The Karlgaard Family Foundation concentrates its giving on higher education and health workforce development, primarily funding scholarships, faculty support, and general university needs. Grants are targeted and sizable, often directed to the same institutions repeatedly, with a clear interest in nursing scholarships and endowed academic positions. Recipients include both regional healthcare/academic partners and established universities where the foundation underwrites student aid and teaching excellence.
A defining feature of the Karlgaard Family Foundation is its repeated, multi-year support for scholarship and professorship programs at a small set of universities and health-focused institutions. The largest recent grant in the file went to the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire Foundation for scholarships, teaching awards, and general use, followed by recurring support for George Washington University and Inova Health Foundation. Those patterns show a funder that favors sizable, targeted awards rather than broad, one-off giving. Across the recent grants list, the foundation backs higher education, nursing pipeline programs, veterinary training, and selected medical research. It also extends beyond campuses into community needs through grants for a new community center, a library-led capital project, a therapeutic horseback riding center, and program support for youth organizations. The grant record includes both institutional gifts and some smaller restricted awards, suggesting a mix of major higher-ed commitments and narrower local or memorial-designated grants. Several recipients appear more than once, including the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire Foundation, George Washington University, Inova Health Foundation, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, and Virginia Tech Foundation. That repeat giving points to ongoing relationships rather than isolated transactions.
Higher education is the clearest throughline. The foundation gave $1,365,000 to the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire Foundation in 2025, with the purpose listed as scholarships, teaching awards, and general use, and it also supported George Washington University with $340,000 in 2025 for scholarships and professorship. Health workforce development shows up through nursing support. Inova Health Foundation received $250,000 in 2025 for nursing scholarships, matching the same purpose and amount in 2024 and 2023. The foundation also funds specialized academic training. Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine received $20,000 in 2025 for a veterinary scholarship, with additional veterinary scholarship grants in 2024 and 2023. Beyond campuses, it has made smaller grants for community and youth-related purposes, including $20,000 to McIntosh Memorial Library for a new community center and $5,000 to Educate Fairfax for the innovators fund and kids in need.
$2.4M
$33.8M
$6.3M
$2.8M
Most grants fall between $2K and $96K, with a median of $18K.
25th Percentile
$2K
Median
$18K
75th Percentile
$96K
About 24% of grants go to recipients in WI.
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Highly concentrated: a small number of large grants spread across 3 main recipients, with repeated multi-year or multi-grant support to the same institutions rather than many one-off gifts.
Notable grantees: University of Wisconsin Eau Claire Foundation, George Washington University, INOVA Health Foundation
Typical grant size is centered well below the largest awards, with a p25 of $2,026, a median of $17,500, and a p75 of $96,250. The recent record includes both six-figure institutional grants and smaller restricted gifts, which suggests a bimodal pattern of funding. The same recipients appear across multiple years, especially on university and health-workforce grants. That repeated pattern is visible in awards to the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire Foundation, George Washington University, Inova Health Foundation, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, and Virginia Tech Foundation. The foundation is structured as a family foundation and the data show it funds individuals. No application process is described in the provided record.
Giving is national, and every grant in the recent file goes to a U.S. recipient. The highest concentration of recipient grants is in DC, with Falls Church, Eau Claire, and Viroqua also appearing multiple times. Other recipient cities include Blacksburg, San Francisco, Ithaca, and Clifton. The foundation’s HQ is in Great Falls, VA, but 24% of grants go to recipients in Virginia, showing that its giving extends beyond its headquarters state.
The clearest patterns are higher education and health workforce development. Recent grants include scholarships, teaching awards, professorship support, and nursing scholarships, along with some veterinary scholarship funding and general university support.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire Foundation, George Washington University, Inova Health Foundation, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, and Virginia Tech Foundation.
The grant-size distribution is centered around smaller awards than the largest gifts: p25 is $2,026, median grant size is $17,500, and p75 is $96,250. Recent awards range from about $1,035 to $1,365,000.
The top recipient state by grant count is DC. Virginia accounts for 24% of grants to recipients, and the recent recipient list also includes Wisconsin, California, and New York.
Yes. The foundation is marked as funding individuals, and its recent grants include scholarship support that is directed to students through universities and scholarship foundations.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN EAU CLAIRE FOUNDATION | EAU CLAIRE, WI | $1,455,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS, TEACHING AWARDS, GENERAL USE |
| GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY | WASHINGTON, DC | $340,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS, PROFESSORSHIP |
| INOVA HEALTH FOUNDATION | FALLS CHURCH, VA | $250,000 | 2026 | NURSING SCHOLARSHIPS |
| VIROQUA AREA FOUNDATION | VIROQUA, WI | $120,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS FOR VIROQUA STUDENTS |
| VIRGINIA TECH FOUNDATION | BLACKSBURG, VA | $35,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS IN HONOR OF FRED LUTZE |
| RICE LAKE AREA SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION | RICE LAKE, WI | $30,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS FOR RICE LAKE STUDENTS |
| EDUCATE FAIRFAX | FALLS CHURCH, VA | $30,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIP TO FAIRFAX STUDENTS |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | ARTIFICIAL KIDNEY RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN BARRON COUNTY CAMPUS | EAU CLAIRE, WI | $25,000 | 2026 | TOM RITZINGER SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| CARNEGIE SCIENCE | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2026 | OBSERVATORIES IN HONOR OF AL NASHMAN |
| CORNELL UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE | BOONE, IA | $20,000 | 2026 | VETERINARY SCHOLARSHIP |
| MCINTOSH MEMORIAL LIBRARY | VIROQUA, WI | $20,000 | 2026 | NEW COMMUNITY CENTER |
| GIRL SCOUTS NATIONS CAPITAL | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2026 | SHARE PROGRAM |
| CLOVERLEAF EQUINE CENTER | CLIFTON, VA | $1,030 | 2026 | THERAPEUTIC HORSEBACK RIDING |
| PARKINSON FOUNDATION | OLNEY, MD | $1,000 | 2026 | HONOR OF DENNIS MOREY |
| SPARTA HIGH SCHOOL | SPARTA, WI | $385 | 2026 | ROBOTICS PROGRAM/ MARCHING BAND |
| CINCO RANCH HIGH SCHOOL | KATY, TX | $107 | 2026 | TRACK AND CROSS COUNTRY TEAM |
| UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN EAU CLAIRE FOUNDATION | EAU CLAIRE, WI | $1,365,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS, TEACHING AWARDS, GENERAL USE |
| GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY | WASHINGTON, DC | $340,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS, PROFESSORSHIP |
| INOVA HEALTH FOUNDATION | FALLS CHURCH, VA | $250,000 | 2025 | NURSING SCHOLARSHIPS |
| VIROQUA AREA FOUNDATION | VIROQUA, WI | $120,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS FOR VIROQUA STUDENTS |
| CARNEGIE SCIENCE | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2025 | OBSERVATORIES IN HONOR OF AL NASHMAN |
| VIRGINIA TECH FOUNDATION | BLACKSBURG, VA | $25,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS IN HONOR OF FRED LUTZE |
| UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN BARRON COUNTY CAMPUS | EAU CLAIRE, WI | $25,000 | 2025 | TOM RITZINGER SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | ARTIFICIAL KIDNEY RESEARCH |
| CORNELL UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE | BOONE, IA | $20,000 | 2025 | VETERINARY SCHOLARSHIP |
| MCINTOSH MEMORIAL LIBRARY | VIROQUA, WI | $20,000 | 2025 | NEW COMMUNITY CENTER |
| RICE LAKE AREA SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION | RICE LAKE, WI | $15,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS FOR RICE LAKE STUDENTS |
| EDUCATE FAIRFAX | FALLS CHURCH, VA | $15,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP TO FAIRFAX STUDENTS |
| GIRL SCOUTS NATIONS CAPITAL | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | SHARE PROGRAM |
| CLOVERLEAF EQUINE CENTER | CLIFTON, VA | $1,035 | 2025 | THERAPEUTIC HORSEBACK RIDING |
| BETHEL BUTIK | WESTBY, WI | $500 | 2025 | FOOD PANTRY IN HONOR OF GERI TUNKS |
| CINCO RANCH HIGH SCHOOL | KATY, TX | $214 | 2025 | TRACK AND CROSS COUNTRY TEAM |
| SPARTA HIGH SCHOOL | SPARTA, WI | $104 | 2025 | ROBOTICS PROGRAM |
| UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN EAU CLAIRE FOUNDATION | EAU CLAIRE, WI | $1,175,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS, TEACHING AWARDS, GENERAL USE |
| GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY | WASHINGTON, DC | $340,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS, PROFESSORSHIP |
| INOVA HEALTH FOUNDATION | FALLS CHURCH, VA | $250,000 | 2024 | NURSING SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $25,000 | 2024 | ARTIFICIAL KIDNEY RESEARCH |
| MCINTOSH MEMORIAL LIBRARY | VIROQUA, WI | $20,000 | 2024 | NEW COMMUNITY CENTER |
| CORNELL UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE | ITHACA, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | VETERINARY SCHOLARSHIP |
| VIRGINIA TECH FOUNDATION | BLACKSBURG, VA | $6,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| GIRL SCOUTS | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2024 | SHARE PROGRAM |
| EDUCATE FAIRFAX | FALLS CHURCH, VA | $5,000 | 2024 | INNOVATORS FUND AND KIDS IN NEED |
| CLOVERLEAF EQUINE CENTER | CLIFTON, VA | $1,030 | 2024 | THERAPEUDIC HORSEBACK RIDING |
| CHRISTIAN APPALACHIAN PROJECT | PAINTSVILLE, KY | $1,000 | 2024 | FEED HUNGRY CHILDREN IN APPALACHIA |
| VIROQUA AREA FOUNDATION | VIROQUA, WI | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL USE, MEMORIAL FOR ROLAND HILL |
| ADRENALINE FUND CINCO RANCH HIGH SCHOOL | KATY, TX | $214 | 2024 | TRACK AND CROSS COUNTRY TEAM |
| UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN EAU CLAIRE FOUNDATION | EAU CLAIRE, WI | $1,075,000 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIPS, TEACHING AWARDS, GENERAL USE |
| GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY | WASHINGTON, DC | $320,000 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIPS, PROFESSORSHIP |
| INOVA HEALTH FOUNDATION | FALLS CHURCH, VA | $250,000 | 2023 | NURSING SCHOLARSHIPS |
SCHOLARSHIPS, TEACHING AWARDS, GENERAL USE
GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
$340,000SCHOLARSHIPS, PROFESSORSHIP
VIROQUA AREA FOUNDATION
$120,000SCHOLARSHIPS FOR VIROQUA STUDENTS
RICE LAKE AREA SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION
SCHOLARSHIPS FOR RICE LAKE STUDENTS
EDUCATE FAIRFAX
$30,000SCHOLARSHIP TO FAIRFAX STUDENTS
ARTIFICIAL KIDNEY RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN BARRON COUNTY CAMPUS
$25,000TOM RITZINGER SCHOLARSHIP FUND
CARNEGIE SCIENCE
$25,000OBSERVATORIES IN HONOR OF AL NASHMAN
CORNELL UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
$20,000VETERINARY SCHOLARSHIP
MCINTOSH MEMORIAL LIBRARY
$20,000NEW COMMUNITY CENTER
GIRL SCOUTS NATIONS CAPITAL
$10,000SHARE PROGRAM
PARKINSON FOUNDATION
$1,000HONOR OF DENNIS MOREY
SPARTA HIGH SCHOOL
$385ROBOTICS PROGRAM/ MARCHING BAND
CINCO RANCH HIGH SCHOOL
$107TRACK AND CROSS COUNTRY TEAM
SCHOLARSHIPS, TEACHING AWARDS, GENERAL USE
GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
$340,000SCHOLARSHIPS, PROFESSORSHIP
INOVA HEALTH FOUNDATION
$250,000NURSING SCHOLARSHIPS
VIROQUA AREA FOUNDATION
$120,000SCHOLARSHIPS FOR VIROQUA STUDENTS
CARNEGIE SCIENCE
$25,000OBSERVATORIES IN HONOR OF AL NASHMAN
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN BARRON COUNTY CAMPUS
$25,000TOM RITZINGER SCHOLARSHIP FUND
ARTIFICIAL KIDNEY RESEARCH
CORNELL UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
$20,000VETERINARY SCHOLARSHIP
MCINTOSH MEMORIAL LIBRARY
$20,000NEW COMMUNITY CENTER
RICE LAKE AREA SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION
$15,000SCHOLARSHIPS FOR RICE LAKE STUDENTS
EDUCATE FAIRFAX
$15,000SCHOLARSHIP TO FAIRFAX STUDENTS
GIRL SCOUTS NATIONS CAPITAL
$10,000SHARE PROGRAM
BETHEL BUTIK
$500FOOD PANTRY IN HONOR OF GERI TUNKS
CINCO RANCH HIGH SCHOOL
$214TRACK AND CROSS COUNTRY TEAM
SPARTA HIGH SCHOOL
$104ROBOTICS PROGRAM
SCHOLARSHIPS, TEACHING AWARDS, GENERAL USE
GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
$340,000SCHOLARSHIPS, PROFESSORSHIP
INOVA HEALTH FOUNDATION
$250,000NURSING SCHOLARSHIPS
ARTIFICIAL KIDNEY RESEARCH
MCINTOSH MEMORIAL LIBRARY
$20,000NEW COMMUNITY CENTER
CORNELL UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
$10,000VETERINARY SCHOLARSHIP
GIRL SCOUTS
$5,000SHARE PROGRAM
EDUCATE FAIRFAX
$5,000INNOVATORS FUND AND KIDS IN NEED
VIROQUA AREA FOUNDATION
$1,000GENERAL USE, MEMORIAL FOR ROLAND HILL
ADRENALINE FUND CINCO RANCH HIGH SCHOOL
$214TRACK AND CROSS COUNTRY TEAM
SCHOLARSHIPS, TEACHING AWARDS, GENERAL USE
GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
$320,000SCHOLARSHIPS, PROFESSORSHIP