Goolsby-Gardner Educational Fund
Goolsby-Gardner Educational Fund is a private foundation based in Marion, Virginia. Its 2025 filing describes educational grants for qualified students based on need.
Goolsby-Gardner Educational Fund at a glance
In short: Goolsby-Gardner Educational Fund gave $36K across 23 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in Virginia. 39% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $36,000
- +24.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 23
- +15.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,565
- +7.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,500
- Total assets
- $882,604
- +9.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 39% first-time grantees (9 of 23, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Virginia (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Goolsby-Gardner Educational Fund
- How to Apply
-
The filing lists JS Staley Jr as the contact and says a copy of the application is on file. Applicants must be Smyth County, Virginia, residents who wish to attend college or a United States service academy or school, demonstrate actual financial need, and have and maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher. The filing describes the application as nondiscriminatory.
- Review Cycle
- The filing lists June 15 each year. The June 15, 2026 deadline has passed.
- Deadline
- The filing lists June 15 each year.
- Contact
Application contact: Js Staley Jr
Mailing address: PO Box 486, Marion, VA 24354
Phone: (276) 783-2705
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Goolsby-Gardner Educational Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Ethan Robert Surber ($3K). Together the top 10 received $22K.
Grant Size Distribution
116 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 116 grants of 116 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All reported 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Virginia. The application requirements specify Smyth County, Virginia, residency.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 23 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Goolsby-Gardner Educational Fund open to new grantees?
39%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 9 of 23 grantees (39%) were first-time recipients. With only 23 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 61% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+4%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 386% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $28K (2023) to $49K (2021). In 2025 it made 23 grants totaling $36K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ethan Robert Surber Saltville, VA | Education | $2,500 |
| Harper Adams Atkins, VA | Education | $2,500 |
| Brennan Anders Marion, VA | Education | $2,500 |
| Wen Boswell-Bailey Chilhowie, VA | Education | $2,500 |
| Anna Hagy Marion, VA | Education | $2,500 |
| Katherine Hammond Marion, VA | Education | $2,500 |
| Aiden Drew Hoagland Chilhowie, VA | Education | $2,000 |
| Ezra Pennington Marion, VA | Education | $2,000 |
| Zachary E Hall Chilhowie, VA | Education | $1,500 |
| Logan Skyler Langston Marion, VA | Education | $1,500 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $882,604 | $148,406 | $73,053 | $36,000 | 23 | $383,316 | $133,749 | $99,283 |
| 2024 | $807,251 | $49,561 | $61,519 | $29,000 | 20 | $355,314 | $37,642 | $95,011 |
| 2023 | $819,209 | $76,353 | $57,834 | $28,000 | 20 | $332,388 | $39,851 | $87,559 |
| 2022 | $800,690 | $75,361 | $60,396 | $34,750 | 28 | $319,610 | $38,346 | $85,962 |
| 2021 | $785,725 | $68,359 | $75,989 | $48,500 | 25 | $337,999 | $39,871 | $144,197 |
| 2020 | $793,355 | $26,950 | $61,327 | $30,000 | 31 | — | $35,692 | $80,504 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Goolsby-Gardner Educational Fund reported a distributable amount of $99K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s filing describes educational grants to qualified students based on need. It does not state a separate mission.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 23 grants totaling $36,000. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $2,500, with a median of $1,500. The filing’s direct charitable activity statement separately describes 20 educational grants to qualified students based on need.
Among the largest reported 2025 grants were $2,500 each to Ethan Robert Surber, Harper Adams, Brennan Anders, Wen Boswell-Bailey, Anna Hagy, and Katherine Hammond, all for education.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists JS Staley Jr, Joel G. Pugh, and Michael A. Davidson as trustees.
Goolsby-Gardner Educational Fund's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; all 3 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Joel G. Pugh
Trustee
On filings since 2020
$4K (2020) → $5K (2025)
Js Staley Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2020
$4K (2020) → $5K (2025)
Michael A. Davidson
Trustee
On filings since 2020
$4K (2020) → $5K (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $5K, to JS Staley Jr (Trustee). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Goolsby-Gardner Educational Fund
How much does Goolsby-Gardner Educational Fund give each year?
Goolsby-Gardner Educational Fund gave $36K across 23 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $29K across 20 grants.
What is Goolsby-Gardner Educational Fund's typical grant size?
Goolsby-Gardner Educational Fund's median grant in 2025 was $1,500, and its average grant was $1,565, across 23 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Goolsby-Gardner Educational Fund that year got $1K on average.
Where does Goolsby-Gardner Educational Fund give grants?
Goolsby-Gardner Educational Fund gives mostly in Virginia: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Marion, VA (14 grants), Chilhowie, VA (6 grants) and Saltville, VA (2 grants).
Does Goolsby-Gardner Educational Fund give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 23 grants with a stated purpose on Goolsby-Gardner Educational Fund's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Education" (23 grants).
Who are Goolsby-Gardner Educational Fund's largest grantees?
Goolsby-Gardner Educational Fund's largest 2025 grantees include Ethan Robert Surber ($2,500), Harper Adams ($2,500) and Brennan Anders ($2,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 21% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Goolsby-Gardner Educational Fund?
Goolsby-Gardner Educational Fund reported $883K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $383K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $99K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Goolsby-Gardner Educational Fund fund?
The foundation’s filing describes educational grants to qualified students based on need. It does not state a separate mission. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Goolsby-Gardner Educational Fund?
The filing lists JS Staley Jr as the contact and says a copy of the application is on file. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Goolsby-Gardner Educational Fund's EIN?
Goolsby-Gardner Educational Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 54-6067955. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Figures come from Goolsby-Gardner Educational Fund's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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