Governor's Early Literacy Foundation
The mission of governor's early literacy foundaion (GELF) is to strengthen early literacy in Tennessee. GELF equips Tennessee's children with books and innovative literacy tools that encourage lifelong learning for a brighter future. We do this by serving as a thought leader, advisor, and catalyst to sustain early literacy programs for children accross the state, inclusing birth-3 book delivery, k-3 home libraries, caregiver engagement, storybook trails, book buses, and the statewide early literacy education collaborative of Tennessee.
Governor's Early Literacy Foundation at a glance
In short: Governor's Early Literacy Foundation gave $39K across 3 grants in 2025 (avg $13K), mostly in Tennessee. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $39,144
- +76.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 3
- +50.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $13,048
- +17.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,100
- Total assets
- $26,456,237
- +33.4% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Tennessee (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Governor's Early Literacy Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Macon County School Disitrct ($24K). Together the top 3 received $39K.
Grant Size Distribution
23 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 23 grants of 23 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Governor's Early Literacy Foundation gives
- Giving grew 683% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $5K (2022) to $145K (2021). In 2025 it made 3 grants totaling $39K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Macon County School Disitrct Lafayette, TN | Funding to develop and/or make improvements to mobile book bus | $23,644 |
| City of Dayton Dayton, TN | Funding to develop and/or make improvements to mobile book bus | $10,100 |
| Boys and Girls Clubs of the Cumberland Plateau Oneida, TN | Funding to develop and/or make improvements to mobile book bus | $5,400 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $26,456,237 | $22,624,791 | $15,662,441 | $39,144 | 3 | $1,416,539 |
| 2024 | $19,829,433 | $22,655,550 | $19,682,268 | $22,200 | 2 | $1,135,582 |
| 2023 | $21,187,455 | $24,930,131 | $23,200,310 | $27,000 | 3 | $531,188 |
| 2022 | $14,335,895 | $14,676,458 | $13,764,764 | $5,000 | 1 | $214,722 |
| 2021 | $11,541,764 | $13,046,158 | $12,298,051 | $145,095 | 14 | $563,583 |
| 2020 | $8,518,378 | $8,741,381 | $9,108,574 | $32,505 | 3 | $137,525 |
About Governor's Early Literacy Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Governor's Early Literacy Foundation is a public charity focused on Education, based in Nashville, TN. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $26.5M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 3 grants totaling $39K. Net investment income was $1.4M.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Governor's Early Literacy Foundation is led by James Pond, President on every filing since 2020; 4 of 18 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
James Pond
President
On filings since 2020
37.5 hrs/week
$121K (2020) → $221K (2025)
Nancy Dishner
Chair
Board Member → Secretary, 2022
Secretary → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Abigail Sanderson
Director of Development
New on the 2025 filing
37.5 hrs/week
$105K (2025)
Dean Hoskins
Vice President
On filings since 2020
37.5 hrs/week
$103K (2020) → $170K (2025)
Angel Bebout
CFO
New on the 2025 filing
37.5 hrs/week
$94K (2025)
Brandon Gibson
Board Member
Chairman → Board Member, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Denine Torr
Board Member
Board Member → Chairman, 2022
Chairman → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Nicholson
Vice Chair
Board Member - Intern → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeff Ballard
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Colquitt
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Danielle Barnes
Secretary
Board Member → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bryan Jones
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Deborah Reed
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jake Bynum
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nicole Watson
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
William Franklin
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Wildman
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matt Gornick
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (6)
- Former: Dennie Torr (2024) — Board Member
- Former: Jamie Wildman (2024) — Board Member
- Former: Andrea Willis (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Greg Duckett (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Parul Bajaj (2020–2023) — Vice Chair
- Former: Ceegee McCord (2020–2021) — Vice Chair
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 $221K, to James Pond (President). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Governor's Early Literacy Foundation
How much does Governor's Early Literacy Foundation give each year?
Governor's Early Literacy Foundation gave $39K across 3 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $22K across 2 grants.
What is Governor's Early Literacy Foundation's typical grant size?
Governor's Early Literacy Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,100, and its average grant was $13,048, across 3 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Governor's Early Literacy Foundation give grants?
Governor's Early Literacy Foundation gives mostly in Tennessee: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there.
Does Governor's Early Literacy Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 3 grants with a stated purpose on Governor's Early Literacy Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
How large is Governor's Early Literacy Foundation?
Governor's Early Literacy Foundation reported $26.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $22.6M.
What is Governor's Early Literacy Foundation?
Governor's Early Literacy Foundation is a public charity focused on Education, based in Nashville, TN. It holds $26.5M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Governor's Early Literacy Foundation's EIN?
Governor's Early Literacy Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-1115704. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Governor's Early Literacy Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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