Gardner Foundation
The Gardner Foundation is a private foundation located in Wakefield, Nebraska, established in 1990 following the Gardner Family's sale of their interest in the M.G. Waldbaum Co. The foundation provides charitable grants to tax-exempt organizations carrying on religious, charitable, scientific, literary, and educational activities.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$1.4M
+2.0% YoY
Grant Count
20
+5.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$69K
-3.1% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Gardner Foundation's objective is to provide charitable grants to worthy tax-exempt organizations exclusively. The foundation supports organizations that are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and may also make grants to state or city entities when grants are made exclusively for public purposes.
Grantmaking
The foundation accepts applications. No confirmed application deadlines are specified; foundations without stipulated deadlines are best approached directly for more information. The foundation's fiscal year ends in December.
Grant Range
$25,000
Review Cycle
are specified; foundations without stipulated deadlines are best approached directly for more information. The foundation's fiscal year ends in December.
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The majority of projects and programs funded by The Gardner Foundation are within a 75-mile radius of Wakefield, Nebraska. The foundation provides funding across eastern Nebraska, northwest Iowa, and beyond.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Most Recent Reporting (2024):
- Total assets: $23.1 million
- Annual giving: $600,000
- Income: $1,752,710 (as of 2023 reporting year)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
93 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Wayne State Foundation ($512,078), Wayne State Foundation ($195,119), Dixon County Agricultural Society ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMI KIDS TAMPA, FL | OUTREACH | $20,000 |
| BUILDERS INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION OZARK, MO | GENERAL FUNDING | $7,000 |
| CITY OF WAYNE WAYNE, NE | GENERAL FUNDING | $50,000 |
| COMMUNITY RECREATION OF WAKEFIELD WAKEFIELD, NE | GENERAL FUNDING | $9,561 |
| DIOCESE OF CHARLESTONCATHOLIC COMM FDTN CHARLESTON, SC | GENERAL FUND | $50,000 |
| DIXON COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY WAKEFIELD, NE | GENERAL FUNDING | $100,000 |
| EMERSON HUBBARD SCHOOL EMERSON, NE | ONE BOOK, ONE SCHOOL PROGRAM | $803 |
| FAITH & FAMILY PRODUCTION INC CONCORD, NE | GENERAL FUNDING | $5,000 |
| HILLRISE ELEMENTARY PTO ELKHORN, NE | GENERAL FUNDING | $2,000 |
| LITTLE RED HEN THEATRE WAKEFIELD, NE | OUTREACH | $75,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- David Gardner (Trustee)
- Leslie Bebee (Trustee)
- Kirk Gardner (Trustee)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LESLIE A BEBEE | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 30 | $45,000 |
| DAVID J GARDNER | TRUSTEE | 10 | $12,000 |
| KIRK N GARDNER | TRUSTEE | 10 | $12,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Gardner Foundation awarded a $100,000 grant to the Dixon County Agricultural Society in 2024 for general funding support of the organization's annual county fair promoting agricultural sciences through amusement, product showing, and education to local residents.
CITY OF GARDNER AWARDED $252,000 PARC GRANT FOR NEW PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENTSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Gardner Foundation fund?
The Gardner Foundation's objective is to provide charitable grants to worthy tax-exempt organizations exclusively. The foundation supports organizations that are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and may also make grants to state or city entities when grants are made exclusively for public purposes.
How do I apply for a grant from Gardner Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Annual giving: approximately $600,000 • Number of grants: 16 annually • Median grant size: $25,000 • Grant range: $2,000 to $100,000 • Giving rate: 2.6% of assets **Application Process:** The foundation accepts applications. No confirmed application deadlines are specified; foundations without stipulated deadlines are best approached directly for more information. The foundation's fiscal year ends in December.
Where does Gardner Foundation make grants?
The majority of projects and programs funded by The Gardner Foundation are within a 75-mile radius of Wakefield, Nebraska. The foundation provides funding across eastern Nebraska, northwest Iowa, and beyond.
What size grants does Gardner Foundation award?
In 2024, Gardner Foundation awarded 20 grants totaling $1.4M — an average of about $69K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Gardner Foundation's EIN?
Gardner Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3705723. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Gardner 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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