The Johnny Carson Foundation makes a small number of very large, targeted gifts focused primarily on higher education and arts/media programs tied to Johnny Carson’s Nebraska roots, with a smaller emphasis on regional healthcare capital needs. Most funding goes to capital campaigns and program-building at the University of Nebraska (including the Carson Center and performing arts facilities), plus equipment-level support for a regional health system’s cancer treatment capacity.
Johnny Carson Foundation’s recent giving is defined by large, targeted support for the University of Nebraska system, especially the Carson Center for Emerging Media Arts and Lied Center projects. A 2024 grant of $5,020,000 bundled support for the Carson Center’s emerging media arts, renovation, travel, and the Lied Center building fund, and the pattern continued in 2025 with $4,500,000 to the University of Nebraska Foundation for the Carson Center and Lied Center building fund. The foundation also backs arts and media infrastructure beyond campus. It gave $250,000 in both 2024 and 2025 to the National Comedy Center for the Johnny Carson Exhibit, tying one of its named grants directly to Carson’s legacy. Alongside higher-education and cultural capital work, the foundation makes substantial gifts for regional health capacity, including radiotherapy equipment, and uses unrestricted support in some community-serving awards. Its recent grants show a mix of capital campaigns, equipment purchases, and program support rather than broad, open-ended grantmaking.
Higher education and performing arts infrastructure sit at the center of the foundation’s funding. In 2024, it gave $5,020,000 to the University of Nebraska Foundation for the Carson Center for Emerging Media Arts, Carson Center renovation, Carson Center travel, and the Lied Center building fund. The next year, it awarded $4,500,000 to the same intermediary for the Carson Center for Emerging Media Arts and the Lied Center building fund. The foundation also supports cultural programming tied to Carson’s name, including $250,000 in 2025 to the National Comedy Center for the Johnny Carson Exhibit. On the health side, it funded $1,100,000 in 2024 to Faith Regional Health Services Foundation for a Varian TrueBeam radiotherapy system and vault plus an ion machine, and it gave $195,000 to UCLA Foundation for a nasal mucosa sampling biomarker project, neurology and movement disorder program, and dental special patient care program.
Typical award sizes cluster in the five-figure range: the p25 is $10,000, the median is $15,500, and the p75 is $35,000. The recent grant list also shows a smaller number of much larger commitments, including multi-hundred-thousand-dollar and multi-million-dollar grants. Recipients appear across multiple years, including the University of Nebraska Foundation, Faith Regional Health Services Foundation, La Regional Food Bank, Westside Food Bank, Homeboy Industries, Alliance for College Ready Public Schools, and the National Comedy Center. The foundation is a regular funder rather than a donor-advised fund vehicle, and it also funds individuals. Grants in the recent list include unrestricted support, capital, equipment, scholarships, and program-specific funding.
$42M
$120.5M
$13.1M
$16.3M
Most grants fall between $10K and $35K, with a median of $16K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$16K
75th Percentile
$35K
About 83% of grants go to recipients in CA.
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Highly concentrated giving: very few, large grants dominated by repeat multimillion-dollar commitments to the University of Nebraska and occasional targeted capital/equipment gifts to regional healthcare. Emphasis on capital campaigns and facility/equipment funding rather than many small operating grants.
Notable grantees: University of Nebraska Foundation (Carson Center / Lied Center gifts), Faith Regional Health Services Foundation (radiotherapy equipment)
Grantmaking is heavily concentrated in California, which accounts for 83% of grants in the HQ state, while the overall scope is local. Los Angeles appears repeatedly, with grants to La Regional Food Bank, Homeboy Industries, Alliance for College Ready Public Schools, and UCLA Foundation. Santa Monica, Santa Ana, and Encino also show up among California recipients. Outside California, Lincoln and Omaha in Nebraska receive major support through the University of Nebraska system, and Norfolk appears through Faith Regional Health Services Foundation, North Fork Area Transit, and Norfolk Senior Citizens Center. The only non-US recipient country in the data is the United States, with 742 grants.
