Frederick Gardner Cottrell Foundation
The Frederick Gardner Cottrell Foundation is a private, non-operating corporate foundation established in December 1998 by Research Corporation Technologies (RCT). Based in Tucson, Arizona, the foundation provides financial support for scientific research and educational programs at qualified nonprofit organizations throughout the United States. The foundation is named after Frederick Gardner Cottrell, a university professor and inventor who championed the transfer of academic innovation to public use.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$70.0M
+70.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$9.6M
-20.1% YoY
Grant Count
39
-20.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$246K
+0.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Frederick Gardner Cottrell Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary focus is research on solar energy technologies. Beyond solar energy, the foundation supports scientific research at universities and research institutions across multiple disciplines, as well as scientific and educational initiatives at qualified nonprofit organizations.
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant requests. All grants are made by invitation only.
Grant Range
$1,000 to $2.9 million
Average Grant
approximately $245,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds scientific research and educational programs throughout the United States, with a national geographic focus.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Giving (2023)
- Total assets: $40.99 million
- Total revenues: $7.51 million
- Total expenses: $7.23 million
- Total grants and contributions: $1.25 million
- Investment income and dividends: $5.32 million
Cumulative Impact Since its formation, the foundation has distributed over $50 million in support of selected scientific and educational programs throughout the United States.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $69,961,075 | $40,990,944 | $43,384,465 |
| Revenue | $38,224,453 | $7,508,215 | $9,396,382 |
| Expenses | $4,057,520 | $7,225,787 | $30,502,706 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $9,621,255 | $12,043,185 | $12,034,653 |
| Net Investment Income | $4,153,952 | $11,141,203 | $4,085,573 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,881,550 | $1,824,799 | $1,914,650 |
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
224 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Medtech Innovator ($3,606,250), C-path Institute Trxa ($3,100,000), Stanford Biodesign Fogarty Institute ($1,000,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| MEDTECH INNOVATOR LOS ANGELES, CA | CHARITABLE ENTITY SUPPORT | $3,606,250 |
| C-PATH INSTITUTE TRXA TUCSON, AZ | CHARITABLE ENTITY SUPPORT | $3,100,000 |
| STANFORD BIODESIGN FOGARTY INSTITUTE STANFORD, CA | CHARITABLE ENTITY SUPPORT | $1,000,000 |
| RESEARCH CORPORATION FOR SCIENCE ADVANCEMENT TUCSON, AZ | CHARITABLE ENTITY SUPPORT | $520,579 |
| LUCILE PACKARD FOUNDATION FOR CHILDREN'S HEALTH PALO ALTO, CA | CHARITABLE ENTITY SUPPORT | $300,000 |
| SOTERIA PRECISION MEDICINE FOUNDAON SAN DIEGO, CA | CHARITABLE ENTITY SUPPORT | $220,000 |
| HONORHEALTH RESEARCH INSTITUTE SCOTTSDALE, AZ | CHARITABLE ENTITY SUPPORT | $200,000 |
| UNIV OF AZ FDTN - PHARMACY KEYS PROGRAM TUCSON, AZ | CHARITABLE ENTITY SUPPORT | $128,000 |
| CLASSICAL TAHOE INCLINE VILLAGE, NV | CHARITABLE ENTITY SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| INTEGRATIVE TOUCH FOR KIDS TUCSON, AZ | CHARITABLE ENTITY SUPPORT | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers of the foundation include:
- Gary M. Munsinger (President)
- Rebecca E. Buescher (Secretary)
- Chris P. Martin (Treasurer)
- Directors: Christopher P. Martin, J. Lyle Bootman, John P. Schaefer, John W. McIntyre, and Shaun A. Kirkpatrick
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHRISTOPHER MARTIN | CHAIRMAN | 1 | — |
| JEFFREY JACOB | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SHAUN KIRKPATRICK | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JAMES MACK | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| THEODORE SAMUELS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MARK GILREATH | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation supports the Cottrell Scholars program through Research Corporation for Science Advancement, welcoming new classes of scholars in recent years. The foundation has also funded Scialog initiatives, including projects in chemistry and bioimaging research, with multiple team projects receiving awards in consecutive years of the program.
RCSA Welcomes 2024 Class of Cottrell ScholarsSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Frederick Gardner Cottrell Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary focus is research on solar energy technologies. Beyond solar energy, the foundation supports scientific research at universities and research institutions across multiple disciplines, as well as scientific and educational initiatives at qualified nonprofit organizations.
How do I apply for a grant from Frederick Gardner Cottrell Foundation?
**Grant Activity & Amounts** • Annual giving: approximately $12 million • Number of grants: 49 awards (2023) • Grant range: $1,000 to $2.9 million • Average grant size: approximately $245,000 • Median grant: $15,000 **Application Process** The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant requests. All grants are made by invitation only. **Recent Grantees (2023)** Notable recipients include Medtech Innovator ($2.8 million), Research Corporation for Science Advancement ($1.001 million), and Arizo…
Where does Frederick Gardner Cottrell Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds scientific research and educational programs throughout the United States, with a national geographic focus.
What size grants does Frederick Gardner Cottrell Foundation award?
In 2024, Frederick Gardner Cottrell Foundation awarded 39 grants totaling $9.6M — an average of about $246K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Frederick Gardner Cottrell Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Frederick Gardner Cottrell Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.9M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Frederick Gardner Cottrell Foundation's EIN?
Frederick Gardner Cottrell Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 86-0940147. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Frederick Gardner Cottrell 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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