Gradison Foundation
Gradison Foundation is a private foundation based in Cincinnati, Ohio (EIN 31-6032172). Its 2025 grants supported organizations working in social services, culture, education, healthcare, social welfare, and religious activities.
Gradison Foundation at a glance
In short: Gradison Foundation gave $113K across 51 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), top state North Carolina. 16% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $113,225
- -13.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 51
- -29.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,220
- +22.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 16% first-time grantees (8 of 51, 2025)
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (38% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Gradison Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s filing states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It lists Willis D Gradison Jr as the contact and specifies no application form or materials, deadline, or award restrictions.
- Contact
Application contact: Willis D Gradison Jr
Mailing address: 6900 Fleetwood Road 417, Mclean, VA 22101
Phone: (703) 893-2620
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Gradison Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Mountain Projects ($20K). Together the top 10 received $81K.
Grant Size Distribution
332 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 332 grants of 332 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, North Carolina received 38% of grant dollars and Washington, DC, received 30%. Virginia received 7%, Oregon 6%, and Ohio 5%. The largest listed grants also included recipients in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 51 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Gradison Foundation open to new grantees?
16%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 8 of 51 grantees (16%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $1K repeat.
- 82% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+14%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 363% 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 $89K (2021) to $131K (2024). In 2025 it made 51 grants totaling $113K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Mountain Projects Waynesville, NC | Social Services | $20,000 |
| Opera Lafayette Washington, DC | Cultural | $20,000 |
| Leaf Black Mountain, NC | Education | $10,000 |
| Parkmont School Washington, DC | Educational - General Operations | $7,500 |
| Partnership for Applachian Girls Marshall, NC | Educational | $6,000 |
| Brandeis University Waltham, MA | Education | $5,000 |
| Page One of Page County Luray, VA | Social Services | $3,500 |
| Heather Abbott Foundation Newport, RI | Healthcare | $3,000 |
| Hopelink McLean, VA | Social Services | $3,000 |
| Marbles Kids Museum Raleigh, NC | Education | $3,000 |
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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 | — | $65,067 | $132,129 | $113,225 | 51 | $123,432 | $57,370 | $33,988 |
| 2024 | $697,716 | $98,091 | $152,195 | $130,685 | 72 | $138,401 | $86,333 | $53,711 |
| 2023 | $751,820 | $121,345 | $137,922 | $119,875 | 78 | $125,442 | $110,477 | $52,533 |
| 2022 | $763,147 | $99,095 | $121,718 | $99,125 | 70 | $108,324 | $87,228 | $56,772 |
| 2021 | $785,770 | $86,811 | $106,023 | $88,825 | 61 | $92,764 | $73,850 | $66,398 |
| 2020 | $804,982 | $65,599 | $122,941 | $110,500 | 59 | — | $54,044 | $57,667 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Gradison Foundation reported a distributable amount of $34K 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for social services, cultural programs, education, healthcare, social welfare, and religious general operations.
The supported organizations describe varied missions. Mountain Projects says it works to improve lives and communities in Haywood and Jackson Counties. Opera Lafayette presents rediscovered works and historical masterpieces from the 17th through 19th centuries to modern audiences. Parkmont School describes an academic community focused on adolescents’ confidence, skills, success, and well-being. Page One of Page County says it aids community members who cannot meet basic needs. The Heather Abbott Foundation provides customized prostheses to people who have lost limbs through traumatic circumstances. Marbles Kids Museum describes its work as sparking imagination, discovery, and learning through play.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 51 grants totaling $113,225. Grants ranged from $100 to $20,000, with a median of $1,000. Larger awards included $20,000 each to Mountain Projects in Waynesville, North Carolina, for social services and Opera Lafayette in Washington, DC, for cultural purposes; $10,000 to LEAF in Black Mountain, North Carolina, for education; and $7,500 to Parkmont School in Washington, DC, for educational general operations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Willis D Gradison Jr as president and treasurer; Margaret Gradison as vice president and secretary; and Wendy Gradison, Robin Gradison, Beth Lyon, and Cari Gradison as vice presidents.
Gradison Foundation is led by Willis D. Gradison Jr., President & Treasurer on every filing since 2020; none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Willis D. Gradison Jr.
President & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Beth Lyon
Vice President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Cari Gradison
Vice President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Margaret Gradison
V.p. & Secretary
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Robin Gradison
Vice President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Wendy Gradison
Vice President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Joan Gradison Coe (2020–2024) — Vice President
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.
Frequently asked questions about Gradison Foundation
How much does Gradison Foundation give each year?
Gradison Foundation gave $113K across 51 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $131K across 72 grants.
What is Gradison Foundation's typical grant size?
Gradison Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $2,220, across 51 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Gradison Foundation that year got $2K on average.
Where does Gradison Foundation give grants?
Gradison Foundation's top state is North Carolina, with 38% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were District of Columbia (30%) and Virginia (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (10 grants), Cincinnati, OH (7 grants), Waynesville, NC (5 grants) and Corvallis, OR (2 grants).
Does Gradison Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 8% of Gradison Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (4 of 51) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Public Policy" (6 grants), "Healthcare" (5 grants) and "Education" (5 grants).
Who are Gradison Foundation's largest grantees?
Gradison Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Mountain Projects ($20,000), Opera Lafayette ($20,000) and Leaf ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 44% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
What does Gradison Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for social services, cultural programs, education, healthcare, social welfare, and religious general operations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Gradison Foundation?
The foundation’s filing states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
How much is Gradison Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Gradison Foundation reported a distributable amount of $34K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Gradison Foundation's EIN?
Gradison Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-6032172. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 6, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Gradison Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/gradison-foundation-morg_176a8e169ea540ebbbef1f88cc27c912
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_316032172_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Gradison Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/gradison-foundation-morg_176a8e169ea540ebbbef1f88cc27c912},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Gradison Foundation'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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