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Carson Family Charitable Trust

Annual Giving
$60.2M
Grant Range
$10K - $10.3M

Carson Family Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $60,210,300 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Not applicable (invitation only)
  • Grant Range: $10,000 - $10,325,000
  • Median Grant: $200,000
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily New York City, with some grants in District of Columbia and Florida
  • Total Assets: $466,593,070

Contact Details

Address:
114 W. 47th Street
New York, NY 10036

Note: The foundation does not maintain a public website and does not accept unsolicited applications.

Overview

The Carson Family Charitable Trust was established in 1991 by Russell L. Carson, a prominent private equity investor, along with his wife Judith and their two children, Edward and Cecily. With assets exceeding $466 million and annual giving of over $60 million, the foundation ranks among New York's significant private philanthropies. The trust focuses primarily on New York City nonprofit organizations working in education, poverty relief, healthcare, medical science, and arts and culture. Russell Carson's professional background in private equity informs the family's active, hands-on approach to philanthropy—they collectively sit on approximately 15 nonprofit boards in New York City. The foundation has demonstrated particular commitment to long-term partnerships, with some organizations like Rockefeller University receiving over $50 million over the years and Dartmouth College receiving approximately $30 million last decade.

Funding Priorities

Major Grant Recipients

The trust has made substantial multi-year commitments to a core group of organizations:

  • New York Genome Center: $7.1 million (2017), $10 million (2019), plus commitments through 2029; Russell Carson serves as chair
  • Rockefeller University: Over $50 million total over the years
  • Dartmouth College: Approximately $30 million over the last decade
  • Robin Hood Foundation: $4.75 million (2017); Cecily Carson serves on the board
  • Manhattan Marymount College: $10.3 million for general operating support (2022)
  • Columbia University Business School: $3.3 million for capital campaign support (2022)

Priority Areas

Education (43% of all grants)

  • K-12 education reform and charter schools (KIPP New York, Achievement First, Teach for America, Friends of Bronx Charter School)
  • Partnership for Inner-City Education (formerly Endowment Fund for Inner-City Education, co-founded by Russell Carson)
  • Higher education institutions (Dartmouth, Columbia Business School, Marymount Manhattan College)

Health and Medical Science

  • Genomic research and precision medicine
  • Medical research institutions (Rockefeller University, New York Stem Cell Foundation)
  • Healthcare providers (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center)

Poverty Relief and Community Development

  • Organizations addressing poverty in New York City
  • Youth development programs (Harlem Children's Zone, Red Hook Initiative in Brooklyn)

Arts and Culture

  • New York Philharmonic-Symphony Society
  • Metropolitan Museum of Art
  • Museum of Art and Design
  • New York Public Library
  • American Museum of Natural History

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not fund organizations outside their established areas of interest, which center on New York City. The focus is highly selective, emphasizing organizations where the Carson family can be actively involved through board service and sustained engagement.

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees:

  • Russell L. Carson - Founder and Chairman; prominent private equity investor; serves as chair of New York Genome Center and on boards of multiple nonprofits
  • Judith Carson - Trustee
  • Edward S. Carson - Trustee
  • Cecily Carson - President; serves on the board of Robin Hood Foundation; particularly interested in education

Leadership Philosophy:

Russell Carson has articulated a clear philosophy about effective philanthropy and board service:

On getting started: "The best single piece of advice [I received] was to put together a mission statement—to figure out what you really care about and think about what you're trying to accomplish in a way that makes sense on paper."

On active engagement: The family "wanted to be active participants in philanthropy, drawing from [his] professional background—rather than just giving money, they would also give time and get involved."

On being an effective board member: "A great board member is someone who's willing to take the time to understand the issues the organization has and is willing to step up and deal with them... some members will step up if times get tough, and some will disappear—[the Carson family] deals with problems rather than ducking them."

On nonprofit strategy: Carson notes that nonprofits "often face questions of strategy—how fast to expand, how to finance that expansion, and how to keep it under control, which are the same issues companies have in their early development stages."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The foundation does not maintain a website and does not respond to unsolicited applications for funding. The trust operates through a proactive funding approach, identifying organizations through the Carson family's extensive network and board service.

Grants are typically awarded to organizations where:

  • The Carson family has existing relationships or board involvement
  • The organization operates in New York City (primarily) or areas of strategic interest
  • There is opportunity for sustained, long-term partnership and engagement
  • The family can contribute expertise and time in addition to financial support

Getting on Their Radar

The Carson family's approach to philanthropy centers on deep, sustained engagement with organizations where they serve in leadership roles. Specific strategies include:

  • Board service connections: All four family members collectively sit on approximately 15 nonprofit boards in New York City. Organizations where the Carsons serve in governance roles receive sustained support.
  • Existing portfolio organizations: The trust demonstrates commitment to long-term partnerships, with repeat grants to core organizations over many years.
  • Russell Carson's professional network: His role in private equity and service on boards such as the New York Genome Center (as chair), Rockefeller University, and National September 11 Memorial & Museum positions him to identify organizations aligned with the family's interests.
  • Cecily Carson's education focus: As president of the foundation with particular interest in education, and as a board member of Robin Hood Foundation, Cecily is positioned to identify promising education and poverty-relief organizations.
  • High-level networking: The foundation explicitly "prefers a proactive funding approach, so interested grant seekers will need to partake in high-level networking to get noticed."

Decision Timeline

Not applicable—grants are made at the discretion of the trustees based on their ongoing relationships and board involvement rather than through an application review cycle.

Application Success Factors

Given the foundation's closed application process, the following factors are critical for organizations seeking support:

1. Geographic Alignment: New York City is the primary focus, receiving 84% of domestic giving (416 grants). Massachusetts and Florida receive limited funding (17 and 10 grants respectively).

2. Long-term Partnership Potential: The trust favors sustained, multi-year commitments to core organizations rather than one-off grants. Examples include:

  • Rockefeller University: Over $50 million across many years
  • Dartmouth College: $30+ million over a decade
  • New York Genome Center: Commitments extending through 2029

3. Board Service Opportunities: The Carson family's active engagement model means they seek organizations where they can contribute time and expertise, not just funding. As Russell Carson stated, they are "active participants" who give both "money" and "time."

4. Organizational Capacity for Strategic Growth: Drawing from his private equity background, Russell Carson looks for nonprofit leaders who can address "questions of strategy—how fast to expand, how to finance that expansion, and how to keep it under control."

5. Alignment with Core Priority Areas: 43% of grants go to education, particularly K-12 reform and higher education. Medical science and genomic research represent another major focus, along with poverty relief and arts/culture.

6. Willingness to Address Challenges: The family values organizations that tackle difficult problems head-on. As Russell Carson noted, they "deal with problems rather than ducking them" and expect the same from their grantees.

7. Connection to the Carson Family Network: Recent major grants have gone to organizations where Russell Carson serves as board chair (New York Genome Center) or where family members have governance roles (Robin Hood Foundation, where Cecily serves on the board).

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No unsolicited applications accepted: This foundation operates exclusively through existing relationships and proactive identification of grantees. Traditional grant writing will not be effective.

  • Focus on relationship building: Success requires connecting with the Carson family through their extensive nonprofit board service, professional networks, and existing portfolio organizations.

  • Demonstrate long-term partnership value: The trust favors sustained, multi-year commitments. Organizations should position themselves for ongoing engagement, not single grants.

  • New York City is paramount: 84% of grants go to NYC organizations. Geographic alignment is critical unless your organization has exceptional strategic significance.

  • Prepare for active trustee engagement: The family expects to contribute time, expertise, and board service—not just money. Organizations should be ready to welcome engaged, hands-on philanthropists who will "step up if times get tough."

  • Education and medical research are top priorities: 43% of funding goes to education (especially K-12 reform and higher education), with medical science/genomic research as another major focus area.

  • Strategic capacity matters: Russell Carson applies private equity principles to nonprofit evaluation, looking for strong leadership and strategic thinking about growth and sustainability.

References

Date accessed: December 22, 2025

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