Johnny Carson Foundation
Invitation OnlyEncino, California · EIN 20-5885752 · Private foundation
Grants paid (2024)$13.3M
Organizations funded259
Typical grant$20,000
Total assets$154.5M
Half of its grants to organizations were between $10,000 and $30,000.
From the return
How to apply
On its return for tax year 2024 the foundation checked the box saying it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
What it funds
Share of grant lines on the latest return, classified from the purpose each grant states.
Where it gives
18% of grants went outside California.
Grants paid in tax year 2024
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Nebraska Foundation | Lincoln, NE | Carson center for emerging media arts - $2,000,000lied center building fund-$2,500,000cyfs program - $25,000husker pantry - $20,000 | $4,545,000 |
| Faith Regional Health Services Foundation | Norfolk, NE | Varian trubeam radiotherapy system & vault | $500,000 |
| LA Regional Food Bank | Los Angeles, CA | Unrestricted support | $330,000 |
| Homeboy Industries | Los Angeles, CA | Unrestricted support | $290,000 |
| UC Regents | Los Angeles, CA | Drakaki cancer research project | $250,000 |
| Westside Food Bank | Santa Monica, CA | Unrestricted support | $230,000 |
| Nebraska Cultural Endowment | Omaha, NE | Unrestricted support | $200,000 |
| Alliance for College Ready Public Schools | Los Angeles, CA | Scholarships - $120,000black, proud and college bound initiative - $50,000unrestricted support-$20,000 | $190,000 |
| National Jewish Health | Denver, CO | Copd research - $125,000unrestricted support - $30,000 | $155,000 |
| Pat Tillman Foundation | Chicago, IL | Tillman scholars program | $155,000 |
| Teach for America | Los Angeles, CA | Los angeles area programs unrestricted support | $155,000 |
| UCLA Foundation | Los Angeles, CA | Dental special patient care program - $25,000friends of the semel institute - $5,000copd fellowship - $125,000 | $155,000 |
| Motion Picture & Television Fund | Woodland Hills, CA | Unrestricted support | $125,000 |
| Planned Parenthood LA | Los Angeles, CA | Unrestricted support | $125,000 |
| Academy of Tv Arts & Sciences | Los Angeles, CA | Interviews archive project - $65,000unrestricted support - $50,000 | $115,000 |
| Heart of Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | Unrestricted support | $115,000 |
| Sag-Aftra Foundation | Los Angeles, CA | Unrestricted support | $115,000 |
| Lausd Education Foundation | Los Angeles, CA | Beyond the bell program - $10,000take action leadership campaign-$100,000 | $110,000 |
| Chrysalis Foundation | Santa Monica, CA | Unrestricted support | $105,000 |
| A Thousand Joys | Los Angeles, CA | Unrestricted support | $100,000 |
| Salvation Army Western Division | Omaha, NE | Unrestricted support | $100,000 |
| One Voice | Santa Monica, CA | Unrestricted support | $85,000 |
| Project Angel Food | Los Angeles, CA | Unrestricted support | $85,000 |
| Hope the Mission | Mission Hills, CA | Unrestricted support | $75,000 |
| Norfolk Senior Citizens Center | Norfolk, NE | Unrestricted support | $75,000 |
| Teach Democracy | Los Angeles, CA | Unrestricted support | $75,000 |
| American Red Cross Los Angeles Region | Los Angeles, CA | Unrestricted support - $20,000l.a. wildfire relief efforts - $50,000 | $70,000 |
| Ghetto Film School Inc | Los Angeles, CA | Unrestricted support | $70,000 |
| Children's Institute Inc | Los Angeles, CA | Unrestricted support | $65,000 |
| Green Dot Public Schools | Los Angeles, CA | Mentoring program - $25,000unrestricted support - $40,000 | $65,000 |
| Cal State Fullerton | Fullerton, CA | Jazz program - scholarships - $60,000 | $60,000 |
| Saban Community Clinic | Los Angeles, CA | Unrestricted - $60,000 | $60,000 |
| Children's Hospital LA | Los Angeles, CA | Mental health program - $10,000gofarr fund - $15,000unrestricted support - $30,000 | $55,000 |
| The Unusual Suspects Theater Company | Los Angeles, CA | Unrestricted support | $55,000 |
| Autism Speaks | Los Angeles, CA | Summer camps | $50,000 |
| College Track | Los Angeles, CA | Los angeles area unrestricted support | $50,000 |
| Comedy Gives Back | Venice, CA | Unrestricted support | $50,000 |
| Greater Los Angeles Zoo Assoc | Los Angeles, CA | Unrestricted support | $50,000 |
| Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | Camp bob waldorf | $50,000 |
| LA Family Housing | Los Angeles, CA | Unrestricted support | $50,000 |
| Northeast Community College | Norfolk, NE | Scholarships | $50,000 |
| Planned Parenthood North Central States | Minneapolis, MN | Unrestricted support | $50,000 |
| The UCLA Foundation | Pasadena, CA | Weintraub center for reconstructive biotech-$10,000sound body sound mind-$10,000neurology & movement disorder program - $30,000 | $50,000 |
| Universal Community Health Center | Los Angeles, CA | Unrestricted support | $50,000 |
| Vision to Learn | Los Angeles, CA | Los angeles area operations unrestricted support | $50,000 |
| Symphonic Jazz Orchestra | Culver City, CA | Unrestricted support | $49,100 |
| Csulb | Long Beach, CA | Kkjz | $45,000 |
| Facing History and Ourselves | Los Angeles, CA | Unrestricted support | $45,000 |
| Inclusion Matters | Sherman Oaks, CA | Unrestricted support | $45,000 |
| Lincoln Childrens Museum | Lincoln, NE | Summer camps - $5,000unrestricted support - $40,000 | $45,000 |
| Muckenthaler Cultural Center | Fullerton, CA | Unrestricted support | $45,000 |
| Aquarium of the Pacific | Long Beach, CA | Unrestricted support | $40,000 |
| Direct Relief | Santa Barbara, CA | Hurricane milton relief - $10,000hurricane helene relief - $10,000kentucky flood relief - $10,000texas hurricane beryl relief - $10,000 | $40,000 |
| New Directions for Veterans | Los Angeles, CA | Unrestricted support | $40,000 |
| St Joseph Center | Venice, CA | Unrestricted support | $40,000 |
| Steampark Inc | Rumson, NJ | Unrestricted support | $40,000 |
| AIDS Project Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | Unrestricted support | $35,000 |
| Fulfillment Fund | Los Angeles, CA | Unrestricted support | $35,000 |
| Heal the Bay | Santa Monica, CA | Unrestricted support | $35,000 |
| Meals on Wheels West - Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | Unrestricted support | $35,000 |
Showing the 60 largest of 259 grants to organizations.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Grant lines |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $13,336,100 | 259 |
| 2023 | $13,302,700 | 255 |
| 2022 | $15,466,600 | 253 |
Sources
- IRS Form 990-PF, tax year 2024, filed May 13, 2026 - IRS e-file batch, object ID 202621339349104902
- IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search for EIN 20-5885752
- Profile updated Nov 5, 2026
Facts on this page come from the foundation's own IRS Form 990-PF filings as published by the IRS. Grantvello does not know whether a foundation is accepting proposals right now: a past grant is not an open opportunity. Always confirm current guidelines with the funder before applying.