Don Waggoner & Zelma Waggoner Foundation
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.
Don Waggoner & Zelma Waggoner Foundation at a glance
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.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,844,000
- -37.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 43
- +16.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $89,395
- -46.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $35,335
- Total assets
- $67,088,861
- -1.9% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 17% first-time grantees (7 of 42, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Tennessee (52% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Don Waggoner & Zelma Waggoner Foundation
- 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.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1252 Gordon River Trail, Naples, FL 34105
Phone: (239) 263-2804
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Don Waggoner & Zelma Waggoner Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
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
The most common grant size was under $50K: 128 grants of 200 (64%).
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
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 43 itemized grants.
States
Cities
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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
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.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Trevecca Nazarene University Nashville, TN | To Further the Mission of the Organization. | $2,000,000 |
| Habitat for Humanity - Greenville County Greenville, SC | To Further the Mission of the Organization. | $180,333 |
| Habitat for Humanity of Collier County Naples, FL | To Further the Mission of the Organization. | $175,000 |
| First Church of the Nazarene - Greenville Greenville, SC | To Further the Mission of the Organization. | $100,000 |
| Naples First Church of the Nazarene Naples, FL | To Further the Mission of the Organization. | $100,000 |
| The Salvation Army - Kroc Center Greenville, SC | To Further the Mission of the Organization. | $65,333 |
| Harvest Hope Food Bank Greenville, SC | To Further the Mission of the Organization. | $62,000 |
| Meals on Wheels of Collier County Naples, FL | To Further the Mission of the Organization. | $60,000 |
| Meals on Wheels of Greenville County Greenville, SC | To Further the Mission of the Organization. | $60,000 |
| A Child's Haven Greenville, SC | To Further the Mission of the Organization. | $60,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $67,088,861 | $2,798,137 | $4,115,405 | $3,844,000 | 43 | $3,861,801 | $2,661,032 | $4,603,488 |
| 2023 | $68,406,129 | $11,130,625 | $6,253,209 | $6,129,000 | 37 | $6,138,479 | $11,015,895 | $4,120,755 |
| 2022 | $64,779,336 | $-735,691 | $4,892,540 | $4,670,000 | 37 | $4,670,000 | $334,337 | $4,290,396 |
| 2021 | $69,156,944 | $2,704,685 | $3,321,370 | $2,700,136 | 40 | $2,700,136 | $2,561,319 | $4,344,069 |
| 2020 | $69,773,629 | $34,189,712 | $1,537,709 | $1,416,779 | 43 | — | $24,085,998 | $2,783,654 |
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.
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.
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
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $81K, to Reid a Wesley (Execdir/Trustee).
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.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Don Waggoner & Zelma Waggoner Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 23, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/don-waggoner-and-zelma-waggoner-foundation-morg_98b1a3c2054745b493127e34ae5f3241
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_656141632_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Don Waggoner \& Zelma Waggoner Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/don-waggoner-and-zelma-waggoner-foundation-morg_98b1a3c2054745b493127e34ae5f3241},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-23. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Don Waggoner & Zelma Waggoner Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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