir, Sec | 10 | $17,569 |
| Karen Tell | Dir, Treas | 1 | — |
| Madeleine W Tell | Sec, Dir | 10 | $12,834 |
| William F Tell | Dir, Pres | 30 | $43,923 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for a grant from William & Karen Tell Foundation?
The foundation operates on a preselected grantee model, meaning it typically selects charitable organizations to support rather than accepting unsolicited applications. **Grant Activity:** • Total grants awarded: 239 grants totaling $601,000 • Median grant size: $1,000 • Average grant size: $3,000 • Grant range: $100 to $50,000 • Unique organizations supported: 119 **Recent Giving Trends:** Annual giving has declined in recent years, decreasing from $304,000 in 2021 to $78,000 in 2023.
Where does William & Karen Tell Foundation make grants?
The foundation distributes funding across multiple states. Primary funding regions include Massachusetts, District of Columbia, and Florida. The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated in Florida, Virginia, and New York, which account for 27% of all grants. Overall, the foundation's reach extends to organizations across 25 states.
What size grants does William & Karen Tell Foundation award?
In 2024, William & Karen Tell Foundation awarded 81 grants totaling $96K — an average of about $1K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is William & Karen Tell Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, William & Karen Tell Foundation reported a distributable amount of $259K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is William & Karen Tell Foundation's EIN?
William & Karen Tell Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-2777617. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in William & Karen Tell Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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