The recent grants point to higher education, performing arts, health care, food access, and community support. University of Nebraska entities, cultural institutions such as the National Comedy Center, health organizations like Faith Regional Health Services Foundation and UCLA Foundation, and Los Angeles-area nonprofits all appear in the recent list.
The typical award sits in the five-figure range. The p25 is $10,000, the median is $15,500, and the p75 is $35,000, though the recent list also includes much larger commitments in the hundreds of thousands and millions.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including the University of Nebraska Foundation, Faith Regional Health Services Foundation, La Regional Food Bank, Westside Food Bank, Homeboy Industries, Alliance for College Ready Public Schools, and the National Comedy Center.
California is the top state by grant count, and 83% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Recent California recipients include Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Santa Ana, and Encino organizations, while Nebraska institutions also receive large awards.
The list includes capital campaign support, equipment purchases, unrestricted support, scholarships, and program-specific funding. Examples in the data include capital and building funds for university and health projects, scholarship support for students, and unrestricted support for community organizations.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA FOUNDATION | LINCOLN, NE | $4,500,000 | 2025 | CARSON CENTER FOR EMERGING MEDIA ARTS - $2,000,000LIED CENTER BUILDING FUND-$2,500,000 |
| FAITH REGIONAL HEALTH SERVICES FOUNDATION | NORFOLK, NE | $500,000 | 2025 | VARIAN TRUBEAM RADIOTHERAPY SYSTEM & VAULT |
| LA REGIONAL FOOD BANK | LOS ANGELES, CA | $405,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT |
| WESTSIDE FOOD BANK | SANTA MONICA, CA | $305,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT |
| HOMEBOY INDUSTRIES | LOS ANGELES, CA | $285,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT |
| NATIONAL COMEDY CENTER | JAMESTOWN, NY | $250,000 | 2025 | JOHNNY CARSON EXHIBIT |
| UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA | LINCOLN, NE | $220,000 | 2025 | LAPTOPS FOR CARSON CENTER FOR EMERGING MEDIA ARTS |
| ALLIANCE FOR COLLEGE READY PUBLIC SCHOOLS | LOS ANGELES, CA | $205,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS - $135,000BLACK, PROUD AND COLLEGE BOUND INITIATIVE - $50,000UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT-$20,000 |
| NEBRASKA CULTURAL ENDOWMENT | OMAHA, NE | $200,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT |
| TEACH FOR AMERICA | LOS ANGELES, CA | $155,000 | 2025 | LOS ANGELES AREA PROGRAMS UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT |
| PAT TILLMAN FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $150,000 | 2025 | TILLMAN SCHOLARS PROGRAM |
| NATIONAL JEWISH HEALTH | DENVER, CO | $130,000 | 2025 | COPD RESEARCH - $100,000UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT - $30,000 |
| MOTION PICTURE & TELEVISION FUND | WOODLAND HILLS, CA | $127,500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD LA | LOS ANGELES, CA | $125,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT |
| HEART OF LOS ANGELES | LOS ANGELES, CA | $110,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT |
| LAUSD EDUCATION FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $110,000 | 2025 | BEYOND THE BELL PROGRAM - $10,000TAKE ACTION LEADERSHIP CAMPAIGN-$100,000 |
| SAG-AFTRA FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $105,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT |
| MARTIN LUTHER KING JR COMMUNITY HEALTH FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $105,000 | 2025 | THE MLK COMMUNITY MEDICAL GROUP PROJECT - $100,000UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT - $5,000 |
| CHRYSALIS FOUNDATION | SANTA MONICA, CA | $105,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT |
| UC REGENTS | LOS ANGELES, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | COPD FELLOWSHIP |
| A THOUSAND JOYS | LOS ANGELES, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT |
