Gardner Family Charitable Foundation
The Gardner Family Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in North Andover, Massachusetts. It is a 501(c)(3) organization established in 2005 that provides philanthropic support to charitable organizations across the United States.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.4M
-5.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$354K
-1.1% YoY
Grant Count
46
+35.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$8K
-26.9% YoY
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding areas include:
- Education (including higher education and undergraduate education)
- Health and healthcare
- Religion and Judaism
The foundation's stated purpose is to provide cash for continued contributions to charities.
Grantmaking
Average Grant
amount: $50–$200,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports initiatives across multiple U.S. states and cities, including:
States: California, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia
Cities: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and various smaller communities
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $1,395,002
- Annual Expenses: $387,009
- Total Revenue: $312,303
- Number of Employees: 0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,395,002 | $1,469,708 | $1,600,557 |
| Revenue | $312,303 | $255,363 | $227,921 |
| Expenses | $387,009 | $386,212 | $466,944 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $353,985 | $357,937 | $442,857 |
| Net Investment Income | $312,303 | $255,363 | $227,921 |
| Distributable Amount | $398,698 | $329,810 | $320,306 |
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 American Friends of Shalva ($40,000), American Friends of Leket Isreal ($40,000), Brothers for Life ($40,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACADEMY OF JEWISH RELIGION YONKERS, NY | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION ACTIVITIES | $360 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF SHALVA NEW YORK, NY | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION ACTIVITIES | $40,000 |
| B'NAI B'RITH WASHINGTON, DC | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION ACTIVITIES | $178 |
| ACADEMY OF CAMP ASSOCIATION MARTINSVILLE, IN | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION ACTIVITIES | $1,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF ISREAL PHILIHARMONIC NEW YORK, NY | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION ACTIVITIES | $900 |
| BROOKS SCHOOL NORTH ANDOVER, MA | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION ACTIVITIES | $15,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF LEKET ISREAL TEANECK, NJ | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION ACTIVITIES | $40,000 |
| CHABAD AT UNION SCHENECTADY, NY | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION ACTIVITIES | $5,000 |
| CHABAD OF GREENWICH GREENWICH, CT | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION ACTIVITIES | $6,360 |
| CHOATE WALLINGFORD, CT | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION ACTIVITIES | $2,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The board of trustees includes:
- Howard Morse Gardner
- Naomi A. Gardner
- Meredith Gardner Rubenzahl
- Stephanie Gardner Ginsberg
- Alexandra Gardner Fern
- Juliane Gardner Spencer
All trustees serve without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| HOWARD MORSE GARDNER | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| NAOMI A GARDNER | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| MEREDITH GARDNER RUBENZAHL | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| STEPHANIE GARDNER GINSBERG | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| ALEXANDRA GARDNER FERN | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| JULIANE GARDNER SPENCER | TRUSTEE | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Gardner Family Foundation has made significant investments in neuroscience research, including a $20 million gift toward UC neuroscience research and the establishment of the UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute. The foundation also granted $5.25 million to UC Health for specialized care.
Gardner Family Foundation gifts $20M toward UC neuroscience research - MoversSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Gardner Family Charitable Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary funding areas include: • Education (including higher education and undergraduate education) • Health and healthcare • Religion and Judaism The foundation's stated purpose is to provide cash for continued contributions to charities.
How do I apply for a grant from Gardner Family Charitable Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving: $353,985 (most recent fiscal year) • Average grant amount: $50–$200,000 • The foundation made 57 grants in its most recent reporting period **Recent Grants:** • Brothers for Life: $40,000 • American Friends of Shalva Israel: $40,000 • Massachusetts General Hospital and other organizations received support
Where does Gardner Family Charitable Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports initiatives across multiple U.S. states and cities, including: **States:** California, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia **Cities:** Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and various smaller communities
What size grants does Gardner Family Charitable Foundation award?
In 2024, Gardner Family Charitable Foundation awarded 46 grants totaling $354K — an average of about $8K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Gardner Family Charitable Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Gardner Family Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $399K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Gardner Family Charitable 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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