Frank E Duckwall Foundation
The Frank E Duckwall Foundation is a private foundation established in 1983 and based in Tampa, Florida. The foundation was created by Frank E. Duckwall, a physicist turned successful businessman who ran an optics company in Tampa. Upon his death in 1993, Duckwall bequeathed nearly 99.5% of his estate to the foundation, which received approximately $8.5 million in various investment accounts.
Key facts about Frank E Duckwall Foundation
- EIN
- 59-6773462
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $388,150
- Grants made (2024)
- 32
- Average grant
- $12,130
- Median grant
- $5,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 26% first-time grantees (8 of 31, 2024)
- Total assets
- $6,758,596
- Primary geography
- Florida (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who Frank E Duckwall Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Frank E Duckwall Foundation's 32 itemized 2024 grants were Florida (100%). The most frequent recipient cities were Tampa, FL (17 grants), St Petersburg, FL (5 grants), Sarasota, FL (4 grants) and Tierra Verde, FL (2 grants). None of its 32 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support.
Is Frank E Duckwall Foundation open to new grantees?
26%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 8 of 31 grantees (26%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $15K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 55% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−2%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 112% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Frank E Duckwall Foundation
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$6.8M
+1.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$388K
+2.6% YoY
Grant Count
32
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$12K
+2.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Frank E Duckwall Foundation reported a distributable amount of $391K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation is dedicated to making the Tampa Bay region a better place through giving primarily for scientific, educational, and charitable purposes.
The foundation's areas of interest include:
- Education
- Health
- Social services
- Arts and culture
- Community development
- Children and youth
- Environmental and historic preservation
- Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking
- Human services
Grantmaking
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports nonprofit organizations in the Tampa Bay, Florida area, including Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, and Sarasota counties.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 32 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $6,694,827
- Total giving: $378,295
- Total revenues: $431,224
- Total expenses: $498,059
- Investment income and dividends: $202,173
- Number of employees: 0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $6,758,596 | $6,694,827 | $6,760,544 |
| Revenue | $586,932 | $431,224 | $340,414 |
| Expenses | $516,892 | $498,059 | $507,114 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $435,893 | $418,291 | $428,870 |
| Net Investment Income | $512,068 | $358,953 | $266,145 |
| Distributable Amount | $390,780 | $370,336 | $395,595 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
175 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Marie Selby Botanical Gardens ($50,000), Mote Marine Laboratory ($50,000), Straz Center for the Performing Arts ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Sarasota, FL | Second Installment for finish line capping challenge grant. | $50,000 |
| Mote Marine Laboratory Sarasota, FL | Fourth installment for challenge grant. | $50,000 |
| Straz Center for the Performing Arts Tampa, FL | Second installment of challenge grant. | $50,000 |
| Art Center Manatee Bradenton, FL | Fourth and fifth installments for challenge grant. | $40,000 |
| H Lee Moffitt Cancer Center Tampa, FL | Funding for the SPARK Program. | $25,000 |
| Tampa Bay Watch Tierra Verde, FL | Funding to be used in hurricane recovery. | $20,000 |
| The Poynter Institute St Petersburg, FL | Funding for the sponsorship of the Pulitzer's Conversation on September 25th and Freedom sponsorship level for the BowTie Ball. | $13,420 |
| Community Foundation of Tampa Bay Inc Tampa, FL | Funding for the Solutions Journalism Fund to be used for stories on philanthropy in the Tampa Bay area. | $12,000 |
| Conservation Foundation of Gulf Coa North Port, FL | Funding to purchase various items of equipment. | $10,000 |
| Tampa General Hospital Foundation Tampa, FL | Funding to purchase a 3D printer and bedside table. | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Sandy Rief served as the executor of Frank E. Duckwall's estate and was instrumental in implementing his philanthropic wishes.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frank J Rief III | Trustee | 1 | $20,000 |
| G Lowe Morrison | Trustee | 1 | $20,000 |
| Sandra E Tolle | Trustee | 1 | $8,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has supported the creation of the Frank E. Duckwall Professorship at USF St. Petersburg, a two-year rotating professorship given to faculty who teach in the Florida Studies Program. This professorship was established to foster the teaching of Florida history and develop greater awareness of Florida's historical significance.
Celebrating 20 Years of Innovative Research: Duckwall Professorship SpursThe foundation sponsors an annual lecture and reception at the Tampa Bay History Center, known as the Frank E. Duckwall Foundation Lecture & Reception, which features presentations on topics related to Tampa Bay history and culture.
Leva and Frank Duclos Foundation Approves $46,475 in Grants at Semi-AnnualThe foundation has funded diverse initiatives across the Tampa Bay region, including maternity programs, performance studios, and college scholarships spanning from Polk to Sarasota County.
Contact Information
Address: PO Box 3351, Tampa, FL 33601
Telephone: 813-634-4172
EIN: 59-6773462
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Frank E Duckwall Foundation fund?
The foundation is dedicated to making the Tampa Bay region a better place through giving primarily for scientific, educational, and charitable purposes. The foundation's areas of interest include: • Education • Health • Social services • Arts and culture • Community development • Children and youth • Environmental and historic preservation • Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking • Human services
How do I apply for a grant from Frank E Duckwall Foundation?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $1,000 to $50,000. **Types of Support:** The foundation provides support for: • Project support • General support • Building funds • Equipment **Recent Grant Activity:** In 2023, the foundation made 35 grants totaling $378,295. Notable recent grants include: • Salvador Dali Museum: $50,000 (Challenge Grant) • The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens: $50,000 (First Installment for Finish Line Capping Challenge Grant) • Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium: $…
Where does Frank E Duckwall Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily supports nonprofit organizations in the Tampa Bay, Florida area, including Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, and Sarasota counties.
What size grants does Frank E Duckwall Foundation award?
In 2024, Frank E Duckwall Foundation awarded 32 grants totaling $388K — an average of about $12K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Frank E Duckwall Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Frank E Duckwall Foundation reported a distributable amount of $391K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Frank E Duckwall Foundation's EIN?
Frank E Duckwall Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 59-6773462. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.