Gillis Family Foundation
The Gillis Family Foundation is a private foundation (501(c)(3)) based in Columbus, Mississippi. Established in 2014, the foundation primarily funds grants to help further the missions of donee organizations. Investment stock sales provide part of the funding for grants contributed by the foundation.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.5M
+6.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$229K
-54.4% YoY
Grant Count
47
-4.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
-52.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Gillis Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $59K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grantmaking focuses on:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Youth Services
- Scouting Organizations
- Faith-based initiatives
Grantmaking
The foundation supports organizations across multiple states, with documented giving in Mississippi, Colorado, and the District of Columbia.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Primary funding areas include Mississippi, Colorado, and the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $1,374,643
- Total Revenues: $752,902
- Total Expenses: $515,772
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $1,458,022
The foundation operates with no employees and relies on investment income and capital gains from stock sales to fund its grantmaking activities.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,458,022 | $1,374,643 | $1,137,210 |
| Revenue | $326,724 | $752,902 | $424,640 |
| Expenses | $243,195 | $515,772 | $291,397 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $228,810 | $501,692 | $283,525 |
| Net Investment Income | $206,724 | $194,508 | $112,640 |
| Distributable Amount | $59,214 | $59,832 | $54,543 |
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
151 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Fellowship of Christian Athletes ($162,000), Stateline Baptist Church ($25,000), Band of Brothers ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALS ASSOCIATION ARLINGTON, VA | TO HELP FURTHER THE MISSION OF THE DONEE ORGANIZATION | $200 |
| ALZHEIMERS DISEASE RESEARCH CLARKSBURG, MD | TO FURTHER THE MISSION OF THE DONEE ORGANIZATION | $50 |
| AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY PHILADELPHIA, PA | TO HELP FURTHER THE MISSION OF THE DONEE ORGANIZATION | $100 |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY HAGERSTOWN, MD | TO HELP FURTHER THE MISSION OF THE DONEE ORGANIZATION | $50 |
| AMERICAN CORNERSTONE INSTITUTE WASHINGTON, DC | TO HELP FURTHER THE MISSION OF THE DONEE ORGANIZATION | $100 |
| AMERICAN FAMILY ASSOCIATION TUPELO, MS | TO HELP FURTHER THE MISSION OF THE DONEE ORGANIZATION | $100 |
| AWANA STREAMWOOD, IL | TO HELP FURTHER THE MISSION OF THE DONEE ORGANIZATION | $6,000 |
| BAND OF BROTHERS FRANKLIN, TN | TO HELP FURTHER THE MISSION OF THE DONEE ORGANIZATION | $10,000 |
| BETHLEHEM BIBLE COLLEGE NEW BRAUNFELS, TX | TO HELP FUTHER THE MISSION OF THE DONEE ORGANIZATION | $250 |
| BIBLICA PALMER LAKE, CO | TO HELP FURTHER THE MISSION OF THE DONEE ORGANIZATION | $200 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Joseph A. Gillis – Director, Chair of Board
- Betty J. Gillis – Vice President & Secretary, Director
- Johanna Littlejohn – Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOSEPH A GILLIS | DIRECTOR, CHAIR OF BOARD, | 8 | — |
| BETTY J GILLIS | VP & SECRETARY, DIRECTOR | 8 | — |
| JOHANNA LITTLEJOHN | DIRECTOR | 8 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Gillis Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's grantmaking focuses on: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Youth Services • Scouting Organizations • Faith-based initiatives
How do I apply for a grant from Gillis Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 21 grants in 2023 • Total giving: $228,810 (most recent data) • Typical award range: $25,000–$354,000 **Recent Grants (2023):** • Fellowship of Christian Athletes: $354,000 • Hispaniola Mountain Ministries: $50,000 • Shepherd's Staff Mission Facilitators: $10,000 The foundation supports organizations across multiple states, with documented giving in Mississippi, Colorado, and the District of Columbia.
Where does Gillis Family Foundation make grants?
Primary funding areas include Mississippi, Colorado, and the District of Columbia.
What size grants does Gillis Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Gillis Family Foundation awarded 47 grants totaling $229K — an average of about $5K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Gillis Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Gillis Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $59K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Gillis Family Foundation's EIN?
Gillis Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 32-0363877. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Gillis Family 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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