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Carlson Family Foundation at a glanceAlso receives grants: funding profile →

· Private foundation

Carlson Family Foundation

Its FY2025 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$1.5M
Granted FY2025still arriving
35
Grants FY2025still arriving
4
States reached
$250k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
0195% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2025.

Health$1.8MYouth Development$1.3MHuman Services$1.3MFood & Nutrition$1.2MHousing & Shelter$930kPublic Safety & Disaster$300kEducation$270kRecreation & Sports$270kOther$0
02FY2025 · 35 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k3 grants · $15k
  • $10k–50k18 grants · $500k
  • $50k–250k13 grants · $690k
  • $250k+1 grant · $250k
$40,000
Median grant
4
States reached
$5.5M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
YSS$250,000
CYSTIC FIBROSIS FOUNDATION$60,000
MEALS FROM THE HEARTLAND$60,000
IOWA HOMELESS YOUTH CENTERS$60,000
DMARC$60,000
FOOD BANK OF IOWA$50,000
HOPE MINISTRIES$50,000
Individual grant recipient$50,000
FCA$50,000
LOVE INC$50,000
EVERYSTEP$50,000
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY$50,000
Individual grant recipient$50,000
ELLIPSIS$50,000
COLTS YOUTH ORGANIZATION$45,000
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY17–25, $758k) land where the poverty rate runs at 14%, against an area that typically sits at 7%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 7%IOWA HOMELESS YOUTH CENTERS: $60k → 17%LUTHERAN SERVICES IN IOWA: $35k → 10%IOWA HOMELESS YOUTH CENTERS: $60k → 17%RESTORATION HOUSE: $8k → 15%LUTHERAN SERVICES IN IOWA: $35k → 10%IOWA HOMELESS YOUTH CENTERS: $60k → 17%RESTORATION HOUSE: $8k → 15%LUTHERAN SERVICES IN IOWA: $25k → 10%IOWA HOMELESS YOUTH CENTERS: $60k → 17%RESTORATION HOUSE: $8k → 15%LUTHERAN SERVICES IN IOWA: $13k → 10%IOWA HOMELESS YOUTH CENTERS: $30k → 17%RESTORATION HOUSE: $5k → 15%LUTHERAN SERVICES IN IOWA: $10k → 10%IOWA HOMELESS YOUTH CENTERS: $30k → 17%RESTORATION HOUSE: $5k → 15%LUTHERAN SERVICES IN IOWA: $10k → 10%IOWA HOMELESS YOUTH CENTERS: $30k → 17%LUTHERAN SERVICES IN IOWA: $10k → 10%IOWA HOMELESS YOUTH CENTERS: $28k → 17%LUTHERAN SERVICES IN IOWA: $10k → 10%IOWA HOMELESS YOUTH CENTERS: $20k → 17%AMERICAN RED CROSS: $25k → 10%AMERICAN RED CROSS: $25k → 10%AMERICAN RED CROSS: $25k → 10%AMERICAN RED CROSS: $25k → 10%AMERICAN RED CROSS: $20k → 10%AMERICAN RED CROSS: $20k → 10%AMERICAN RED CROSS: $20k → 10%AMERICAN RED CROSS: $20k → 10%AMERICAN RED CROSS: $20k → 10%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

92%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$7.9M · 37 repeat orgs$650k to everyone else

37 repeat relationships: 28 still active in FY2025, 9 since wound down; 6 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

37
6

Total granted

$7.9M
$215k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+22%
+42%

Still filing today

59%
17%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 70% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $435k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
HealthHuman ServicesFood & NutritionArts & CultureEducationCrime & LegalOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • EI
    ELLIPSIS INC
    5× · 2021–2025 · $725k · revenue +8%
  • CF
    CYSTIC FIBROSIS FOUNDATION
    9× · 2017–2025 · $385k · revenue +29%
  • YA
    YOUTH AND SHELTER SERVICES INC
    9× · 2017–2025 · $378k · revenue +145%

Funded once

  • IG
    Individual grant recipient
    one grant, 2023 · $120k
  • FF
    FFA FOUNDATION
    one grant, 2017 · $50k
  • CO
    CITY OF URBANDALEPARKS RECREATION
    one grant, 2019 · $20k
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
United Way of North Central Iowa

Seeking to build a stronger, more caring community by forming partnerships with businesses, community experts, education & health & human service agencies to achieve targeted outcomes & sustained changes in community conditions which will…

Philanthropy
2
Family Promise of Greater Des Moines

To provide shelter and services to families experiencing homelessness

—
3
Regional West Health Services

Health care services for the people of western nebraska and eastern wyoming.

