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Gary Sinise Foundation

NASHVILLE, TN EIN: 80-0587086 Website

The Gary Sinise Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Franklin, Tennessee (with offices in Nashville). Founded in 2010, the organization serves the nation by honoring defenders, veterans, first responders, their families, and those in need through programs designed to entertain, educate, inspire, strengthen, and build communities.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$85.6M

+10.5% YoY

Annual Giving

$9.6M

+120.8% YoY

Grant Count

145

+504.2% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$66K

-63.5% YoY

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

Mission & Focus Areas

Mission Statement: To serve the nation by honoring its defenders, veterans, first responders, their families, and those in need by creating and supporting unique programs designed to entertain, educate, inspire, strengthen, and build communities.

Primary Focus Areas:

  • Relief and Resiliency Outreach: Financial aid and support for wounded, ill, and injured veterans; families of fallen heroes; and those coping with trauma and loss
  • Veteran Support: Programs serving veterans from all conflicts, including severely wounded heroes and post-9/11 injured service members
  • First Responder Support: Assistance for active first responders and their families
  • Specialized Programs:
    • Adapted smart homes for severely wounded heroes
    • Adapted vehicles and mobility devices
    • Mental wellness and suicide prevention support
    • Mentorship programs for injured heroes
    • Snowball events for families of fallen military and first responder heroes
    • Soaring Valor program (in partnership with The National WWII Museum)
    • Oral history documentation of WWII veterans

Grantmaking

The foundation provides direct grants and financial assistance to individuals and first responder departments:

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation operates nationally, serving communities across the United States. Recent grant activity documented in multiple states including Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina.

Grant Distribution by State

50states
+44 more states

Cities

AlbionAlexandriaAlpharettaAlringtonAmboyApoArcadiaArdmoreArlingtonAshcampAthelstaneAtlantaAuburnAugustaAuroraAustinAutryvilleBabcockBallwinBandera

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Most Recent Financial Data (2024-2025):

  • Total Revenue: $85.5 million (2025)
  • Total Expenses: $82.7 million (2025)
  • Total Assets: $89 million (2025)
  • Total Liabilities: $5.61 million (2025)

2024 Tax Year:

  • Total Revenues: $81,363,373
  • Total Expenses: $75,061,687
  • Total Assets: $85,641,059
  • Program Spending: 86.1% of budget
  • Overhead: 13.9% of budget

Staffing: 68-89 employees

Rating: Four-Star rating with 100% score on accountability and finance metrics

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$22M$45M$67M$89M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$85,641,059$77,522,630$83,884,656
Revenue$81,363,373$10,672,674$61,342,171
Expenses$75,061,687$15,917,661$59,160,035
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income$2,907,987$172,656$820,138
Distributable Amount

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$3M$5M$8M$11M60 grants2020138 grants202190 grants202224 grants2023145 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

AVALON ACTION ALLIANCE$2.0MCU ANSCHUTZ ADVANCEMENT …$500KMUNICIPAL EMERGENCY SERV…$499KANGELS OF AMERICA'S FALLEN$450KFRIENDS OF FIREFIGHTERS …$400KWARRIORS HEART$303KTEXAS A&M FOUNDATION$200KWARRIORS REUNION FOUNDAT…$170KCREATIVETS$166KSAFE INDUSTRIES$158K

Grant Size Distribution

224 grants across all recorded years

115<$50K47$50–100K38$100–250K15$250–500K4$500K–1M4$1–5M1$5M+

Open Grants

1 open opportunity from Gary Sinise Foundation

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

No grants recorded for .

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

  • Executive Director: Donna Mercier
  • Board Members: Include Vincent Brooks and others
  • Key Staff: James Ravella (Executive Vice President), Barbara Titus (Vice President Business Operations)

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

DONNA MERCIEREXECUTIVE DIRECTOR$376KBARBARA TITUSSR. VP - OPERATIONS/BUSINESS$227KJAMES RAVELLASR. VP OF PROGRAMS$218KCRISTIN K BARTTERVP OF MARKETING$208KDAVID KAHLESENIOR PHILANTHROPIC ADVIS$196KSARAH HOLLISVP OF PHILANTHROPY$189KSHANNON WOODWARDVP OF PHILANTHROPY$164KERIN DANCERSENIOR PHILANTHROPIC ADVISOR$160KHANNAH LUPPINOVP OF PROGRAMS$155KROBERT KILDUFFCFO (UNTIL 8/2023)$153KGILBERT M BOSWORTHVP OF OUTREACH & EDUCATION$150KCHRISTINA A KREISELSENIOR DIRECTOR-CORP/COMMU$143KROBERT GEORGESR. DIRECTOR OF OUTREACH$136KLAURA M KRIEGERDIRECTOR OF RESEARCH-PHILA$135KMEGAN RIELSR. SALESFORCE SPECIALIST$130KRAVEN STRINGERACCOUNTANT$108K

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
MOIRA SINISEDIRECTOR10
PASTOR VELASCODIRECTOR10
GREGORY D GADSONDIRECTOR10
ROBERT PENCEDIRECTOR10
PATRICIA HOROHODIRECTOR10
ANDREA MANDELLDIRECTOR (FROM 8/2023)10
JIM SHUBERTDIRECTOR/TREASURER10
VINCENT BROOKSDIRECTOR/VICE CHAIR OF THE10
GARY SINISECHAIR,PRESIDENT,DIRECTOR10
JOHN D HEUBUSCHDIRECTOR/SECRETARY10
BARBARA TITUSSR. VP - OPERATIONS/BUSINESS40$227,195
DONNA MERCIEREXECUTIVE DIRECTOR40$376,287
JAMES RAVELLASR. VP OF PROGRAMS40$217,552
ROBERT KILDUFFCFO (UNTIL 8/2023)40$152,653
CRISTIN K BARTTERVP OF MARKETING40$208,081
GILBERT M BOSWORTHVP OF OUTREACH & EDUCATION40$149,937
HANNAH LUPPINOVP OF PROGRAMS40$154,525
RAVEN STRINGERACCOUNTANT40$108,009
SHANNON WOODWARDVP OF PHILANTHROPY40$163,631
ROBERT GEORGESR. DIRECTOR OF OUTREACH40$135,564
SARAH HOLLISVP OF PHILANTHROPY40$189,411
DAVID KAHLESENIOR PHILANTHROPIC ADVIS40$196,433
CHRISTINA A KREISELSENIOR DIRECTOR-CORP/COMMU40$142,699
LAURA M KRIEGERDIRECTOR OF RESEARCH-PHILA40$135,245
ERIN DANCERSENIOR PHILANTHROPIC ADVISOR40$159,938
MEGAN RIELSR. SALESFORCE SPECIALIST40$129,855

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

The foundation continues active grantmaking to first responder departments for equipment and training needs. Recent grant announcements include support for fire rescue dive teams, EMS services, and fire department extrication equipment across multiple states. The organization maintains ongoing programs including annual snowball events for families of fallen heroes and mentorship retreats for injured veterans.

Clarksville Fire Rescue receives $33K grant for dive team ... - WSMV

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Related Funders

Similar funders by location and focus area

Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

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