| SABAN COMMUNITY CLINIC | LOS ANGELES, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | DENTAL CLINIC - $25,000UNRESTRICTED - $75,000 |
| CAL STATE FULLERTON | FULLERTON, CA | $80,000 | 2025 | JAZZ PROGRAM - SCHOLARSHIPS - $60,000JAZZ PROGRAM - TRAVEL - $20,000 |
| PROJECT ANGEL FOOD | LOS ANGELES, CA | $75,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT |
| NORFOLK SENIOR CITIZENS CENTER | NORFOLK, NE | $75,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT |
| ONE VOICE | SANTA MONICA, CA | $73,750 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT |
| GHETTO FILM SCHOOL INC | LOS ANGELES, CA | $70,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT |
| SALK INSTITUTE | LA JOLLA, CA | $65,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT |
| CSULB | LONG BEACH, CA | $65,000 | 2025 | KKJZ |
| UCLA FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $60,000 | 2025 | DENTAL SPECIAL PATIENT CARE PROGRAM - $25,000UCLA NEUROLOGY AND MOVEMENT DISORDER - $30,000THE SEMEL INSTITUTE - $5,000 |
| ELKHORN VALLEY MUSEUM | NORFOLK, NE | $56,700 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT |
| UPLIFT FAMILY SERVICES AT HOLLYGROVE | LOS ANGELES, CA | $55,000 | 2025 | HOLLYGROVE |
| THE UNUSUAL SUSPECTS THEATER COMPANY | LOS ANGELES, CA | $55,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT |
| CHILDREN'S INSTITUTE INC | LOS ANGELES, CA | $55,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT |
| HEAL THE BAY | SANTA MONICA, CA | $55,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD NORTH CENTRAL STATES | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $50,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT |
| COLLEGE TRACK | LOS ANGELES, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | LOS ANGELES AREA UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT |
| HOPE THE MISSION | MISSION HILLS, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | MOTEL PROJECT - $25,000UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT - $25,000 |
| VISION TO LEARN | LOS ANGELES, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | LOS ANGELES AREA OPERATIONS UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT |
| DIRECT RELIEF | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | HAWAII WILDFIRE VICTIMS - $10,000MOROCCO EARTHQUAKE RELIEF - $10,000LIBYA FLOOD RELIEF - $10,000UKRAINE RELIEF - $10,000SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FLOOD VICTIMS - $10,000 |
| UNIVERSAL COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER | LOS ANGELES, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT |
| NORFOLK AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FUND | NORFOLK, NE | $50,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT |
| NORTHEAST COMMUNITY COLLEGE | NORFOLK, NE | $50,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| GREATER LOS ANGELES ZOO ASSOCIATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT |
| AUTISM SPEAKS | LOS ANGELES, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | SUMMER CAMPS |
| ACADEMY OF TV ARTS & SCIENCES | LOS ANGELES, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT |
| CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL LA | LOS ANGELES, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM - $10,000GOFARR FUND - $15,000UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT - $25,000 |
| JEWISH BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF LOS ANGELES | LOS ANGELES, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | CAMP BOB WALDORF |
| COMEDY GIVES BACK | VENICE, CA | $45,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT |
| FACING HISTORY AND OURSELVES | LOS ANGELES, CA | $45,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT |
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA FOUNDATION
$4,500,000CARSON CENTER FOR EMERGING MEDIA ARTS - $2,000,000LIED CENTER BUILDING FUND-$2,500,000
FAITH REGIONAL HEALTH SERVICES FOUNDATION
$500,000VARIAN TRUBEAM RADIOTHERAPY SYSTEM & VAULT
LA REGIONAL FOOD BANK
$405,000UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT
WESTSIDE FOOD BANK
$305,000UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT
HOMEBOY INDUSTRIES
$285,000UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT
NATIONAL COMEDY CENTER
$250,000JOHNNY CARSON EXHIBIT
