Don Waggoner & Zelma Waggoner Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Naples, FL EIN: 65-6141632

The Don Waggoner & Zelma Waggoner Foundation is a private foundation based in Naples, Florida. Its 2024 grants supported organizations including a university, churches, Habitat for Humanity affiliates, food banks, and other community organizations.

Key facts about Don Waggoner & Zelma Waggoner Foundation

In short: Don Waggoner & Zelma Waggoner Foundation gave $3.8M across 43 grants in 2024 (avg $89K), mostly in Tennessee. 17% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
65-6141632
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$3,844,000
Grants made (2024)
43
Average grant
$89,395
Median grant
$35,335
New grantees (estimate)
17% first-time grantees (7 of 42, 2024)
Total assets
$67,088,861
Primary geography
Tennessee (52% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to apply
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$67.1M

-1.9% YoY

Annual Giving

$3.8M

-37.3% YoY

Grant Count

43

+16.2% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$89K

-46.0% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Don Waggoner & Zelma Waggoner Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.6M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Is Don Waggoner & Zelma Waggoner Foundation open to new grantees?

17%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 7 of 42 grantees (17%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $18K; repeat grants $106K. How we count

Medians: $5K first-time, $60K repeat.

  • 81% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 42% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 84% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

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

Mission & Focus Areas

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations with varied missions. Trevecca Nazarene University describes its mission as Christian higher education preparing students for meaningful service. Harvest Hope Food Bank says it works to eliminate hunger and food insecurity in South Carolina. Nazarene Compassionate Ministries says it responds to and seeks to prevent human suffering resulting from poverty and disaster. Other 2024 recipients included organizations whose stated missions address domestic abuse, literacy and employability, food assistance, and children’s learning.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation made 43 grants totaling $3,844,000. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $2,000,000, with a median of $35,335. The largest grant was $2,000,000 to Trevecca Nazarene University. Other large grants included $180,333 to Habitat for Humanity - Greenville County, $175,000 to Habitat for Humanity of Collier County, and $100,000 each to First Church of the Nazarene - Greenville and Naples First Church of the Nazarene.

How to Apply

The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, recipients in Tennessee received 52% of grant dollars, those in South Carolina received 34%, and those in Florida received 10%. Kansas and North Carolina each received 2%.

Grant Distribution by State

15states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 43 itemized grants.

Cities

GreenvilleNaplesChapinCharlotteLenexaNashvilleLos AngelesAtlantaGaffneySimpsonvilleColumbiaHagerstownLa HabraChicagoCold SpringDallasGreerLos AngelosLyndenManassas

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$2M$4M$6M$8M43 grants2020 40 grants2021 37 grants2022 37 grants2023 43 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.4M (2020) to $6.1M (2023). In 2024 it made 43 grants totaling $3.8M.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Trevecca Nazarene University: $2.0MTrevecca Nazarene University$2.0MHabitat for Humanity - Greenville County: $180KHabitat for Humanity -Greenville County$180KHabitat for Humanity of Collier County: $175KHabitat for Humanity ofCollier County$175KFirst Church of the Nazarene - Greenville: $100KFirst Church of the Nazarene -Greenville$100KNaples First Church of the Nazarene: $100KNaples First Church of theNazarene$100KThe Salvation Army - Kroc Center: $65KThe Salvation Army - KrocCenter$65KGreenville Literacy Association: $62K across 2 grantsGreenville LiteracyAssociation$62K · 2 grantsHarvest Hope Food Bank: $62KHarvest Hope Food Bank$62KMeals on Wheels of Collier County: $60KMeals on Wheels of CollierCounty$60KMeals on Wheels of Greenville County: $60KMeals on Wheels of GreenvilleCounty$60K

The largest 2024 recipient was Trevecca Nazarene University ($2.0M). Together the top 10 received $2.9M.

