Gamba Family Foundation
The Gamba Family Foundation is a Washington, DC–based private foundation established by John and Mary Anne Gamba in 2006. It supports education-related programs and schools, with an emphasis on closing achievement and opportunity gaps for socio-economically disadvantaged students, as well as need-based financial aid for qualified students.
Gamba Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Gamba Family Foundation gave $383K across 20 grants in 2025 (avg $19K), mostly in District of Columbia. 56% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $383,000
- +143.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 20
- +53.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $19,150
- +58.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $1,914,397
- +44.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 56% first-time grantees (9 of 16, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (89% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Gamba Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 3210 Grace Street Nw 309, Washington, DC 20007
Phone: (239) 596-0279
Website: HTTPS://GAMBAFOUNDATION.ORG
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Gamba Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Empower K12 ($100K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $355K.
Grant Size Distribution
76 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 75 grants of 76 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Washington, DC. Its 2025 grant dollars were concentrated among recipients in DC (89%); recipients in Maryland received 8%, Florida 3%, New York 1%, and Pennsylvania 0%, as reported in the filing. The listed grants also include support for organizations in DC and Maryland.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Gamba Family Foundation open to new grantees?
56%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 9 of 16 grantees (56%) were first-time recipients. With only 16 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $16K; repeat grants $34K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 31% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 232% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 363% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $85K (2020) to $383K (2025). In 2025 it made 20 grants totaling $383K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Empower K12 Washington, DC | Bold School Replication to Narrow the Achievement Gap | $70,000 |
| DC Prep Public Charter Schools Washington, DC | Science of Reading | $35,000 |
| Empower K12 Washington, DC | Bold School Replication to Narrow the Achievement Gap | $30,000 |
| Maryland State Dept of Ed Baltimore, MD | Literacy Coaching in PG County | $30,000 |
| Two Rivers Public Charter School Washington, DC | Literacy Investments | $25,000 |
| DC Special Education Cooperative Washington, DC | Support Literacy, School Best Practice | $25,000 |
| Education Forward DC Washington, DC | DC School Transformation, 4TH of 5TH Year Commitment | $20,000 |
| City Schools Collaborative Washington, DC | Supports dc schools w tutoring and comprehensive transformation strategy | $20,000 |
| City Schools Collaborative Washington, DC | Supports dc schools w tutoring and comprehensive transformation strategy | $20,000 |
| Kipp DC Public Schools Washington, DC | To Support the Capital Teaching Residency | $20,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Gamba Family Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,914,397 | $1,835,295 | $485,578 | $383,000 | 20 | $383,000 | $824,231 | $105,383 |
| 2024 | $1,322,941 | $111,104 | $196,152 | $157,052 | 13 | $186,566 | $101,518 | $112,268 |
| 2023 | $1,407,989 | $62,643 | $147,096 | $106,500 | 15 | $135,542 | $53,573 | $102,690 |
| 2022 | $1,492,442 | $116,412 | $156,704 | $115,500 | 15 | $145,336 | $96,659 | $105,514 |
| 2021 | $1,532,734 | $130,109 | $140,642 | $98,000 | 13 | $129,165 | $104,627 | $117,619 |
| 2020 | $1,543,267 | $79,353 | $123,862 | $85,100 | 10 | — | $70,255 | $97,966 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Gamba Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $105K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated purpose is “to influence progress,” and it describes its mission as making a difference in education and giving back as a family. Its priorities include closing achievement gaps, supporting need-based post-secondary financial aid, structured literacy based on the science of reading and learning, teacher training and development, high-impact tutoring, and school transformation. It also emphasizes measurable results, student well-being, and scalable and sustainable approaches.
Its 2025 grants included public charter schools, education organizations, and other nonprofits. For example, Two Rivers Public Charter School describes its mission as nurturing students to participate actively in their education and become responsible and compassionate members of society. Education Forward DC says it works to help every DC student thrive by advancing high-quality and equitable educational experiences. DC Bilingual Public Charter School describes its mission as promoting academic achievement in Spanish and English, leadership, and appreciation of cultures.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 20 grants totaling $383,000. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $70,000, with a median of $20,000.
Notable 2025 grants included $70,000 and $30,000 to Empower K12 for bold school replication to narrow the achievement gap; $35,000 to DC Prep Public Charter Schools for the science of reading; $30,000 to the Maryland State Department of Education for literacy coaching in Prince George’s County; and $25,000 each to Two Rivers Public Charter School for literacy investments and DC Special Education Cooperative for literacy and school best practices. Education Forward DC received a $20,000 grant for a DC school transformation commitment, and the filing also lists a separate $10,000 grant to the organization. Other listed grants included $20,000 each to City Schools Collaborative, KIPP DC Public Schools, and Friendship Public Charter Schools.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation’s 2025 filing lists John F. Gamba and Mary Anne S. Gamba as co-founders, Elizabeth Gamba Steel as executive director, and John F. Gamba Jr. as director. The foundation’s website identifies John F. Gamba Sr. and Mary Anne Gamba as co-founders and directors, Beth Gamba Steel as executive director, and John F. Gamba Jr. as director.
Gamba Family Foundation is led by Elizabeth Gamba Steel, Executive Director since 2023 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 4 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Elizabeth Gamba Steel
Executive Director
Director → Executive Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
30 hrs/week
$25K (2020) → $85K (2025)
John F. Gamba Jr.
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John F. Gamba
Co-Founder
President & Director → Co-Founder & Director, 2024
Co-Founder & Director → Co-Founder, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary Anne S. Gamba
Co-Founder
Secretary & Treasurer → Co-Founder & Director, 2024
Co-Founder & Director → Co-Founder, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $85K, to Elizabeth Gamba Steel (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Gamba Family Foundation
How much does Gamba Family Foundation give each year?
Gamba Family Foundation gave $383K across 20 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $157K across 13 grants.
What is Gamba Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Gamba Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $20,000, and its average grant was $19,150, across 20 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Gamba Family Foundation that year got $16K on average.
Where does Gamba Family Foundation give grants?
Gamba Family Foundation gives mostly in District of Columbia: 89% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Maryland (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (16 grants).
Does Gamba Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 20 grants with a stated purpose on Gamba Family Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Gamba Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Gamba Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Empower K12 ($100,000 across 2 grants), City Schools Collaborative ($40,000 across 2 grants) and Friendship Public Charter Schools ($40,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 47% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Gamba Family Foundation?
Gamba Family Foundation reported $1.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $383K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $105K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Gamba Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated purpose is “to influence progress,” and it describes its mission as making a difference in education and giving back as a family. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Gamba Family Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Gamba Family Foundation's EIN?
Gamba Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 11-3759627. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Gamba Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 10, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Gamba Family Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Gamba Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Gamba Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/gamba-family-foundation-morg_2ed9d03e82bc4e819f1e35fa9ed71cb0
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_113759627_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Gamba Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/gamba-family-foundation-morg_2ed9d03e82bc4e819f1e35fa9ed71cb0},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Gamba Family Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Gamba Family Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?