Betsy Gordon Foundation

PHOENIX, AZ EIN: 11-3634807

The Betsy Gordon Foundation is a private foundation based in Phoenix, Arizona. Established in 2001, it operates as a family foundation with a focus on education and spiritual enrichment.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$52K

-11.5% YoY

Annual Giving

$298K

+88.3% YoY

Grant Count

25

+56.3% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$12K

+20.5% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Betsy Gordon Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation's giving priorities include:

  • Education
  • Spiritual enrichment
  • Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking
  • Human services
  • Jewish nonprofits
  • Native American organizations
  • Life skills, training, and rehabilitation
  • Higher education

Grantmaking

The foundation primarily funds general operations of grantees.

Grant Range

$200–$119,680

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on California, Pennsylvania, and New York.

Grant Distribution by State

16states
+8 more states

Cities

AlbanyBerkeleyBerkleyBethlehemCambridgeChandlerChicagoEastpointeEscalonFairfaxFlagstaffFremontGreenbraeHighland ParkHonokaaIndianapolisKykotsmovi VillageLafayetteLehiLittle Rock

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of October 2024:

  • Total assets: $52,108
  • Total revenues: $301,251
  • Total expenses: $308,022
  • Grants and contributions received: $136,456
  • Investment income and dividends: $2,414
  • Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $162,381

Staffing:

  • 0 employees
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$166K$332K$497K$663K20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$52,108$58,879$25,783
Revenue$301,251$198,479$585,435
Expenses$308,022$165,383$602,728
Qualifying Distributions$305,113$165,383$602,728
Net Investment Income$162,381$89,052
Distributable Amount$1,885$1,604$3,388

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$148K$297K$445K$593K36 grants202023 grants202126 grants202216 grants202325 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF …$87KGRIP-TRAINING INSTITUTE$60KTIBETAN ASSOCIATION OF N…$60KLIMINA FOUNDATION$25KBECKLEY FOUNDATION$20KBREAST CANCER PREVENTION…$10KCHAPTER 510 INK$10KDARAJA ACADEMY$9KNARADA MICHAEL WALDEN FO…$4KMARIN HEALTH FOUNDATION$2K

Grant Size Distribution

126 grants across all recorded years

106<$50K16$50–100K4$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include California Institute of Integral Studies ($86,602), Grip-training Institute ($60,000), Tibetan Association of No California ($60,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
BARACK OBAMA FOUNDATION CHICAGO, ILGENERAL OPERATIONS$500
BECKLEY FOUNDATION WOODRIDGE, ILGENERAL OPERATIONS$20,025
BERKELEY ATLANTIS FOUNDATION BERKELEY, CAGENERAL OPERATIONS$1,000
BREAST CANCER PREVENTION PARTNERS SAN FRANCISCO, CAGENERAL OPERATIONS$10,000
CANAL ALLIANCE SAN RAFAEL, CAGENERAL OPERATIONS$1,000
CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF INTEGRAL STUDIES SAN FRANCISCO, CAGENERAL OPERATIONS$86,602
CHAPTER 510 INK OAKLAND, CAGENERAL OPERATIONS$10,000
DARAJA ACADEMY SAN RAFAEL, CAGENERAL OPERATIONS$9,000
DESTINY ARTS CENTER OAKLAND, CAGENERAL OPERATIONS$1,000
GRIP-TRAINING INSTITUTE FREMONT, CAGENERAL OPERATIONS$60,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Elizabeth Gordon serves as the foundation's contact and officer.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
ELIZABETH GORDONPRESIDENT0.25
JEAN MERLINSECRETARY0.25
LOUIS LEEBURGTREASURER0.25
SANDRA HARNERTRUSTEE0.25
SUSIE HEUMANNTRUSTEE0.25
SANDRA HOBSONTRUSTEE0.25

Contact Information

Address: 14441 N 14th St, Phoenix, AZ 85022-4448
Phone: 602-548-0092
EIN: 11-3634807

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Betsy Gordon Foundation fund?

The foundation's giving priorities include: • Education • Spiritual enrichment • Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking • Human services • Jewish nonprofits • Native American organizations • Life skills, training, and rehabilitation • Higher education

How do I apply for a grant from Betsy Gordon Foundation?

**Grant Activity:** • Made 36 grants in the most recent fiscal year (ending October 2024) • Total giving: $297,577 • Typical grant range: $200–$119,680 **Recent Grants (FY 2024):** • California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS): $86,602 • Grip Training Institute: $60,000 • Limina Foundation: $25,000 The foundation primarily funds general operations of grantees.

Where does Betsy Gordon Foundation make grants?

The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on California, Pennsylvania, and New York.

What size grants does Betsy Gordon Foundation award?

In 2024, Betsy Gordon Foundation awarded 25 grants totaling $298K — an average of about $12K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Betsy Gordon Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Betsy Gordon Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is Betsy Gordon Foundation's EIN?

Betsy Gordon Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 11-3634807. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in Betsy Gordon Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database

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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

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