Paulsen Family Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- Paulsen Family Foundation's grants have gone mainly to environmental and land organisations, outdoor recreation and cycling groups, and schools and education foundations, so your work fits most clearly if it sits in one of those areas.
- No geographic focus is stated, and grants have mostly gone to organisations in Georgia, North Carolina, California, South Carolina and Pennsylvania, so location alone should not rule you out.
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and limits its contributions to preselected organisations, so do not send a cold application; the route in is an invitation.
- If you are invited, a request of $1,500 to $15,000 matches the typical grant, where about 8 in 10 of its 117 grants to organisations fall, with a median of $5,000, though its largest grant was $50,000, so that band is not a ceiling.
- Repeat giving is strong: 66% of its grant dollars to organisations in the latest filing went to groups it had also funded in earlier filings, so a first request from a new organisation is likely to meet a pool dominated by existing grantees.
Overview
Paulsen Family Foundation is a US private foundation based in Uniondale, NY.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The grant record shows support for environmental and land organisations, outdoor recreation and cycling groups, schools and education foundations, alongside a varied wider charity portfolio. Grants were mostly recorded as unrestricted; other stated purposes included annual funds and general support of charities.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Georgia, North Carolina, California, South Carolina and Pennsylvania.
How to apply
Contributions are limited to preselected charitable organisations; the foundation does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 66% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 117 grants to organisations were $5,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 14%
- The largest single recipient received 11% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 66% of grant dollars went to organisations Paulsen Family Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 6% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 30 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $5,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Earthjustice · Unrestricted$20,0002024 tax year
- Democracy Forward Foundation · Unrestricted$20,0002024 tax year
- Outdoor Alliance · Unrestricted$15,0002024 tax year
- Trust for Public Land · Unrestricted$15,0002024 tax year
- Outdoor Afro · Unrestricted$15,0002024 tax year
- SheJumps · Unrestricted$15,0002024 tax year
- Asheville on Bikes · Unrestricted$10,0002024 tax year
- Live Thrive · Unrestricted grant$10,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Caroline E Paulsen — Director
- Katherine C Paulsen — Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $221,156 | $217,700 | $4,661,173 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $447,527 | $435,000 | $7,977,387 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $398,580 | $225,500 | $8,840,627 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to Paulsen Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Uniondale, NY
Applying to Paulsen Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Uniondale, NY