Gratis Foundation is a private, independent 501(c)(3) foundation based in Washington, DC. Established in Maryland and tax-exempt since February 2009, the foundation operates as a family foundation focused on philanthropic grantmaking across multiple charitable sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$13.8M
+1.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.0M
+0.0% YoY
Grant Count
76
+8.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$13K
-7.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Gratis Foundation reported a distributable amount of $836K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to support programs in the following fields:
- Education (institutional scholarships with need-based awards from colleges and universities)
- Health care and medical research (children's medical care, heart disease, and Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma)
- Humanitarian services (international humanitarian aid)
- Support for abused and neglected children (including adoption, foster care, and victims of domestic abuse)
- Assistance to U.S. Military personnel and their families
- Animal welfare and advocacy
- Food pantries and feeding programs
The foundation awards grants based on achievement, excellence, significance, or leadership in specific fields or charitable endeavors.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 61 grants in 2024, with total giving of approximately $1,000,000. Recent grantees include Cape Cod Times Neighbors Fund ($20,000), International Rescue Committee ($20,000), and Save the Children Federation ($20,000).
Grant Range
$10,000
Average Grant
$16,400
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated in Massachusetts, Florida, and the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $13,816,229
- Total Revenue: $1,407,644
- Total Expenses: $1,192,473
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Investment Income and Dividends: $414,694
- Net Gain from Sale of Non-Inventory Assets: $992,382
The foundation has no employees and generates revenue primarily through investment income and capital gains rather than contributions.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $13,816,229 | $13,598,507 | $13,911,764 |
| Revenue | $1,407,644 | $867,149 | $864,083 |
| Expenses | $1,192,473 | $1,179,122 | $1,206,960 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,043,254 | $1,039,977 | $1,052,972 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,273,425 | $738,004 | $730,095 |
| Distributable Amount | $835,636 | $780,223 | $825,130 |
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
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Gratis Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Duke University ($200,000), Mass General Brigham Incorporated - Newton Wellesley Hospital ($50,000), Childrens Hospital Corporation ($40,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AID TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE INC DELRAY BEACH, FL | GENERAL USE | $5,000 |
| AMERICAN HUMANE ASSOCIATION WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL USE | $10,000 |
| AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL USE | $10,000 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF DORCHESTER INC DORCHESTER, MA | GENERAL USE | $10,000 |
| CANCER RESEARCH INSTITUTE INC BONITA SPRINGS, FL | GENERAL USE | $15,000 |
| CANINE COMPANIONS FOR INDEPENDENCE ORLANDO, FL | GENERAL USE | $15,000 |
| CAPE COD TIMES NEEDY FUND INC HYANNIS, MA | GENERAL USE | $20,000 |
| CASA MYRNA VAZQUEZ INC BOSTON, MA | GENERAL USE | $10,000 |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF WASHINGTON INC WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL USE | $5,000 |
| CATHOLIC FOUNDATION OF SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS FALL RIVER, MA | GENERAL USE | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key personnel identified in foundation filings:
- Justin Zaccaria – President/Secretary/Treasurer
- Mary Sandra Zaccaria – Director
- Adrian Zaccaria – Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARY SANDRA ZACCARIA | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JUSTIN ZACCARIA | PRES/SECTY/TREAS | 1 | — |
Contact Information
- Address: 655 New York Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001-4593
- Phone: 202-414-1000
- Website: www.wellsfargo.com/private-foundations/gratis-foundation/
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Gratis Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to support programs in the following fields: • Education (institutional scholarships with need-based awards from colleges and universities) • Health care and medical research (children's medical care, heart disease, and Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma) • Humanitarian services (international humanitarian aid) • Support for abused and neglected children (including adoption, foster care, and victims of domestic abuse) • Assistance to U.S. Military personnel and their families • …
How do I apply for a grant from Gratis Foundation?
**Grant Amounts:** • Typical awards range from $2,500 to $200,000 • Median grant size: $10,000 • Average grant size: $16,400 **Recent Activity:** The foundation made 61 grants in 2024, with total giving of approximately $1,000,000. Recent grantees include Cape Cod Times Neighbors Fund ($20,000), International Rescue Committee ($20,000), and Save the Children Federation ($20,000). **Application Process:** The foundation operates on a rolling application cycle with three distinct funding periods:…
Where does Gratis Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated in Massachusetts, Florida, and the District of Columbia.
What size grants does Gratis Foundation award?
In 2024, Gratis Foundation awarded 76 grants totaling $1.0M — an average of about $13K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Gratis Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Gratis Foundation reported a distributable amount of $836K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Gratis Foundation's EIN?
Gratis Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-3639918. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Gratis 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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