Gardner Foundation Incorporated
Gardner Foundation Incorporated is a private foundation based in Louisville, Kentucky, established in 1979. It operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization with no employees, relying on voluntary leadership to manage its grantmaking activities.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.7M
+1.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$93K
-6.5% YoY
Grant Count
82
+1.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$1K
-7.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Gardner Foundation Incorporated reported a distributable amount of $108K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports a diverse range of charitable causes including:
- Education
- Conservation and environmental protection
- Philanthropy and voluntarism
- Human services
- Religion and charitable work
- Historic preservation
- Medical research
- Civic education
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$250–$7,500
Average Grant
approximately $1,109
Review Cycle
May 1
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Gardner Foundation Incorporated?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Kentucky (primary focus, especially Louisville)
- Indiana
- Virginia
- Hawaii
- Colorado
The foundation also supports various cities across the United States including Cincinnati and Memphis.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Most Recent Filing (2023):
- Total assets: $1,665,277
- Total annual giving: $98,950
- Total revenues: $78,370
- Total expenses: $109,407
- Investment income and dividends: $55,985
Financial Trends:
- Investment income increased 7.6% from prior year
- Expense ratio: 139.6% of total revenue
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,683,702 | $1,665,277 | $1,696,314 |
| Revenue | $120,812 | $78,370 | $87,786 |
| Expenses | $102,387 | $109,407 | $111,214 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $102,387 | $109,407 | $111,214 |
| Net Investment Income | $110,925 | $67,913 | $76,822 |
| Distributable Amount | $107,807 | $100,662 | $103,336 |
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
200 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Father John Judie Ministries Inc ($5,000), Kimokeo Foundation ($5,000), River Fields Inc ($4,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| FATHER JOHN JUDIE MINISTRIES INC Louisville, KY | Charitable | $5,000 |
| Kimokeo Foundation Wailuku, HI | Charitable | $5,000 |
| River Fields Inc Louisville, KY | Conservation | $4,500 |
| Olmsted Parks Conservancy Inc Louisville, KY | ConservationEducational | $4,000 |
| Kentucky Humane Society Louisville, KY | Charitable | $3,500 |
| Filson Historical Society Louisville, KY | EducationalCivic | $3,500 |
| Mission Wolf Westcliffe, CO | Conservation | $3,000 |
| Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest Clermont, KY | conservationeducational | $2,000 |
| The Nature Conservancy Kentucky Chapter Lexington, KY | Conservation | $2,000 |
| Pa'ia Youth and Cultural Ctr Paia, HI | Educationalcharitable | $2,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key personnel (all serving on a voluntary, unpaid basis):
- Marea B. Gardner – President
- William A. Gardner Jr. – Vice President and Treasurer
- Marea G. Clark – Secretary Trustee
- Michael Y. Gardner – Trustee
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| WILLIAM A GARDNER JR | Vice President | 14 | — |
| MAREA G CLARK | Secretary Trustee | 7 | — |
| MICHAEL Y GARDNER | Trustee | 7 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Gardner Foundation Incorporated fund?
The foundation supports a diverse range of charitable causes including: • Education • Conservation and environmental protection • Philanthropy and voluntarism • Human services • Religion and charitable work • Historic preservation • Medical research • Civic education
How do I apply for a grant from Gardner Foundation Incorporated?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical grant range: $250–$7,500 • Average grant size: approximately $1,109 • Recent annual giving: $98,950–$101,500 • Number of grants awarded: 75–81 grants annually **Recent Grant Recipients (2023):** • Kimokeo Foundation: $6,000 • Louisville Olmsted Parks Conservancy: $5,500 • River Fields: $4,500 • Second Stride Inc: $2,500 • Hosparus: $2,000 • Dogs Helping Heroes: $1,500 • Old Friends Inc: $1,000 • Paws with Purpose: $1,000 • Shamrock Foundation: $1,000 • Salva…
Where does Gardner Foundation Incorporated make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Kentucky (primary focus, especially Louisville) • Indiana • Virginia • Hawaii • Colorado The foundation also supports various cities across the United States including Cincinnati and Memphis.
What size grants does Gardner Foundation Incorporated award?
In 2024, Gardner Foundation Incorporated awarded 82 grants totaling $93K — an average of about $1K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Gardner Foundation Incorporated required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Gardner Foundation Incorporated reported a distributable amount of $108K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Gardner Foundation Incorporated's EIN?
Gardner Foundation Incorporated's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-0966287. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Gardner Foundation Incorporated's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
The Community Foundation of
LOUISVILLE, KY
Assets
$699.5M
Grants
616
Total Given
$55.9M
The Community Foundation of Louisville
LOUISVILLE, KY
Assets
$22.0M
Grants
373
Total Given
$18.6M
Ge Aerospace Foundation
NORWALK, CT
Assets
$22.5M
Grants
2,467
Total Given
$15.3M
Baird Foundation Inc
MILWAUKEE, WI
Assets
—
Grants
3,751
Total Given
$6.6M
Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc
INDIANAPOLIS, IN
Assets
$9.1B
Grants
19,253
Total Given
$1.2B
The Community Foundation of Louisville
LOUISVILLE, KY
Assets
$5.2M
Grants
135
Total Given
$5.2M
Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program
SOUTHEASTERN, PA
Assets
$22.2B
Grants
24,269
Total Given
$3.0B
Mightycause Charitable Foundation
MARIANNA, FL
Assets
$6.6M
Grants
3,309
Total Given
$82.3M
W L Lyons Brown Foundation
LOUISVILLE, KY
Assets
$292K
Grants
139
Total Given
$4.1M
National Philanthropic Trust
JENKINTOWN, PA
Assets
$42.2B
Grants
18,583
Total Given
$5.1B
Jpmorgan Chase Foundation
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
10,334
Total Given
$202.5M
Snowy Owl Foundation Inc
LOUISVILLE, KY
Assets
$5.9M
Grants
93
Total Given
$404K
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Gardner Foundation Incorporated on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities