Gardner Family Charitable Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker No Andover, MA EIN: 20-2003567

The Gardner Family Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in North Andover, Massachusetts. In 2024, it reported grants to charitable organizations including schools, a college, a medical consortium, and organizations supporting Jewish and Israeli communities.

Gardner Family Charitable Foundation at a glance

In short: Gardner Family Charitable Foundation gave $354K across 46 grants in 2024 (avg $8K), top state Massachusetts. 36% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$353,985
-1.1% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
46
+35.3% vs 2023
Average grant
$7,695
-26.9% vs 2023
Median grant
$2,500
Total assets
$1,395,002
-5.1% vs 2023
New grantees (estimate)
36% first-time grantees (16 of 45, 2024)
Primary geography
Massachusetts (45% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

How to apply to Gardner Family Charitable Foundation

Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to Apply

The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.

Contact

Mailing address: PO Box 697, No Andover, MA 01845
Phone: (978) 687-2321

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Gardner Family Charitable Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

American Friends of Shalva: $40KAmerican Friends of Shalva$40KAmerican Friends of Leket Isreal: $40KAmerican Friends of LeketIsreal$40KBrothers for Life: $40KBrothers for Life$40KThe Foundation to Combat Anitisemitism: $40KThe Foundation to CombatAnitisemitism$40KTemple Emanuel: $22K across 2 grantsTemple Emanuel$22K · 2 grantsThe Governor's Academy: $20KThe Governor's Academy$20KUjajcc of Greenwich: $17KUjajcc of Greenwich$17KBrooks School: $15KBrooks School$15KCongregation of Ahavat Olam: $10KCongregation of Ahavat Olam$10KThe Hill School: $10KThe Hill School$10K

The largest 2024 recipient was American Friends of Shalva ($40K). Together the top 10 received $254K.

Grant Size Distribution

229 grants across all recorded years

221<$50K3$50–100K5$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 221 grants of 229 (97%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, Massachusetts received 45% of grant dollars, followed by New York (17%), New Jersey (11%), Washington (11%), and Connecticut (7%).

Grant Distribution by State

16states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 46 itemized grants.

Cities

AndoverNew YorkLawrenceNorth AndoverByfieldGloucesterGreenwichBostonLowellSchenectadyWashingtonGrotonMethuenPottstownWilliamstownBeverlyElkins ParkMedfordWallingfordManchester By The Sea

Is Gardner Family Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?

36%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 16 of 45 grantees (36%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $9K; repeat grants $7K. How we count

Medians: $1K first-time, $3K repeat.

  • 53% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving fell 20% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 89% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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

$0$200K$400K$600K57 grants2020 52 grants2021 40 grants2022 34 grants2023 46 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $354K (2024) to $466K (2020). In 2024 it made 46 grants totaling $354K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
American Friends of Shalva New York, NYTo Support Organization Activities$40,000
American Friends of Leket Isreal Teaneck, NJTo Support Organization Activities$40,000
Brothers for Life Seattle, WATo Support Organization Activities$40,000
The Foundation to Combat Anitisemitism Foxborough, MATo Support Organization Activities$40,000
Temple Emanuel Andover, MATo Support Organization Activities$20,000
The Governor's Academy Byfield, MATo Support Organization Activities$20,000
Ujajcc of Greenwich Greenwich, CTTo Support Organization Activities$16,660
Brooks School North Andover, MATo Support Organization Activities$15,000
Congregation of Ahavat Olam North Andover, MATo Support Organization Activities$10,272
The Hill School Pottstown, PATo Support Organization Activities$10,000
Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with Gardner Family Charitable Foundation?

Fully replaces Grant database subscriptions Instrumentl · Foundation Directory · GrantStation & similar

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$1,395,002$312,303$387,009$353,98546$353,985$312,303$398,698
2023$1,469,708$255,363$386,212$357,93734$357,937$255,363$329,810
2022$1,600,557$227,921$466,944$452,40740$442,857$227,921$320,306
2021$1,839,580$252,447$482,443$445,06252$445,062$226,440$349,706
2020$2,069,576$750,192$491,890$465,84757—$728,661$280,673

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Gardner Family Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $399K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, Brothers for Life says it supports Jewish and Israeli heroism through education, mentoring, social services, and financial aid, including support for injured combat veterans. Brooks School describes itself as a college preparatory school, while the Hill School says it prepares students for college, careers, and life. National PERT Consortium says it coordinates and expedites pulmonary embolism treatment through a multidisciplinary team of physicians.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 46 grants totaling $353,985. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $40,000, with a median grant of $2,500.

Among the largest reported grants were $40,000 each to American Friends of Shalva, American Friends of Leket Israel, Brothers for Life, and the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism. Other grants included $20,000 each to Temple Emanuel and The Governor’s Academy; $16,660 to UJAJCC of Greenwich; and $15,000 to Brooks School.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists the following trustees: Howard Morse Gardner, Naomi A. Gardner, Meredith Gardner Rubenzahl, Stephanie Gardner Ginsberg, Alexandra Gardner Fern, and Juliane Gardner Spencer.

Gardner Family Charitable Foundation's 2024 filing lists 6 officers; none of the 6 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Alexandra Gardner Fern

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Howard Morse Gardner

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Juliane Gardner Spencer

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Meredith Gardner Rubenzahl

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Naomi A. Gardner

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Stephanie Gardner Ginsberg

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Frequently asked questions about Gardner Family Charitable Foundation

How much does Gardner Family Charitable Foundation give each year?

Gardner Family Charitable Foundation gave $354K across 46 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $358K across 34 grants.

What is Gardner Family Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?

Gardner Family Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,500, and its average grant was $7,695, across 46 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Gardner Family Charitable Foundation that year got $9K on average.

Where does Gardner Family Charitable Foundation give grants?

Gardner Family Charitable Foundation's top state is Massachusetts, with 45% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (17%) and New Jersey (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (6 grants), Lawrence, MA (5 grants), Andover, MA (3 grants) and North Andover, MA (3 grants).

Does Gardner Family Charitable Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 46 grants with a stated purpose on Gardner Family Charitable Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Support Organization Activities" (42 grants) and "To Support Organization Activi" (3 grants).

Who are Gardner Family Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?

Gardner Family Charitable Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include American Friends of Shalva ($40,000), American Friends of Leket Isreal ($40,000) and Brothers for Life ($40,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 34% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Gardner Family Charitable Foundation?

Gardner Family Charitable Foundation reported $1.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $354K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $399K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.

What does Gardner Family Charitable Foundation fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, Brothers for Life says it supports Jewish and Israeli heroism through education, mentoring, social services, and financial aid, including support for injured combat veterans. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Gardner Family Charitable Foundation?

The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Gardner Family Charitable Foundation's EIN?

Gardner Family Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-2003567. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Does Gardner Family Charitable 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

(1)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in Gardner Family Charitable Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database

Similar Funders

Funders that support many of the same organizations

IBM International Foundation

Armonk, NY

The IBM International Foundation funds education and workforce programs that build 21st-century and technology job skills, including initiatives for underserved students and job seekers. Its 2024 grants ranged from $10,000 to $8.48 million, with a median of $100,000, and went to organizations across several U.S. states, especially Delaware and Massachusetts. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Assets

$357.7M

Grants

16

Total Given

$11.7M

Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Inc

Princeton, NJ

The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation supports health access and stronger health systems, with a focus on adult and pediatric cancers, blood disorders, brain health, and clinical-trial participation in the United States, Brazil, India, and ten Sub-Saharan African countries. In 2024, its median grant was about $134,000, though awards varied widely; it does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests, and advises prospective applicants to contact the Foundation about its process.

Assets

$83.3M

Grants

144

Total Given

$67.7M

Essex County Community Foundation Inc

Beverly, MA

Essex County Community Foundation supports nonprofits addressing needs and opportunities in areas such as youth education, essential needs, veterans, women and girls, community response, and digital equity. Its 2025 grants had a median of $16,000, with awards ranging from $5,100 to $576,250, and it primarily serves Essex County, Massachusetts. It accepts applications for specific competitive grant programs through an online process; one listed program is invitation-only.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$150.5M

Grants

302

Total Given

$13.0M

Demoulas Foundation

Chelmsford, MA

The Demoulas Foundation supports education, health, civic and cultural work, and religious organizations, primarily in Massachusetts, with some grants in New Hampshire, New York, and Rhode Island. Its 2024 grants ranged from $500 to $30,653, with a median of $5,000. It accepts unsolicited requests by letter describing the need for support.

Assets

$23.9M

Grants

209

Total Given

$1.1M

United Way Worldwide

Alexandria, VA

United Way Worldwide funds community programs focused on youth opportunity, health, financial security, education, and disaster relief, with 2024 grants made across multiple U.S. states and internationally. Its 209 reported grants ranged from $5,100 to $736,333, with a median of $22,675. It does not state whether it accepts unsolicited grant requests.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$68.0M

Grants

209

Total Given

$11.4M

The Rockefeller Foundation

New York, NY

The Rockefeller Foundation funds initiatives in energy access, sustainable food systems, health, climate, economic opportunity, and finance in the United States and around the world. In 2024, it made 381 grants, with a median grant of about $171,000, though awards ranged widely; it does not accept unsolicited requests and funds preselected organizations only.

Assets

$6.4B

Grants

381

Total Given

$233.2M

More similar funders

More Funders in Massachusetts

Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Gardner Family Charitable Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/gardner-family-charitable-foundation-morg_4e3819a676d9467fa06924148eae887d

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_202003567_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Gardner Family Charitable Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/gardner-family-charitable-foundation-morg_4e3819a676d9467fa06924148eae887d},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Gardner Family Charitable 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.

Gardner Family Charitable Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?

Want AI to do this for you?