BGBESPOKE GRANTSFind your funders free →
Grant funders / Texas / The Carlson Foundation

The Carlson Foundation

Dallas, Texas  ·  EIN 270005700  ·  Private foundation

The Carlson Foundation is a private foundation based in Dallas, Texas. Its most recent IRS Form 990-PF reports $2.7M in grants paid and $18.3M in total assets. Bespoke Grants tracks 163 individual grants from this funder — $10.8M awarded across 2017–2024 — including its support for arts & culture. Below is its full funding profile.

$2.7M
Annual giving (FY2020)
$18.3M
Total assets
163
Grants tracked
2024
Most recent grant

What The Carlson Foundation funds

The Carlson Foundation's giving carries a documented focus on arts & culture, faith-based (christian), food & agriculture, higher education, k-12 education, and related causes.

Arts & CultureFaith-Based (Christian)Food & AgricultureHigher EducationK-12 EducationYouth Development

Populations it has supported include children, youth pop.

childrenyouth pop

Grant history

The largest grants Bespoke Grants has on record for The Carlson Foundation, by amount:

RecipientLocationGrantYear
Rice University
GENERAL FUND
Houston, TX$1.3M2019
Rice University
GENERAL FUND
Houston, TX$1.1M2017
Rice University
GENERAL FUND
Houston, TX$1.1M2020
Taca
GENERAL FUND
Dallas, TX$225K2017
Rice University
GENERAL FUND
Houston, TX$210K2022
Colorado College
GENERAL FUND
Colorado Springs, CO$200K2022
Colorado College
GENERAL FUND
Colorado Springs, CO$200K2024
Colorado College
GENERAL FUND
Colorado Springs, CO$200K2020
Colorado College
GENERAL FUND
Colorado Springs, CO$200K2023
Taca
GENERAL FUND
Dallas, TX$195K2019
Taca
GENERAL FUND
Dallas, TX$175K2020
North Texas Food Bank
GENERAL FUND
Dallas, TX$150K2020
North Texas Food Bank
GENERAL FUND
Dallas, TX$150K2019
St Mark's School of Texas
GENERAL FUND
Dallas, TX$125K2019
The Crystal Charity Ball
GENERAL FUND
Dallas, TX$125K2019

The Carlson Foundation giving by year

Total grants Bespoke Grants has indexed for each filing year:

2017$2.2M
2019$2.7M
2020$2.7M
2022$1.3M
2023$998K
2024$907K

How to apply for funding from The Carlson Foundation

The Carlson Foundation's public IRS filing does not spell out a formal application process. Foundations of this size often give primarily to organizations they already know, so a concise letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first contact — not a full proposal.

Is The Carlson Foundation the right funder for your nonprofit?

This page shows what The Carlson Foundation has funded. Bespoke Grants tells you whether it fits your mission — and finds every other foundation that does. Free, no credit card.

Match my nonprofit to funders →

Frequently asked questions about The Carlson Foundation

Does The Carlson Foundation accept grant applications?
The Carlson Foundation's public filing does not specify an application process. A brief letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first step with a private foundation of this size.
What does The Carlson Foundation fund?
The Carlson Foundation's grants focus on arts & culture. Recent recipients include Rice University, Rice University, Rice University. Its full grant history is listed above.
How much does The Carlson Foundation give in grants?
The Carlson Foundation reported $2.7M in grants in its most recent IRS filing (FY2020). Across all years in our data it has awarded $10.8M over 163 grants.
Where is The Carlson Foundation located?
The Carlson Foundation is based in Dallas, Texas. Its IRS employer identification number (EIN) is 270005700.
How can I find foundations similar to The Carlson Foundation?
Bespoke Grants matches your nonprofit against 225,000+ foundations like The Carlson Foundation, ranking each by how well it fits your mission, location, and budget — with the reasoning shown. It is free to search.

Find more funders like The Carlson Foundation

Foundations similar to The Carlson Foundation

Other Texas grantmakers with overlapping priorities:

About this profile. This page is built from The Carlson Foundation's public IRS Form 990-PF and 990 filings, indexed by Bespoke Grants alongside 13M+ grants from 225,000+ U.S. foundations. Grant figures reflect filings available to date; IRS data publishes on a 1–2 year lag. Bespoke Grants is not affiliated with The Carlson Foundation. Always confirm current giving priorities and application procedures with the foundation directly before applying.