Grant Size Distribution

200 grants across all recorded years

128<$50K51$50–100K16$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M5$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 128 grants of 200 (64%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Trevecca Nazarene University Nashville, TNTo Further the Mission of the Organization.$2,000,000
Habitat for Humanity - Greenville County Greenville, SCTo Further the Mission of the Organization.$180,333
Habitat for Humanity of Collier County Naples, FLTo Further the Mission of the Organization.$175,000
First Church of the Nazarene - Greenville Greenville, SCTo Further the Mission of the Organization.$100,000
Naples First Church of the Nazarene Naples, FLTo Further the Mission of the Organization.$100,000
The Salvation Army - Kroc Center Greenville, SCTo Further the Mission of the Organization.$65,333
Harvest Hope Food Bank Greenville, SCTo Further the Mission of the Organization.$62,000
Meals on Wheels of Collier County Naples, FLTo Further the Mission of the Organization.$60,000
Meals on Wheels of Greenville County Greenville, SCTo Further the Mission of the Organization.$60,000
A Child's Haven Greenville, SCTo Further the Mission of the Organization.$60,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants
2024 $67,088,861 $2,798,137 $4,115,405 $3,844,000
2023 $68,406,129 $11,130,625 $6,253,209 $6,129,000
2022 $64,779,336 -$735,691 $4,892,540 $4,670,000
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$10M$20M$30M$40M2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$67,088,861$68,406,129$64,779,336
Revenue$2,798,137$11,130,625$-735,691
Expenses$4,115,405$6,253,209$4,892,540
Qualifying Distributions$3,861,801$6,138,479$4,670,000
Net Investment Income$2,661,032$11,015,895$334,337
Distributable Amount$4,603,488$4,120,755$4,290,396

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Donald F. Waggoner as trustee and Reid A. Wesley as executive director and trustee.

Don Waggoner & Zelma Waggoner Foundation's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; 1 of 2 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Reid A. Wesley

    Execdir & Trustee

    Trustee → Execdir & Trustee, 2022

    On filings since 2021

    16 hrs/week

    $75K (2022) → $81K (2024)

  • Donald F. Waggoner

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

Former officers (1)
  • Former: Zelma Waggoner (2020–2022) — Trustee

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

Reid a Wesley — Execdir/Trustee: $81KReid a WesleyExecdir/Trustee$81K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $81K, to Reid a Wesley (Execdir/Trustee).

Contact

Mailing address: 1252 Gordon River Trail, Naples, FL 34105
Phone: (239) 263-2804

Frequently asked questions about Don Waggoner & Zelma Waggoner Foundation

How much does Don Waggoner & Zelma Waggoner Foundation give each year?

Don Waggoner & Zelma Waggoner Foundation gave $3.8M across 43 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $6.1M across 37 grants.

What is Don Waggoner & Zelma Waggoner Foundation's typical grant size?

Don Waggoner & Zelma Waggoner Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $35,335, and its average grant was $89,395, across 43 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Don Waggoner & Zelma Waggoner Foundation that year got $18K on average.

Where does Don Waggoner & Zelma Waggoner Foundation give grants?

Don Waggoner & Zelma Waggoner Foundation gives mostly in Tennessee: 52% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were South Carolina (34%) and Florida (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Greenville, SC (24 grants), Naples, FL (4 grants) and Chapin, SC (3 grants).

Does Don Waggoner & Zelma Waggoner Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 43 grants with a stated purpose on Don Waggoner & Zelma Waggoner Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Further the Mission of the Organization." (43 grants).

Who are Don Waggoner & Zelma Waggoner Foundation's largest grantees?

Don Waggoner & Zelma Waggoner Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Trevecca Nazarene University ($2,000,000), Habitat for Humanity - Greenville County ($180,333) and Habitat for Humanity of Collier County ($175,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 61% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Don Waggoner & Zelma Waggoner Foundation?

Don Waggoner & Zelma Waggoner Foundation reported $67.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $4.6M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.

What does Don Waggoner & Zelma Waggoner Foundation fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations with varied missions. Trevecca Nazarene University describes its mission as Christian higher education preparing students for meaningful service. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Don Waggoner & Zelma Waggoner Foundation?

The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Don Waggoner & Zelma Waggoner Foundation's EIN?

Don Waggoner & Zelma Waggoner Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 65-6141632. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Does Don Waggoner & Zelma Waggoner Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

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

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