Health
4
Common Good Iowa

Common good iowa engages iowans to create and advocate for research-based public policy that makes life better and more equitable for all who make iowa home.

—
5
Cornerhouse

The mission of cornerhouse is to partner with families, communities, and systems - entrusted with the safety of children, youth and vulnerable adults - to reduce trauma and end abuse.

Crime & Legal
6
Union Health System

To serve our communities by provding innovative and compassionate healthcare.

Health
7
Iowa City Hospice Inc

To provide high-quality and compassionate care to community members approaching the end of life.

Human Services
8
Hope Haven Inc

As followers of christ, hope haven's mission is to empower individuals with disabilities through work and life skills so that they may enjoy a productive life in their community.

—
9
United Way of East Central Iowa

Unite the caring power of communities to invest in effective solutions to improve people's lives.

Philanthropy
10
Cedar Falls Lutheran Home

Christian caring - enhancing lives through a commitment to individualized care in a home empowered by god's love.

Housing & Shelter
11
Reach for Your Potential Inc

Reach for your potential, inc is a provider of adult daycare services and rehabilitation/housing of disabled individuals serving approximately 135 individuals from iowa city and the surrounding communities.

Housing & Shelter
12
Union Hospital Inc

We exist to serve our patients with compassionate health care of the highest quality.

Health
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Meals From the Heartland Inc; the most unlike its peers is Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

26 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 26 of the 50 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
4
Early backer (in before they grew)
25/26
Grantees still filing
20/26
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY: $820,000 · OtherHABITAT FOR HUMANITYDMARC: $385,000 · OtherDMARCCIVIC CENTER OF GREATER DES MOINES: $300,143 · OtherCIVIC CENTER OF GREATER DES MOINESEVERYSTEP: $285,000 · OtherEVERYSTEPLOVE INC: $266,000 · OtherLOVE INCFELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES: $250,000 · OtherFELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETESYSS: $250,000 · OtherYSSTHE CONNECTION CAFE: $165,000 · OtherIndividual grant recipient: $150,000 · Other+23 more: $1,472,000 · Other+23 moreELLIPSIS INC: $725,000 · HealthELLIPSIS INCCYSTIC FIBROSIS FOUNDATION: $385,000 · HealthCYSTIC FIBROSIS FO…PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF THE HEARTLAND INC: $212,500 · HealthPLANNED PARENTHOOD…+2 more: $65,000 · HealthYOUTH AND SHELTER SERVICES INC: $377,500 · Human ServicesYOUTH AND SHEL…HOPE MINISTRIES: $310,000 · Human ServicesHOPE MINISTRIE…American National Red Cross & Its Constituent Chapters and Branches: $200,000 · Human ServicesAmerican Natio…LUTHERAN SERVICES IN IOWA INC: $147,500 · Human ServicesLUTHERAN SERVI…+1 more: $33,000 · Human ServicesURBANDALE FOOD PANTRY: $340,000 · Food & NutritionURBANDALE FO…FOOD BANK OF IOWA: $325,000 · Food & NutritionFOOD BANK OF…MEALS FROM THE HEARTLAND INC: $320,000 · Food & NutritionMEALS FROM T…IOWA PUBLIC RADIO INC: $235,000 · Arts & CultureLEGION-AIRES DRUM AND BUGLE CORPS: $145,000 · Arts & CultureGRAND VIEW UNIVERSITY: $210,000 · EducationOPERATION BREAKTHROUGH INC: $75,000 · EducationSUNFLOWER HOUSE INC: $162,500 · Crime & Legal
Other$4,343,143Health$1,387,500Human Services$1,068,000Food & Nutrition$985,000Arts & Culture$380,000Education$285,000Crime & Legal$162,500

