Carina Initiatives
At a glance
Key takeaways
- Carina Initiatives funds recreational mathematics, identifying mathematical talent (particularly among students from low- and middle-income backgrounds), accelerated maths for high-ability students, enrichment, policy and research, and selected international mathematics talent systems, so a small nonprofit should approach it only if its work sits in one of these areas.
- The typical grant band runs from $7,500 to $850,000, but the median grant is about $190,000 and half of its 50 grants to organisations were about $190,000 or less, so a request around that scale is a realistic starting point.
- Cold outreach typically will not get a response, because the foundation mainly finds partners through networking and referrals, so a warm introduction is the better route before emailing partnership@carina.fund.
- Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, but 77% of its grant dollars to organisations in the filing went to groups it had funded in an earlier filing, so expect a relationship-led process rather than open access.
Overview
Carina Initiatives is a US private foundation based in Torrance, CA.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
Carina Initiatives invests in organisations that inspire and identify extraordinary young mathematical talent and provide opportunities for mathematical acceleration and enrichment. Its four core programme areas cover recreational mathematics and thinking games; identifying mathematical talent, particularly among students from low- and middle-income backgrounds; accelerated mathematics programmes for high-ability students; and enrichment. It also funds policy and research that amplify these areas, as well as selected international efforts to build mathematics talent systems. It seeks exceptional, strategically aligned leaders who can bring cost-effective programmes to scale, building a cohesive system through strategic investment and partner coordination.
Themes
- Recreational mathematics
- Math talent identification
- Math acceleration
- Math enrichment
- Math policy and research
- International math talent systems
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in California, New York, Maryland, Illinois and North Carolina.
How to apply
Potential partners may contact Carina Initiatives directly at partnership@carina.fund. The foundation says it primarily finds potential partners through networking and referrals and that cold outreach typically will not get a response.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2023 filing, 77% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022 and TY2023 filings, half of its 50 grants to organisations were about $190,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- It seeks exceptional, strategically aligned leaders who work relentlessly to bring cost-effective programmes to scale.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2023.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 10%
- The largest single recipient received 14% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2023, 77% of grant dollars went to organisations Carina Initiatives had funded in earlier filings.
- <1% of grant dollars went directly to organisations outside the US (Rwanda).
- 8% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 32 grants in tax year 2023 by size
Median $115k (tax year 2023)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- National Math Stars · General operating support$1,254,8822023 tax year
- Art of Problem Solving Initiative · General operating support$1,000,0002023 tax year
- Aops Incorporated · Support for the pathways program$882,9782023 tax year
- 9 Dots Community Learning Center · General operating support$850,0002023 tax year
- Stanford University · University program$830,2802023 tax year
- Global Talent Network Foundation · General operating support$750,0002023 tax year
- Brilliant Worldwide · Support for the development of free schools product$720,0002023 tax year
- Partnership for Los Angeles Schools · General operating support$504,7602023 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- John Taylor — Director
- Fred Taylor — Director
- Melissa Vitek — Treasurer
- Jennifer Reynoso — Secretary
- Josh Taylor — President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
2 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $10,506,415 | $7,561,145 | $25,134,934 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $12,680,901 | $9,111,538 | $31,130,741 | Filing for 2023 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
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to Carina Initiatives?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- partnership@carina.fund
- Torrance, CA
- carina.fund
Applying to Carina Initiatives?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- partnership@carina.fund
- Torrance, CA
- carina.fund