The Gale Family Foundation is a private independent foundation established in 2007 and based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. As a 501(c)(3) organization, the foundation operates as a grantmaking entity that provides general unrestricted cash contributions to public charities across the United States.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$16.6M
-21.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.5M
-24.0% YoY
Grant Count
42
-2.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$36K
-22.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Gale Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Grantmaking
The foundation makes grants to a diverse range of organizations across multiple sectors. Recent grantees have included Occidental College, Santa Fe International Literary Festival, Fractured Atlas, and the Minneapolis Foundation.
Grant Range
Approximately $25,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports organizations across multiple states, including:
Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Utah, Wisconsin, and additional communities such as Eau Claire and Viroqua.
Primary funding states include New Mexico, New York, and California.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Fiscal Year (2024):
- Total Assets: $16.6 million
- Total Revenue: $595,227
- Total Expenses: $1,729,948
- Total Giving: $1,491,700
Prior Year Data (2023):
- Total Assets: Approximately $21.2 million (per alternative source)
- Total Distributions: $2 million
The foundation maintains no liabilities and demonstrates consistent annual grantmaking activity.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $16,559,769 | $21,178,236 | $20,766,344 |
| Revenue | $595,227 | $688,328 | $630,292 |
| Expenses | $1,729,948 | $2,214,566 | $2,327,665 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,502,878 | $1,963,133 | $2,059,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,060,254 | $2,277,811 | $457,984 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,528,740 | $1,779,075 | $1,790,401 |
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
220 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Occidental College ($150,000), Santa Fe Prepartory School ($145,000), Fractured Atlas ($125,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AFGHAN SCOUT RELIEF FUND RANCHOS DE TAOS, NM | GENERAL UNRESTRICTED | $15,000 |
| BARRY LOPEZ FOUNDATION FOR ART AND ENVIRONMENT SANTA FE, NM | GENERAL UNRESTRICTED | $20,000 |
| BLAKE SCHOOL HOPKINS, MN | GENERAL UNRESTRICTED | $30,000 |
| CANCER FOUNDATION OF NEW MEXICO SANTA FE, NM | GENERAL UNRESTRICTED | $15,000 |
| CHANCE OF A LIFETIME SANTA FE, NM | GENERAL UNRESTRICTED | $10,000 |
| COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS - NEW MEXICO SANTA FE, NM | GENERAL UNRESTRICTED | $20,000 |
| DIA CENTER FOR THE ARTS INC NEW YORK CITY, NY | GENERAL UNRESTRICTED | $10,000 |
| FOUNDATION FOR INTERGRATIVE MEDITATION SANTA FE, NM | GENERAL UNRESTRICTED | $10,000 |
| FOUNTAIN VALLEY SCHOOL FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CA | GENERAL UNRESTRICTED | $10,000 |
| FRACTURED ATLAS NEW YORK CITY, NY | GENERAL UNRESTRICTED | $125,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board Members:
- Ed Gale – President/Director
- Maria Gale – Director
- Samuel Gale – Treasurer/Director
- James Patrick Gale – Director
- Sarah Gale – Director
- Gordon Heinson – Director
All board members serve without compensation, reflecting a commitment to volunteer leadership.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ED GALE | PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MARIA GALE | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| SAMUEL GALE | TREASURER/DIRECTOR | — | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for a grant from Gale Family Foundation?
The foundation makes grants to a diverse range of organizations across multiple sectors. Recent grantees have included Occidental College, Santa Fe International Literary Festival, Fractured Atlas, and the Minneapolis Foundation. **Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $2,500–$275,000 • Grant type: General unrestricted cash contributions to public charities • Recent annual grant activity: 41 grants awarded in 2024 • Median grant size: Approximately $25,000 The foundation appears to be…
Where does Gale Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports organizations across multiple states, including: Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Utah, Wisconsin, and additional communities such as Eau Claire and Viroqua. Primary funding states include New Mexico, New York, and California.
What size grants does Gale Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Gale Family Foundation awarded 42 grants totaling $1.5M — an average of about $36K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Gale Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Gale Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Gale Family Foundation's EIN?
Gale Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-2676045. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Gale Family 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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