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Tina And Richard V Carolan Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$1.0M
000

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $1,023,500 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly available
  • Grant Range: Average grant $60,206 (based on 17 awards in 2023)
  • Geographic Focus: New Jersey (primary), with grants across multiple U.S. states including CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, NJ, NY, and SC
  • Assets: $17,985,016 (2024)

Contact Details

Foundation Address: Mendham, NJ
EIN: 22-3085237
Website: www.carolanfoundation.com

Note: Specific contact phone and email information are not publicly available. The foundation does not appear to maintain a detailed public website with application information.

Overview

The Tina and Richard V Carolan Foundation Inc was established in 1992 as a private non-operating foundation based in Mendham, New Jersey. With assets totaling approximately $18 million, the foundation distributed $1,023,500 in grants across 17 awards in 2023. The foundation was created by Richard and Tina Carolan, with Tina's Armenian heritage playing a significant role in shaping the foundation's charitable priorities. Richard Carolan received recognition from the Armenian community, including the insignia of "Knight of Cilicia" (1994) and "Prince of Cilicia" (2000) for his devotion to Armenian institutions. The foundation focuses primarily on three core areas: education (including elementary, secondary, graduate, and professional levels, particularly medical education), health and medical research, and Christian religious organizations, with particular support for Armenian churches and institutions.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates as a private family foundation making grants through trustee discretion rather than formal grant programs. Based on available data:

  • Average Grant Size: Approximately $60,206
  • Grant Distribution: 17 awards in 2023, 21 awards in 2022, 15 awards in 2021
  • Total Annual Distribution: $1,023,500 (2023)

Priority Areas

Education:

  • Medical education and research
  • Elementary and secondary education
  • Graduate and professional education
  • Notable support: Brown University's Department of Emergency Medicine (Tina & Richard V. Carolan Rwanda Research Fellowship, supporting research capacity at University Teaching Hospital - Kigali)

Health:

  • Medical research
  • Healthcare facilities and programs
  • Disease-specific initiatives and conditions

Religious Organizations:

  • Armenian churches and organizations
  • Christian missionary work

Geographic Reach: While based in New Jersey with a stated preference for New Jersey nonprofits, the foundation has funded projects across the United States.

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented. As a private family foundation with discretionary grantmaking, the foundation likely does not fund:

  • Individuals (except through established institutional programs)
  • Organizations outside their stated priority areas
  • For-profit entities

Governance and Leadership

Key Personnel (as of 2024 tax filings):

  • Tina Carolan - President
  • Richard C Carolan - Vice President and Treasurer (Compensation: $50,000)
  • Kimberly Carolan-Faga - Vice President and Secretary
  • Alana Carolan - Director of Donor Relations (Compensation: $25,000)

The foundation operates as a family foundation with members of the Carolan family in all leadership positions. The leadership reflects a close family structure typical of private foundations, ensuring the founders' philanthropic vision continues through family involvement.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. As a private family foundation, the Tina and Richard V Carolan Foundation operates primarily through trustee discretion. Grants are typically awarded to organizations identified by the board of trustees rather than through open solicitation.

No online application portal, application forms, or published application guidelines are publicly available. The foundation does not advertise grant opportunities or specific deadlines.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available. As grants are made at trustee discretion throughout the year, there are no fixed decision timelines or notification schedules.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. The foundation made 17 awards in 2023, 21 awards in 2022, and 15 awards in 2021, but information about the total number of inquiries or proposals received is not disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly documented.

Application Success Factors

Given the foundation's private nature and lack of public application process, alignment with the foundation's mission and existing relationships appear to be the primary factors in receiving funding:

Mission Alignment:

  • Organizations working in medical education, health research, education (particularly at the professional/graduate level), and Armenian or Christian causes are most likely to receive consideration
  • The foundation has demonstrated particular interest in global health education initiatives, as evidenced by their support for Brown University's Rwanda Research Fellowship

Geographic Considerations:

  • While the foundation states a preference for New Jersey organizations, they have funded projects across multiple states, suggesting geographic flexibility for compelling projects aligned with their mission

Armenian Connection:

  • Organizations serving the Armenian community or with Armenian heritage connections may receive favorable consideration given Tina Carolan's Armenian heritage and the foundation's documented support for Armenian churches and organizations

Established Institutions:

  • Evidence suggests the foundation tends to support established educational institutions, medical centers, and recognized religious organizations rather than grassroots or startup nonprofits

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process exists - this is an invitation-only funder operating through trustee discretion
  • Armenian heritage connection is significant - the foundation has made substantial gifts to Armenian causes, including a $500,000 contribution to the Armenian Cultural Foundation
  • Medical education is a core priority - particularly programs combining medical education with global health or humanitarian dimensions
  • Average grant is approximately $60,000 - with 17 grants totaling just over $1 million in 2023
  • Family foundation structure - all leadership positions held by Carolan family members, suggesting deeply personal philanthropic priorities
  • Multi-year relationships appear important - as a private foundation, they likely develop ongoing relationships with supported organizations rather than making one-time grants to new applicants
  • Consider indirect approaches - organizations seeking funding should focus on relationship-building and ensuring visibility within the foundation's areas of interest rather than submitting unsolicited proposals

References

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