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA
$220,000LAPTOPS FOR CARSON CENTER FOR EMERGING MEDIA ARTS
ALLIANCE FOR COLLEGE READY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
$205,000SCHOLARSHIPS - $135,000BLACK, PROUD AND COLLEGE BOUND INITIATIVE - $50,000UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT-$20,000
NEBRASKA CULTURAL ENDOWMENT
$200,000UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT
TEACH FOR AMERICA
$155,000LOS ANGELES AREA PROGRAMS UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT
PAT TILLMAN FOUNDATION
$150,000TILLMAN SCHOLARS PROGRAM
NATIONAL JEWISH HEALTH
$130,000COPD RESEARCH - $100,000UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT - $30,000
MOTION PICTURE & TELEVISION FUND
$127,500UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT
PLANNED PARENTHOOD LA
$125,000UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT
HEART OF LOS ANGELES
$110,000UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT
LAUSD EDUCATION FOUNDATION
$110,000BEYOND THE BELL PROGRAM - $10,000TAKE ACTION LEADERSHIP CAMPAIGN-$100,000
SAG-AFTRA FOUNDATION
$105,000UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR COMMUNITY HEALTH FOUNDATION
$105,000THE MLK COMMUNITY MEDICAL GROUP PROJECT - $100,000UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT - $5,000
CHRYSALIS FOUNDATION
$105,000UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT
UC REGENTS
$100,000COPD FELLOWSHIP
A THOUSAND JOYS
$100,000UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT
SABAN COMMUNITY CLINIC
$100,000DENTAL CLINIC - $25,000UNRESTRICTED - $75,000
CAL STATE FULLERTON
$80,000JAZZ PROGRAM - SCHOLARSHIPS - $60,000JAZZ PROGRAM - TRAVEL - $20,000
PROJECT ANGEL FOOD
$75,000UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT
NORFOLK SENIOR CITIZENS CENTER
$75,000UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT
ONE VOICE
$73,750UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT
GHETTO FILM SCHOOL INC
$70,000UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT
SALK INSTITUTE
$65,000UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT
CSULB
$65,000KKJZ
UCLA FOUNDATION
$60,000DENTAL SPECIAL PATIENT CARE PROGRAM - $25,000UCLA NEUROLOGY AND MOVEMENT DISORDER - $30,000THE SEMEL INSTITUTE - $5,000
ELKHORN VALLEY MUSEUM
$56,700UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT
UPLIFT FAMILY SERVICES AT HOLLYGROVE
$55,000HOLLYGROVE
THE UNUSUAL SUSPECTS THEATER COMPANY
$55,000UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT
CHILDREN'S INSTITUTE INC
$55,000UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT
HEAL THE BAY
$55,000UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT
PLANNED PARENTHOOD NORTH CENTRAL STATES
$50,000UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT
COLLEGE TRACK
$50,000LOS ANGELES AREA UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT
HOPE THE MISSION
$50,000MOTEL PROJECT - $25,000UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT - $25,000
VISION TO LEARN
$50,000LOS ANGELES AREA OPERATIONS UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT
DIRECT RELIEF
$50,000HAWAII WILDFIRE VICTIMS - $10,000MOROCCO EARTHQUAKE RELIEF - $10,000LIBYA FLOOD RELIEF - $10,000UKRAINE RELIEF - $10,000SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FLOOD VICTIMS - $10,000
UNIVERSAL COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER
$50,000UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT
NORFOLK AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FUND
$50,000UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT
NORTHEAST COMMUNITY COLLEGE
$50,000SCHOLARSHIPS
GREATER LOS ANGELES ZOO ASSOCIATION
$50,000UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT
AUTISM SPEAKS
$50,000SUMMER CAMPS
ACADEMY OF TV ARTS & SCIENCES
$50,000UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL LA
$50,000MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM - $10,000GOFARR FUND - $15,000UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT - $25,000
JEWISH BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF LOS ANGELES
$50,000CAMP BOB WALDORF
COMEDY GIVES BACK
$45,000UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT
FACING HISTORY AND OURSELVES
$45,000UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT