Our Little Light Foundation
EIN 461544429Total Given 2017–2025
$3.3M
80 grants · $366K avg/year
based on 9 yrs of IRS 990-PF records on file
$100K+/yr
local funder
capacity
$25K
typical mid grants · $20K–$50K
grant size
28%
balanced · 17/60 multi-year
repeat
$13.2M
Assets (2025)
60
Distinct Recipients
Focus Areas
Application Information
Accepts Unsolicited Proposals
Unknown
Contact Person
Kathryn W Carlsen
Phone
(916) 295-1633
Deadlines
November 1st
How to Apply
GRANT APPLICATION FORM (PROVIDED BY OUR LITTLE LIGHT FOUNDATION) INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING REQUESTED INFORMATION:GRANT AMOUNT REQUESTED, INCLUDING THE PERCENTAGE OF FUNDS USED FOR SERVICES AND/OR SUPPORT.NAME, ADDRESS, TAX ID#, CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE ORGANIZATION REQUESTING THE GRANT.NARRATIVE DESCRIBING HOW THE GRANT WILL BE USED TO HELP THE HEALTH,WELL-BEING, EDUCATION OF CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES, INCLUDING HOW MANY YOUTH/CHILDREN/FAMILIES WILL BE SERVED.
Restrictions
SUPPORT IS PROVIDED STRICTLY FOR REGISTERED IRS QUAL. NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. FUNDS ARE INTENDED TO BENEFIT PROGRAMS THAT HELP PROMOTE THE HEALTH, WELL-BEING, EDUCATION OF CHILDREN, YOUTH, FAMILIES. A MINIMUM OF 90% OF THE FUNDS MUST BE ALLOC TOWARDS DIRECT SERVES WITH AT MOST 10% USED TOWARD ADMIN COSTS. THE BENEFICIARY MISSION MUST MEET THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE FOUNDATIONS FOCUS TO PROMOTE THE HEALTH, WELL-BEING, EDUCATION OF CHILDREN, YOUTH, FAMILIES. SUPPORT IS PRIMARILY FOR EXISTING AND SUSTAINABLE PROGRAMS. NEW PROGRAMS AND PROGRAMS THAT ARE NOT YET ABLE TO REPORT MEASURABLE RESULTS MAY BE CONSIDERED ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS. BENEFICIARIES MUST HAVE A PROCEDURE IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT THE CLIENTS THEY SERVE MEET CERTAIN CRITERIA. BENEFICIARIES ARE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT AN OPERATING BUDGET ALONG WITH A PROPOSAL INDICATING HOW/WHEN FUNDING WILL BE SPENT IN ORDER FOR FUNDS TO BE DISTRIBUTED AND MUST AGREE TO SUBMIT PERIODIC RECAPS. VARIANCE FROM PROPOSED USE OF FUNDS MUST HAVE PREAPPRO
Financial Trends
Giving Over Time
Total Assets Over Time
View financial data as table
| Year | Total Giving | Total Assets | Revenue | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | $372K | $10.1M | $242K | 10 |
| 2018 | $560K | $11.2M | $1.3M | 13 |
| 2020 | $490K | $11.0M | $22K | 14 |
| 2021 | $668K | $13.1M | $707K | 14 |
| 2023 | $575K | $11.2M | $403K | 11 |
| 2025 | $631K | $13.2M | $799K | 18 |
Grant Size Distribution
Based on 80 grants on record
Minimum
$5K
25th Pctl
$20K
Median
$25K
Average
$41K
75th Pctl
$50K
Maximum
$230K
Geographic Distribution
Officers & Directors
KC
Kathryn W Carlsen
6+ yrs
President
Leadership
DC
Dale R Carlsen
6+ yrs
Cfo
BC
Beth M Carlsen
6+ yrs
Secretary
Leadership
KC
Kathryn W Carlsen
6+ yrs
President
Leadership
DC
Dale R Carlsen
6+ yrs
Cfo
BC
Beth M Carlsen
6+ yrs
Secretary
Leadership
KC
Kathryn W Carlsen
6+ yrs
President
Leadership
DC
Dale R Carlsen
6+ yrs
Cfo
BC
Beth M Carlsen
6+ yrs
Secretary
Leadership
KC
Kathryn W Carlsen
6+ yrs
President
Leadership
DC
Dale R Carlsen
6+ yrs
Cfo
BC
Beth M Carlsen
6+ yrs
Secretary
Leadership
KC
Kathryn W Carlsen
6+ yrs
President
Leadership
DC
Dale R Carlsen
6+ yrs
Cfo
BC
Beth M Carlsen
6+ yrs
Secretary
Leadership
KC
Kathryn W Carlsen
6+ yrs
President & Director
Leadership
DC
Dale R Carlsen
6+ yrs
Cfo & Director
BC
Beth M Carlsen
6+ yrs
Secretary & Director
Leadership
Grants Awarded (80 total)
| Purpose | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UC Davis Foundation | Sacramento, CA | $230,000 | Funding for CIRCLE clinic. | 2023 |
| UC Davis Foundation | Davis, CA | $160,000 | Funding for foster care resilience support. | 2021 |
| Meristem Inc | Fair Oaks, CA | $120,000 | Funding for residential and day programs for autistic young adults. | 2018 |
| California CASA | San Diego, CA | $100,000 | Funding for court appointed special advocacy support. | 2021 |
| Volunteers of America | Sacramento, CA | $100,000 | Support of mothers and children suffering from homelessness. | 2021 |
| Los Angeles CASA | Monterey Park, CA | $100,000 | Funding for court appointed special advocacy and juvenile justice support. | 2021 |
| Young Center Immigrant Children's R | Chicago, IL | $100,000 | Guardian Scholars Program to support students who have experienced foster care | 2025 |
| Yolo Crisis Nursery Inc | Davis, CA | $100,000 | Funding to support crisis overnight and respite care, wraparound services and specialized infant day care and preschool. | 2025 |
| The University Foundation at CSUS | Sacramento, CA | $100,000 | Guardian Scholars ($50K Scholarships, $50K Programs) | 2025 |
| Generation Me | Sacramento, CA | $100,000 | TO ASSIST WITH FLYING MONKEY PRODUCTIONS, A THEATRE COMPANY RUN BY STUDENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS. | 2017 |
| Yolo Crisis Nursery Inc | Davis, CA | $100,000 | Funding to support crisis overnight and respite care, wraparound services and specialized infant day care and preschool. | 2023 |
| Los Angeles CASA | Monterey Park, CA | $90,000 | TRAIN COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS WHO ADVOCATE FOR ABUSED CHILDREN | 2020 |
| California CASA | Oakland, CA | $80,000 | Funding for foster youth programs. | 2018 |
| Center for Youth Wellness | San Francisco, CA | $75,000 | HELP REDUCE FEQUENCY OF ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES | 2020 |
| Los Angeles CASA Program | Monterey Park, CA | $60,000 | Funding for foster youth programs. | 2018 |
| Pride Industries | Roseville, CA | $55,000 | PREPARE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES FOR EMPLOYMENT; COVID-19 GRANT | 2020 |
| Koinonia Family Services | Loomis, CA | $55,000 | Funding for Peer Mentorship Program to develop, support and retain valuable workforce to continue quality programs. | 2023 |
| Elca | Granite Bay, CA | $51,000 | TO ASSIST WITH FAITH BASED PROGRAMS FOR TEENS | 2017 |
| Ticket to Dream | Roseville, CA | $50,000 | COVID-19 GRANT | 2020 |
| California CASA | San Diego, CA | $50,000 | Support the expansion of outreach programs to reach a broader audience of child care providers and communities. | 2025 |
| Growth Factory | Rocklin, CA | $50,000 | Student Founder Program | 2025 |
| Cottage Housing Inc | Sacramento, CA | $50,000 | TO ASSIST WITH PROGRAMS FOCUSING ON TRANSITION FROM HOMELESSNESS TO SELF-SUSTAINABILITY. | 2017 |
| Ticket to Dream Foundation | Roseville, CA | $50,000 | Funding for foster youth programs. | 2018 |
| Volunteers of America | Sacramento, CA | $50,000 | Funding to support transitional housing program and foster youth support in the Bay Area. | 2018 |
| The Children's Partnership | Santa Monica, CA | $50,000 | Funding for public charity childrens programs. | 2018 |