Gary & Denise Gardner Family Foundation
Gary & Denise Gardner Family Foundation is a private foundation, based in Chicago, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $310K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 8 grants totaling $314K. Net investment income was $794K.
Gary & Denise Gardner Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Gary & Denise Gardner Family Foundation gave $314K across 8 grants in 2024 (avg $39K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $313,500
- +44.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 8
- -11.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $39,188
- +62.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $310,283
- +1174.4% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Illinois (84% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
Who Gary & Denise Gardner Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was School of the Art Institute of Chicago ($150K). Together the top 8 received $314K.
Grant Size Distribution
49 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 36 grants of 49 (73%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
Cities
How Gary & Denise Gardner Family Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+1%). Method
- In 2022 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $206K (2020) to $314K (2024). In 2024 it made 8 grants totaling $314K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| School of the Art Institute of Chicago Chicago, IL | Charitable | $150,000 |
| Art Institute of Chicago Chicago, IL | Charitable | $60,000 |
| The Museum of Modern Art New York, NY | Charitable | $50,000 |
| Hyde Park Art Center Chicago, IL | Charitable | $40,000 |
| Chicago Chapter Charities Foundation Inc Evergreen Park, IL | Charitable | $10,000 |
| Lyric Opera of Chicago Chicago, IL | Charitable | $2,000 |
| Chicago Police Memorial Foundation Chicago, IL | Charitable | $1,000 |
| Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, IL | Charitable | $500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $310,283 | $1,806,595 | $740,253 | $313,500 | 8 | $729,523 | $793,875 | — |
| 2023 | $24,347 | $329,749 | $219,416 | $217,600 | 9 | $218,265 | $139,651 | — |
| 2022 | $46,510 | $-4,465 | $238,516 | $233,000 | 6 | $233,715 | $29 | $8,684 |
| 2021 | $289,448 | $581,183 | $312,039 | $310,000 | 16 | $310,765 | $286,879 | $15,867 |
| 2020 | $284,927 | $7,694 | $213,066 | $205,800 | 10 | — | $6,604 | $20,111 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Gary & Denise Gardner Family Foundation is led by Gary E. Gardner, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Gary E. Gardner
President
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Betty B. Barnett
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Denise B. Gardner
Secretary
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
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 Gary & Denise Gardner Family Foundation
How much does Gary & Denise Gardner Family Foundation give each year?
Gary & Denise Gardner Family Foundation gave $314K across 8 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $218K across 9 grants.
What is Gary & Denise Gardner Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Gary & Denise Gardner Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $39,188, across 8 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Gary & Denise Gardner Family Foundation give grants?
Gary & Denise Gardner Family Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 84% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (6 grants).
Does Gary & Denise Gardner Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 8 grants with a stated purpose on Gary & Denise Gardner Family Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (8 grants).
Who are Gary & Denise Gardner Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Gary & Denise Gardner Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include School of the Art Institute of Chicago ($150,000), Art Institute of Chicago ($60,000) and The Museum of Modern Art ($50,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 83% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Gary & Denise Gardner Family Foundation?
Gary & Denise Gardner Family Foundation reported $310K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $1.8M.
What is Gary & Denise Gardner Family Foundation's EIN?
Gary & Denise Gardner Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4318040. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 9, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 18, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 20, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 22, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Gary & Denise Gardner Family Foundation funds
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