Gillis Family Foundation logo

Gillis Family Foundation

COLUMBUS, MS EIN: 32-0363877 Website

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

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

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

25states
+17 more states

Cities

AlbuquerqueArlingtonAuburnBridgevilleCharlotteChesapeakeChicagoCincinnatiClarksburgColorado SpringsColumbusConcordDallasDedhamDuluthFairfaxFranklinGrand RapidsHagerstownJackson

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.

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$207K$414K$621K$828K20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
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

$0$125K$251K$376K$502K14 grants202020 grants202121 grants202249 grants202347 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN …$162KSTATELINE BAPTIST CHURCH$25KBAND OF BROTHERS$10KREACHING & TEACHING INTE…$10KAWANA$6KBILLY GRAHAM EVANGELISTI…$5KFATHERS CHILD MINISTRY$1KMESSIANIC JEWISH ALLIANC…$1KCOLUMBUS CHRISTIAN ACADEMY$1KRACE TRACK CHAPLAINCY OF…$1K

Grant Size Distribution

151 grants across all recorded years

144<$50K3$50–100K3$100–250K1$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

No grants recorded for .

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

NameTitleHoursCompensation
JOSEPH A GILLISDIRECTOR, CHAIR OF BOARD,8
BETTY J GILLISVP & SECRETARY, DIRECTOR8
JOHANNA LITTLEJOHNDIRECTOR8

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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