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetELLIPSIS INC: $725,000 over 5y, 8.5% of budgetCYSTIC FIBROSIS FOUNDATION: $385,000 over 9y, 0.0% of budgetYOUTH AND SHELTER SERVICES INC: $377,500 over 9y, 0.3% of budgetURBANDALE FOOD PANTRY: $340,000 over 2y, 9.8% of budgetFOOD BANK OF IOWA: $325,000 over 9y, 0.2% of budgetMEALS FROM THE HEARTLAND INC: $320,000 over 9y, 2.1% of budgetHOPE MINISTRIES: $310,000 over 9y, 0.3% of budgetIOWA PUBLIC RADIO INC: $235,000 over 9y, 0.4% of budgetPLANNED PARENTHOOD OF THE HEARTLAND INC: $212,500 over 8y, 0.2% of budgetGRAND VIEW UNIVERSITY: $210,000 over 7y, 0.1% of budgetAmerican National Red Cross & Its Constituent Chapters and Branches: $200,000 over 9y, 0.0% of budgetSUNFLOWER HOUSE INC: $162,500 over 9y, 1.4% of budgetLUTHERAN SERVICES IN IOWA INC: $147,500 over 8y, 0.1% of budgetLEGION-AIRES DRUM AND BUGLE CORPS: $145,000 over 5y, 4.4% of budgetROSE BROOKS CENTER INC: $144,500 over 9y, 0.2% of budgetCHILDREN'S CANCER CONNECTION: $140,000 over 8y, 2.9% of budgetNEWHOUSE INC: $115,000 over 6y, 0.6% of budgetRESTORATION HOUSE OF GREATER KANSAS CITY: $110,000 over 4y, 2.3% of budgetYOUTH EMERGENCY SERVICES & SHELTER OF IOWA: $100,000 over 4y, 0.4% of budgetOPERATION BREAKTHROUGH INC: $75,000 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetGreater Kansas City Community Foundation: $60,000 over 9y, 0.0% of budgetUNITED WAY OF CENTRAL IOWA: $40,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetRESTORATION HOUSE INC: $33,000 over 5y, 13% of budgetNATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS-IOWA INC: $25,000 over 3y, 1.1% of budgetUPPER ROOM KC: $10,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

  • Who funds ELLIPSIS INC ↗
  • Who funds CYSTIC FIBROSIS FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds YOUTH AND SHELTER SERVICES INC ↗
  • Who funds URBANDALE FOOD PANTRY ↗
  • Who funds FOOD BANK OF IOWA ↗
  • Who funds MEALS FROM THE HEARTLAND INC ↗
  • Who funds HOPE MINISTRIES ↗
  • Who funds IOWA PUBLIC RADIO INC ↗
  • Who funds PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF THE HEARTLAND INC ↗
  • Who funds GRAND VIEW UNIVERSITY ↗
  • Who funds American National Red Cross & Its Constituent Chapters and Branches ↗
  • Who funds SUNFLOWER HOUSE INC ↗
  • Who funds LUTHERAN SERVICES IN IOWA INC ↗
  • Who funds LEGION-AIRES DRUM AND BUGLE CORPS ↗
  • Who funds ROSE BROOKS CENTER INC ↗
  • Who funds CHILDREN'S CANCER CONNECTION ↗
  • Who funds NEWHOUSE INC ↗
  • Who funds RESTORATION HOUSE OF GREATER KANSAS CITY ↗
  • Who funds YOUTH EMERGENCY SERVICES & SHELTER OF IOWA ↗
  • Who funds OPERATION BREAKTHROUGH INC ↗
  • Who funds Greater Kansas City Community Foundation ↗

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Prairie Meadows Race …Community Fdn of Grea…The Merchants Bonding…The West Bancorporati…The Blackbaud Giving …Pella Rolscreen Found…Alliant Energy Founda…Mid-Iowa Health Found…Athene Charitable Fou…Ita Group FoundationEMC Insurance Foundat…United Way Worldwide
Prairie Meadows Race Track and Casino IncIA25.8× affinity10 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Prairie Meadows Race Track and Casino Inc · Community Fdn of Greater Des Moines F/K/A Greater Des Moines Community Fdn · The Merchants Bonding Company Foundation · The West Bancorporation Foundation Inc · The Blackbaud Giving Fund · Pella Rolscreen Foundation · Alliant Energy Foundation Inc · Mid-Iowa Health Foundation · Athene Charitable Foundation · Ita Group Foundation · EMC Insurance Foundation · United Way Worldwide

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization Carlson Family Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Carlson Family Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 10%1%4%8%15%funder's share of their income ↑0%8%15%22%30%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    1get no government money at all
    9report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–30%
    typical government reliance, FY20–25
    How this is measured
    Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.

    On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 50 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

    How this is measured
    Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

    Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2025, released 2025. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Carlson Family’s filings →

    More from the funding graph

    The unnamed billions
    grants reported with no recipient in the public record
    The regranting layer
    51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
    The DAF merry-go-round
    $9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
    The endowment market
    who holds foundation money, and what just moved
    The camps
    funders cluster by geography, not ideology
    By state
    where grant money is based, and what stays home