Ernest Gallo Foundation
The Ernest Gallo Foundation is a private foundation established in 1955 by Ernest Gallo, co-founder of the E. & J. Gallo Winery. Based in Modesto, California, the foundation continues the philanthropic legacy of Ernest Gallo, who passed away in 2007. The foundation operates as a traditional family foundation with all-volunteer governance by members of the Gallo family and maintains no public website, email, or phone number for grant inquiries.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$43.3M
-1.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.7M
+96.2% YoY
Grant Count
9
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$412K
+96.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ernest Gallo Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports organizations in the fields of education, healthcare, religion, and the performing arts. Historical contributions demonstrate a commitment to neuroscience research and higher education, including the founding of the Ernest Gallo Clinic & Research Center at UCSF in 1980 (focusing on neuroscience and alcohol's effects on the brain) and the establishment of endowed professorships at Stanford University and other institutions.
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. All grants are awarded through trustee discretion to preselected organizations. The foundation has no structured grant programs with defined application cycles.
Grant Range
s:**
Average Grant
$358,795
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, with particular emphasis on the Modesto region, while also supporting select national institutions. Recent grants have been made to organizations in California, Indiana, and Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending October 2024:
- Total assets: $43,280,460
- Total revenues: $2,829,753
- Total expenses: $4,084,475
- Investment income and dividends: $1,086,988
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $1,742,763
- Total liabilities: $0
As of Fiscal Year Ending October 2023:
- Total assets: $43.9 million
- Total revenues: $1.77 million
- Total expenses: $2.28 million
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $43,280,460 | $43,935,182 | $44,442,701 |
| Revenue | $2,829,753 | $1,768,918 | $4,647,656 |
| Expenses | $4,084,475 | $2,276,437 | $1,935,275 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,730,847 | $1,915,832 | $1,658,624 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,958,228 | $1,274,209 | $4,355,320 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,975,797 | $2,707,939 | $2,747,211 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
36 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include University of Notre Dame ($2,000,000), Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health ($1,400,000), John Burton Advocates for Youth ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AUTISM TRUST USA AUSTIN, TX | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $500 |
| GALLO CENTER FOR THE ARTS MODESTO, CA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $25,000 |
| JOHN BURTON ADVOCATES FOR YOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $100,000 |
| JORDAN'S GUARDIAN ANGELS SACRAMENTO, CA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $100,000 |
| LUCILE PACKARD FOUNDATION FOR CHILDREN'S HEALTH PALO ALTO, CA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $1,400,000 |
| MARK STEPHEN GALLO MEMORIAL FUND MODESTO, CA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $50,000 |
| STANISLAUS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION MODESTO, CA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $2,500 |
| UNITED SAMARITANS FOUNDATION TURLOCK, CA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $30,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME NOTRE DAME, IN | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $2,000,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOSEPH E GALLO | PRESIDENT | — | — |
| MATTHEW I FRIEDRICH | SECRETARY | — | — |
| MARY C GALLO | TREASURER | — | — |
| ERNEST J GALLO | VICE PRESIDENT | — | — |
| CHRISTOPHER D GALLO | VICE PRESIDENT | — | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Ernest Gallo Foundation fund?
The foundation supports organizations in the fields of education, healthcare, religion, and the performing arts. Historical contributions demonstrate a commitment to neuroscience research and higher education, including the founding of the Ernest Gallo Clinic & Research Center at UCSF in 1980 (focusing on neuroscience and alcohol's effects on the brain) and the establishment of endowed professorships at Stanford University and other institutions.
How do I apply for a grant from Ernest Gallo Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Annual giving: $3.7 million (2024) • Typical annual awards: 8-9 grants • Total assets: $43.3 million (2024) **Grant Sizes:** • Grant range: $500 to $2,000,000 • Major grants: $600,000 to $1,000,000 • Small to medium grants: $500 to $100,000 • Average grant: $358,795 **Application Process:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. All grants are awarded through trustee discretion to preselected organizations. The foundation has no structured grant programs …
Where does Ernest Gallo Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, with particular emphasis on the Modesto region, while also supporting select national institutions. Recent grants have been made to organizations in California, Indiana, and Texas.
What size grants does Ernest Gallo Foundation award?
In 2024, Ernest Gallo Foundation awarded 9 grants totaling $3.7M — an average of about $412K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Ernest Gallo Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Ernest Gallo Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.0M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Ernest Gallo Foundation's EIN?
Ernest Gallo Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-6061537. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Ernest Gallo 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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