Courtney Knight Gaines Foundation
The Courtney Knight Gaines Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1998 and based in Savannah, Georgia. As a 501(c)(3) organization, it operates as a private foundation focused on philanthropic giving to charitable causes.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$9.7M
-0.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$732K
+38.8% YoY
Grant Count
28
-6.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$26K
+48.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Courtney Knight Gaines Foundation reported a distributable amount of $556K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not have a publicly stated mission statement on file. However, its giving priorities focus primarily on:
- Education
- Environment
- Health organizations
- Children and social services
- Philanthropy and grantmaking
Grantmaking
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Georgia, North Carolina, and West Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total Assets: $9,670,820
- Total Revenue: $906,682
- Total Expenses: $926,319
- Total Liabilities: $0
Historical Context: The foundation has maintained consistent financial operations since its establishment in 1998, with tax-exempt status granted in September 1998.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $9,670,820 | $9,684,840 | $9,550,759 |
| Revenue | $906,682 | $555,328 | $613,098 |
| Expenses | $926,319 | $614,860 | $524,978 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $768,140 | $534,608 | $435,050 |
| Net Investment Income | $819,188 | $475,076 | $613,098 |
| Distributable Amount | $556,482 | $528,063 | $523,685 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
151 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Second Harvest of Coastal Ga ($360,000), Lake Junaluska Assembly ($50,000), Haywood Christian Ministry ($35,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION OF COASTAL GA SAVANNAH, GA | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT | $5,000 |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY ATLANTA, GA | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT | $10,000 |
| APPALACHIAN TRAIL CONSERVANCY HARPERS FERRY, WV | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT | $5,000 |
| BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY FOUNDATION WINSTONSALEM, NC | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT | $10,000 |
| CARETTA RESEARCH PROJECT SAVANNAH, GA | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT | $5,000 |
| CHATHAM TRANSITIONAL MINISTRIES SAVANNAH, GA | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT | $5,000 |
| COMMUNITY HOUSING SERVICES AGENCY SAVANNAH, GA | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT | $10,000 |
| CONGREGATION MICKVE ISRAEL SAVANNAH, GA | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT | $15,000 |
| FRANK CALLEN BOYS & GIRLS CLUB SAVANNAH, GA | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT | $5,000 |
| FRIENDS OF OATLAND ISLAND SAVANNAH, GA | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Chris Klein - Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| EZEKIEL B GAINES III | PRESIDENT | 0.5 | — |
| CHRISTOPHER E KLEIN | SECRETARY | 0.5 | — |
| COURTNEY G FETZ | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| GRACE G GATTIS | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| WILLIAM B GAINES | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| JAMES THOMAS GATTIS | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| EZEKIEL B GAINES IV | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| MARSHALL D GAINES | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Courtney Knight Gaines Foundation fund?
The foundation does not have a publicly stated mission statement on file. However, its giving priorities focus primarily on: • Education • Environment • Health organizations • Children and social services • Philanthropy and grantmaking
How do I apply for a grant from Courtney Knight Gaines Foundation?
**Grant Activity (2024):** • Total giving: $731,800 • Number of grants: 35 • Typical award range: $1,250 to $360,000 **Recent Grants (2024):** • Lake Junaluska Assembly Property Owners Organization: $50,000 (Unrestricted Charitable Grant) • Haywood Christian Ministry: $35,000 (Unrestricted Charitable Grant) • Wesley Monumental United Methodist Church: $30,000 (Unrestricted Charitable Grant) • Hospice Savannah: $30,000 (Unrestricted Charitable Grant) • Oatland Island Wildlife Center: $5,000 (Unr…
Where does Courtney Knight Gaines Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Georgia, North Carolina, and West Virginia.
What size grants does Courtney Knight Gaines Foundation award?
In 2024, Courtney Knight Gaines Foundation awarded 28 grants totaling $732K — an average of about $26K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Courtney Knight Gaines Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Courtney Knight Gaines Foundation reported a distributable amount of $556K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Courtney Knight Gaines Foundation's EIN?
Courtney Knight Gaines Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-2398209. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Courtney Knight Gaines 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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