The Gobioff Foundation is a private family foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware, with operations focused on the Tampa Bay area. Established in 2007 by Howard Gobioff, the foundation became tax-exempt in August 2008. The foundation works to support human rights organizations and the Tampa, Florida arts community through strategic grantmaking.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.6M
-13.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$707K
+32.7% YoY
Grant Count
73
+12.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$10K
+18.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Gobioff Foundation reported a distributable amount of $426K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Gobioff Foundation's mission is to "make the world a better place," as directed by founder Howard Gobioff. The foundation supports two primary funding areas:
Arts & Culture: The foundation funds art-focused organizations that enhance the cultural landscape of the Tampa Bay region through exhibitions and public performances. The foundation does not currently fund classes or educational opportunities.
Human Rights & Civil Liberties: The foundation actively seeks organizations in the Tampa Bay area working toward equity, inclusivity, and diversity.
The foundation's mission is described as dynamic and constantly developing as the organization and family grow.
Grantmaking
Recent grants awarded in 2024 include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations and projects in the Tampa Bay area, specifically Hillsborough and Pinellas counties in Florida. However, the foundation's giving extends across 18 states, including Florida, California, New York, Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, and others.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent (2024):
- Total Assets: $3,631,787
- Total Revenue: $237,835
- Total Expenses: $803,121
- Total Giving: $676,815–$759,439
Grant Statistics:
- Giving Rate: 19.4%
- Average Grant Amount: $10,807
- Median Grant Amount: $10,000
- Total Grants Awarded (lifetime): 198
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,631,787 | $4,197,073 | $4,565,416 |
| Revenue | $237,835 | $236,249 | $50,867 |
| Expenses | $803,121 | $604,592 | $685,113 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $759,439 | $563,576 | $580,190 |
| Net Investment Income | $227,003 | $244,886 | $21,810 |
| Distributable Amount | $425,785 | $368,049 | $386,316 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Dr Carter G Woodson African American Museum Inc ($25,000), Aids Healthcare Foundation ($20,000), Cbe-pride ($20,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| POWERSTORIES THEATRE OF TAMPA BAY INC TAMPA, FL | General & Unrestricted | $15,000 |
| AFRICAN AMERICAN LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION PITTSBURGH, PA | African Arts in the Park Tampa | $10,000 |
| AIDS HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION LOS ANGELES, CA | Charitable Event | $20,000 |
| ARTS CENTER ASSOCIATION INC ST PETERSBURG, FL | to support the exhibition: "Fresh Squeezed 8: Emerging Artists in Florida" | $10,000 |
| ARTS4ALL FLORIDA TAMPA, FL | The Art of Wellbeing | $10,000 |
| B McMahon Gulfport, FL | Scholarship Grant | $500 |
| BAT WORLD SANCTUARY WEATHERFORD, TX | General & Unrestricted | $100 |
| CBE-PRIDE WASHINGTON, DC | General & Unrestricted | $20,000 |
| CENTER FOR BLACK EDUCATOR DEVELOPMENT ELKINS PARK, PA | General & Unrestricted | $20,000 |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF TAMPA BAY INC TAMPA, FL | Arts and culture story-telling initiative | $12,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Neil Gobioff: Director, President, and Secretary (works 25 hours per week without compensation)
- Gianna Rendina-Gobioff: Vice President (works 25 hours per week without compensation)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neil Gobioff | Dir, Pres, Sec | 25 | — |
| Gianna Rendina-Gobioff | VP | 25 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**2025 Microgrant Recipients:** The foundation announced 2025 Cycle 4 microgrant recipients, including:
MicrograntsTaelynna Czech for "Vibrant Visions: A Colorful Community Celebration" (May 16, 2026, at Unitarian Universalist Church of Clearwater)
Jeremiah Woody for "Galileo's Puberty," a spoken-word film project
**Treasure Tampa Initiative:** The foundation operates Treasure Tampa (T²), a creative placemaking program that facilitates community partnerships and funds projects to increase creative placemaking initiatives within Tampa. The initiative aims to enhance community engagement through arts and culture.
Creative Pinellas, Gobioff Foundation, City of Clearwater artist grant opportunitiesSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Gobioff Foundation fund?
The Gobioff Foundation's mission is to "make the world a better place," as directed by founder Howard Gobioff. The foundation supports two primary funding areas: **Arts & Culture:** The foundation funds art-focused organizations that enhance the cultural landscape of the Tampa Bay region through exhibitions and public performances. The foundation does not currently fund classes or educational opportunities. **Human Rights & Civil Liberties:** The foundation actively seeks organizations in the T…
How do I apply for a grant from Gobioff Foundation?
**Microgrant Program:** The primary competitive grant program offers up to $500 per grant to individual artists (not groups or nonprofits) for publicly accessible art projects and events in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, Florida. Key details include: • Maximum grant amount: $500 • No more than $100 (or 20% of budget) can be allocated to the applicant • Transportation expenses cannot exceed $100 (or 20% of budget) • Up to 4 grants per cycle (maximum $2,000 per cycle; up to $8,000 annually) …
Where does Gobioff Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations and projects in the Tampa Bay area, specifically Hillsborough and Pinellas counties in Florida. However, the foundation's giving extends across 18 states, including Florida, California, New York, Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, and others.
What size grants does Gobioff Foundation award?
In 2024, Gobioff Foundation awarded 73 grants totaling $707K — an average of about $10K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Gobioff Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Gobioff Foundation reported a distributable amount of $426K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Gobioff Foundation's EIN?
Gobioff Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-1207454. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Gobioff 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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