Herndon Foundation
The Herndon Foundation is a private foundation established in 1965 by Floyd D. Gottwald Jr. and Elisabeth S. Gottwald. Based in Richmond, Virginia, the Foundation supports educational, cultural, and human service organizations that primarily benefit the Greater Richmond community and the broader Commonwealth of Virginia.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$62.0M
+49.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$5.6M
-0.9% YoY
Grant Count
138
-6.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$41K
+6.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Herndon Foundation reported a distributable amount of $5.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation supports organizations aligned with three primary funding priorities:
Education
- Early childhood education
- School readiness
- Expanded learning and enrichment outside of school
- STEM programs that support teachers and/or students
Health & Human Services
- Food security
- Shelter
- Healthcare access for vulnerable populations
Historic Preservation & Cultural Experiences
- Access to natural resources
- Environmental sustainability through education, preservation, and restoration
- Visual and performing arts, museums, and other cultural institutions
- Cultural heritage
Grantmaking
The Foundation gives preference to program support for specific initiatives where grant dollars will make a substantial difference. Limited endowment requests and general operating support are also considered on a case-by-case basis.
Average Grant
amount: approximately $40,000
Grant Types
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation gives strong preference to organizations operating principally in the metropolitan Richmond area. Qualified nonprofit organizations throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia are eligible for support.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $61,989,429
- Total revenues: $16,133,487
- Total expenses: $6,073,000
- Total grants, contributions, etc.: $8,403,642
- Investment income and dividends: $2,594,614
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $41,497,576 (alternative figure: $126M)
- Total distributions: $5.7 million
- Total contributions: $14 million
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $61,989,429 | $41,497,576 | $27,022,319 |
| Revenue | $16,133,487 | $22,490,045 | $5,294,934 |
| Expenses | $6,073,000 | $6,043,237 | $5,624,613 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $5,677,809 | $5,720,119 | $5,400,543 |
| Net Investment Income | $7,427,088 | $7,872,989 | $4,718,409 |
| Distributable Amount | $5,892,221 | $5,690,128 | $5,740,268 |
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 Herndon Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Acts ($50,000), Anna Julia Cooper Episcopal School ($50,000), Big Brothers Big Sisters Services Inc ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACTS RICHMOND, VA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION GLEN ALLEN, VA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| AMERICAN BATTLEFIELD TRUST WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| AMERICAN CIVIL WAR MUSEUM - HISTORIC TREDEGAR RICHMOND, VA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| ANNA JULIA COOPER EPISCOPAL SCHOOL RICHMOND, VA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| ANNA JULIA COOPER EPISCOPAL SCHOOL RICHMOND, VA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| ART 180 RICHMOND, VA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| BETTER HOUSING COALITION RICHMOND, VA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| BEYOND BOUNDARIES RICHMOND, VA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS SERVICES INC RICHMOND, VA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Trustees (as of most recent filing):
- William M. Gottwald
- James T. Gottwald
- John D. Gottwald
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| WILLIAM M GOTTWALD | TRUSTEE | 15 | — |
| JAMES T GOTTWALD | TRUSTEE | 5 | — |
| JOHN D GOTTWALD | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 9030 Stony Point Parkway, Suite 505, Richmond, VA 23235
Phone: (804) 560-4119 (voicemail)
Email: info@herndonfdn.org
Website: https://herndonfdn.org/
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Herndon Foundation fund?
The Foundation supports organizations aligned with three primary funding priorities: **Education** • Early childhood education • School readiness • Expanded learning and enrichment outside of school • STEM programs that support teachers and/or students **Health & Human Services** • Food security • Shelter • Healthcare access for vulnerable populations **Historic Preservation & Cultural Experiences** • Access to natural resources • Environmental sustainability through education, preservation, an…
How do I apply for a grant from Herndon Foundation?
**Grant Types & Preferences** The Foundation gives preference to program support for specific initiatives where grant dollars will make a substantial difference. Limited endowment requests and general operating support are also considered on a case-by-case basis. **Application Process** • One annual funding cycle with applications accepted August 1-31 • Applications submitted through the Foundation's online portal receive priority status • Organizations must be tax-exempt under IRS Section 501(…
Where does Herndon Foundation make grants?
The Foundation gives strong preference to organizations operating principally in the metropolitan Richmond area. Qualified nonprofit organizations throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia are eligible for support.
What size grants does Herndon Foundation award?
In 2024, Herndon Foundation awarded 138 grants totaling $5.6M — an average of about $41K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Herndon Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Herndon Foundation reported a distributable amount of $5.9M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Herndon Foundation's EIN?
Herndon Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 54-6060809. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Herndon 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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