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Carina Initiatives Inc

Annual Giving
$7.6M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.8M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $7.6M (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $850,000
  • Average Grant: $280,000
  • Geographic Focus: National (U.S.), with select international efforts
  • Total Assets: $31.1M

Contact Details

Website: https://www.carina.fund
Email: partnership@carina.fund
Address: 990 W 190th St Suite 530, Torrance, CA 90502
LinkedIn: @carina-initiatives

Note: Cold outreach typically will not receive a response. The foundation primarily discovers partners through networking and referrals.

Overview

Carina Initiatives Inc is a private foundation established in 2020 with a mission to "send more kids from more communities to the frontiers of science and technology." The foundation invests in organizations that inspire, identify, accelerate, and enrich extraordinary young mathematical talent across the United States. With over $31 million in assets and approximately $7.6 million in annual grantmaking, Carina coordinates a portfolio of nonprofit and for-profit partners to build what they describe as "the country's first cohesive math talent system." The foundation's work is driven by the belief that America is leaving enormous innovation potential on the table by neglecting high-ability students, particularly from low- and middle-income backgrounds. Led by President Josh Taylor, Carina takes a strategic, evidence-based approach to philanthropy, seeking partners who demonstrate strategic courage, exceptional leadership, and cost-effectiveness in their work to develop mathematical talent.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Carina Initiatives organizes its grantmaking around four core program areas:

  • Inspire: Supporting organizations that spark interest in mathematics among young people, heavily influenced by Martin Gardner's approach to making math engaging and accessible
  • Identify: Funding talent identification systems to discover mathematically gifted students who are currently being overlooked, particularly in underserved communities
  • Accelerate and Enrich: Investing in programs that provide intensive math acceleration and enrichment opportunities, including math camps, circles, and advanced coursework
  • Policy and Research: Supporting policy advocacy and research that amplifies core programs and builds understanding of effective interventions

Grant amounts range from $5,000 to $850,000, with an average grant of approximately $280,000. In 2023, Carina made 27 grants totaling $7,561,145.

Priority Areas

  • Math learning platforms and educational technology focused on mathematical talent development
  • Math camps, circles, and enrichment programs (e.g., summer intensives, year-round programs)
  • Talent identification and search programs targeting underserved populations
  • Early childhood math education and parent engagement
  • Research on effective interventions for developing mathematical talent
  • Organizations working to increase access and equity in STEM fields
  • Select international efforts to build math talent systems

Recent Grant Recipients (2023)

  • 9 Dots Community Learning Center: $850,000
  • Digital Harbor Foundation: $500,000
  • Art of Problem Solving (AOPS) Incorporated: $441,000
  • California Institute of Technology: $200,000
  • Brilliant Worldwide Inc: $188,000
  • AddisCoder Inc: $110,000
  • University of Chicago BIP Lab: $1,500,000 (announced separately for technology and early math education research)

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, Carina's narrow focus suggests they do not fund:

  • General education programs without a specific focus on mathematical talent development
  • Programs exclusively serving students who are not high-achieving in mathematics
  • Organizations outside their four core program areas (Inspire, Identify, Accelerate, Enrich)
  • International programs unless they align with their strategic goal of building cohesive math talent systems

Governance and Leadership

Leadership Team:

  • Josh Taylor, President - Computer Science graduate from Stanford University with previous experience at National Math Stars, Art of Problem Solving, and 9 Dots. Taylor brings both technical expertise and operational experience in math education organizations. Serves as President with $0 compensation.

  • Melissa Vitek, COO and Treasurer - Oversees foundation operations and financial management. Compensation: $227,615.

  • Tife Oye, Lead for Inspire & Identify - Principal focusing on talent inspiration and identification programs. Compensation: $224,573.

  • Jean Chin (Euijin Chin), Lead for Enrich - Principal managing enrichment program strategy. Compensation: $153,894.

Organizational Values:

Carina describes its culture as:

  • Mathy: Analytical and data-oriented in decision-making
  • Bold: Ambitious and optimistic about the potential for systemic change
  • Owners: Proactive and self-driven
  • Truth-Seeking: Focused on understanding problems deeply
  • Impact over Ego: Mission-driven rather than recognition-seeking

Key Leadership Quote:

Josh Taylor on their approach: "BIP Lab is one of the foremost organizations in helping us understand the impact that technology can have in improving early math education, particularly in underserved communities. This important work will help academics, policymakers, and app developers design more effective learning opportunities."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Carina Initiatives does not have a traditional public application process. The foundation primarily discovers potential partners through networking and referrals within the math education and talent development community.

Important Policy: Organizations and leaders are welcome to contact partnership@carina.fund directly, but cold outreach typically will not receive a response.

