CARS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that facilitates vehicle (and property) donations to generate revenue for IRS-recognized nonprofits and provides transportation solutions for adults 60+ through local programs.
Charitable Adult Rides & Services centers its philanthropy on operating support for Jewish Family Service of San Diego, with two recent grants totaling more than $13.4 million. In 2024, the foundation awarded $5,150,000 to Jewish Family Service of San Diego to support operations, following an $8,293,041 grant in 2023 for the same purpose. Those awards point to a relationship built around institutional support rather than short-term project funding. Beyond that core recipient, CARS is structured around transportation and fundraising services: it facilitates vehicle and property donations to generate revenue for IRS-recognized nonprofits and also provides local transportation solutions for adults 60+ through its programs. Its active programs include vehicle donation partnerships for nonprofits, a public media vehicle-donation program, and a sweepstake-based partner incentive campaign. The foundation’s work therefore combines nonprofit revenue generation, marketing support, and service delivery within a local grantmaking pattern concentrated in California.
A central theme in CARS grantmaking is operational support for a single San Diego nonprofit. The foundation gave $8,293,041 in 2023 to Jewish Family Service of San Diego and followed with $5,150,000 in 2024, both designated to support operations. That pattern aligns with its stated philosophy of general operating support and organizational funding. Another clear focus is vehicle-donation fundraising. Through its Vehicle Donation Program, CARS partners with nonprofits to handle donor intake, towing, auction or sale processing, reporting, and complimentary marketing support and campaign materials. The program is open to nonprofits in the United States, the District of Columbia, and Alaska. CARS also supports public media through a dedicated vehicle donation program. That program is designed for stations of every size and format and includes marketing assets, content libraries, analytics, and direct support to launch and promote campaigns. A separate Coffee On CARS sweepstake historically added partner engagement incentives with $50 gift-card prizes.
The foundation’s typical grant size is large: the 25th percentile is $5,935,760, the median is $6,721,520, and the 75th percentile is $7,507,281. The recent record also shows repeat funding to the same recipient across consecutive years, with two grants to Jewish Family Service of San Diego in 2023 and 2024. CARS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and does not fund individuals. Its stated philosophy emphasizes general operating support, unrestricted operational funding, and organizational support. It also accepts unsolicited participation in its active partner programs.
$2.5M
$13M
$21.2M
$19.9M
Most grants fall between $5.9M and $7.5M, with a median of $6.7M.
25th Percentile
$5.9M
Median
$6.7M
75th Percentile
$7.5M
HOWARD A PEARL
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CARS gives locally, and the grant record shown is entirely in California: 100% of grants went to recipients in the HQ state, which is also the top state by grant count. The recent grants listed both went to San Diego-based Jewish Family Service of San Diego. The active program geography is broader than the grant record, however: the Vehicle Donation Program serves nonprofits in the United States, the District of Columbia, and Alaska, while the public media vehicle donation program is open across the United States.
The recent grants shown are unrestricted operating awards to Jewish Family Service of San Diego: $8,293,041 in 2023 and $5,150,000 in 2024, both to support operations. The foundation’s stated philosophy also points to general operating support, unrestricted operational funding, and organizational support.
Its grant-size distribution is high-value and fairly tight: the 25th percentile is $5,935,760, the median is $6,721,520, and the 75th percentile is $7,507,281. That places most grants in the multi-million-dollar range.
Yes. Jewish Family Service of San Diego appears in consecutive years in the recent grants list, with awards in 2023 and 2024. Both were designated to support operations.
Its active programs cover vehicle donation fundraising for nonprofits, a public media vehicle donation program, and a Coffee On CARS sweepstake for partner engagement. The broader organizational focus also includes transportation for seniors and donor marketing and content services.
The nonprofit partner vehicle donation program is open to organizations in the United States, the District of Columbia, and Alaska. The public media vehicle donation program is available to stations across the United States.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Charitable Adult Rides & Services that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Available to nonprofit partners served by CARS; the website indicates it supports thousands of nonprofits through vehicle and real estate donation programs.
Who can apply: Available to nonprofit partners across the United States; CARS states it supports stations and nonprofits of every size and format. Nonprofits may also request approval for an unlisted nonprofit.
Deadline: No stated deadline; sign-up appears available year-round.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE OF SAN DIEGO | SAN DIEGO, CA | $2,500,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT THE OPERATIONS OF JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE OF SAN DIEGO. |
| JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE OF SAN DIEGO | SAN DIEGO, CA | $4,800,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE OPERATIONS OF JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE OF SAN DIEGO. |
| JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE OF SAN DIEGO | SAN DIEGO, CA | $5,150,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE OPERATIONS OF JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE OF SAN DIEGO. |
| JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE OF SAN DIEGO | SAN DIEGO, CA | $8,293,041 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT THE OPERATIONS OF JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE OF SAN DIEGO. |
JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE OF SAN DIEGO
$2,500,000TO SUPPORT THE OPERATIONS OF JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE OF SAN DIEGO.
JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE OF SAN DIEGO
$4,800,000TO SUPPORT THE OPERATIONS OF JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE OF SAN DIEGO.
JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE OF SAN DIEGO
$5,150,000TO SUPPORT THE OPERATIONS OF JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE OF SAN DIEGO.
JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE OF SAN DIEGO
$8,293,041TO SUPPORT THE OPERATIONS OF JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE OF SAN DIEGO.
