Dorothy R Gauss Foundation Inc

Private foundation · Grantmaker Louisville, KY EIN: 20-4233649

Dorothy R Gauss Foundation Inc is a private foundation focused on Education, based in Louisville, KY. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $3.5M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 4 grants totaling $509K. Net investment income was $31K.

Key facts about Dorothy R Gauss Foundation Inc

In short: Dorothy R Gauss Foundation Inc gave $509K across 4 grants in 2024 (avg $127K), mostly in Kentucky. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
20-4233649
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$508,863
Grants made (2024)
4
Average grant
$127,216
Median grant
$33,691
Total assets
$3,456,177
Primary geography
Kentucky (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$3.5M

+6.3% YoY

Annual Giving

$509K

+33.4% YoY

Grant Count

4

+0.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$127K

+33.4% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Dorothy R Gauss Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $170K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

How Dorothy R Gauss Foundation Inc gives

  • Giving grew 284% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 300% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

1state

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.

States

Cities

Louisville

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$200K$400K$600K4 grants2020 5 grants2021 4 grants2022 4 grants2023 4 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $133K (2021) to $509K (2024). In 2024 it made 4 grants totaling $509K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 4 recipients in 2024

Bellarmine University: $430KBellarmine University$430KMaryhurst: $51KMaryhurst$51KThe Cabbage Patch Settlement House: $16KThe Cabbage Patch SettlementHouse$16KCatholic Charities: $12KCatholic Charities$12K

The largest 2024 recipient was Bellarmine University ($430K). Together the top 4 received $509K.

Grant Size Distribution

21 grants across all recorded years

15<$50K3$50–100K1$100–250K2$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 15 grants of 21 (71%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Bellarmine University Louisville, KYEducational$429,745
Maryhurst Louisville, KYCommunity$50,958
The Cabbage Patch Settlement House Louisville, KYCommunity$16,423
Catholic Charities Louisville, KYCommunity$11,737

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$500K$1M$1.5M2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$3,456,177$3,250,023$2,960,620
Revenue$45,595$48,317$863,998
Expenses$523,018$413,395$271,187
Qualifying Distributions$508,863$381,362$255,000
Net Investment Income$31,440$16,284$847,811
Distributable Amount$169,551$154,012$151,696

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

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Dorothy R Gauss Foundation Inc is led by Michael C. Gauss, Executive Director & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Michael C. Gauss

    Executive Director & Director

    On filings since 2020

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Brian G. Gauss

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Marilyn K. Gauss

    Secretary, Treasurer & Director

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

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.

Frequently asked questions about Dorothy R Gauss Foundation Inc

How much does Dorothy R Gauss Foundation Inc give each year?

Dorothy R Gauss Foundation Inc gave $509K across 4 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $381K across 4 grants.

What is Dorothy R Gauss Foundation Inc's typical grant size?

Dorothy R Gauss Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $33,691, and its average grant was $127,216, across 4 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Dorothy R Gauss Foundation Inc give grants?

Dorothy R Gauss Foundation Inc gives mostly in Kentucky: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Louisville, KY (4 grants).

Does Dorothy R Gauss Foundation Inc give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 4 grants with a stated purpose on Dorothy R Gauss Foundation Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Community" (3 grants).

How large is Dorothy R Gauss Foundation Inc?

Dorothy R Gauss Foundation Inc reported $3.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $509K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $170K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What is Dorothy R Gauss Foundation Inc?

Dorothy R Gauss Foundation Inc is a private foundation focused on Education, based in Louisville, KY. It holds $3.5M in total assets as of 2024.

What is Dorothy R Gauss Foundation Inc's EIN?

Dorothy R Gauss Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-4233649. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

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