The foundation's approach to grantmaking is relationship-driven and strategic. They make long-term commitments to partners, dive deep into understanding their work, and create shared accountability structures. This suggests that successful partnerships develop over time through multiple touchpoints and demonstrated alignment with Carina's mission and values.

Getting on Their Radar

Note: The following strategies are specific to Carina Initiatives based on their documented approach:

  • Demonstrate strategic alignment: Clearly articulate how your work fits into one of Carina's four program areas (Inspire, Identify, Accelerate, Enrich) with specific emphasis on mathematical talent development, not general education

  • Build relationships within the math talent ecosystem: Carina works with a portfolio of 40+ partner organizations. Connect with existing partners such as Art of Problem Solving, PROMYS, BEAM, and other math enrichment organizations who may provide referrals

  • Showcase bold, systems-level thinking: Carina explicitly seeks partners who "develop bold approaches that fundamentally change how the talent system operates," not incremental improvements

  • Emphasize cost-effectiveness and scalability: Given limited philanthropic funding for math talent, demonstrate how your model "effectively leverages funds" and has potential to scale

  • Connect through math education conferences and networks: The foundation is deeply embedded in the math competition and enrichment community

  • Highlight exceptional leadership: Carina "believes deeply in the power of exceptional leaders and only wants to work with the best"—ensure your leadership team's track record is prominently featured

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. Given the relationship-driven nature of their grantmaking and the significant due diligence implied by their emphasis on "diving deep" with partners, expect a multi-month process from initial contact to funding decision.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. With 27 grants made in 2023 and a portfolio of 40+ partner organizations, Carina appears to maintain ongoing relationships with existing partners while selectively adding new organizations.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the non-traditional application process. However, the foundation emphasizes "making long-term commitments" to partners, suggesting that successful partnerships often involve multi-year funding relationships.

Application Success Factors

Based on Carina Initiatives' documented approach, here are the funder-specific factors that increase likelihood of partnership:

  1. Strategic Courage: Carina explicitly looks for partners who "develop bold approaches that fundamentally change how the talent system operates." Incremental improvements are less compelling than transformative models. When describing your work, emphasize systems-level change and ambitious goals.

  2. The Three-Factor Framework: Every partnership decision centers on three criteria:

    • Strategic courage: Bold approaches to systemic change
    • Leadership: Exceptional leaders with track records of success
    • Cost effectiveness: Models that leverage limited philanthropic dollars effectively

  3. Alignment with Core Program Areas: Your work must clearly fit into Inspire, Identify, Accelerate, or Enrich. Projects that span multiple areas may be especially attractive as Carina seeks to build a "cohesive" talent system.

  4. Focus on Overlooked Talent: Carina emphasizes reaching "high potential math students that are currently being neglected," particularly from "low- and middle-income backgrounds." Demonstrate specific strategies for identifying and serving underrepresented mathematically gifted students.

  5. Evidence and Data Orientation: The foundation describes itself as "mathy" and "analytical." Include concrete metrics, research backing, and data on student outcomes. Carina funded a $1.5M research grant to University of Chicago specifically to understand "the impact that technology can have in improving early math education."

  6. Network Integration: With 40+ partners, Carina is building an ecosystem. Show how your organization complements or enhances existing portfolio partners rather than duplicating efforts. Referrals from current partners carry significant weight.

  7. Long-Term Commitment: Carina makes "long-term commitments" and works to create "shared accountability" with partners. Demonstrate capacity for sustained partnership, not one-off projects.

  8. Mathematical Excellence Focus: Unlike general STEM or education funders, Carina is laser-focused on mathematical talent specifically. Generic STEM programming or broad educational equity initiatives without a clear math talent development component won't align.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Referrals are critical: Cold outreach typically won't get a response. Invest in building connections within Carina's existing 40+ partner network before approaching the foundation

  • Think systemic transformation, not incremental improvement: Carina funds "bold approaches that fundamentally change how the talent system operates"—position your work as transformative

  • Lead with your leadership team: Carina "only wants to work with the best" leaders. Make your team's exceptional qualifications and track record front and center

  • Demonstrate cost-effectiveness explicitly: With limited funding available for math talent development, show concrete evidence of how you leverage resources efficiently and plan to scale

  • Focus narrowly on mathematical talent: General STEM, computer science, or educational equity programs won't align unless they have a specific, central focus on developing mathematical ability

  • Be patient with the relationship-building process: This is not a foundation for organizations seeking quick funding decisions. The relationship-driven approach requires multi-month (likely 6-12+ months) cultivation

  • Highlight equity and access: While focused on high-ability students, Carina emphasizes reaching overlooked talent from underserved communities—demonstrate specific strategies for equitable identification and access

References

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