James L Garard Jr Charitable Tr
The James L Garard Jr Charitable Trust is a private foundation established in 1991 and based in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. The trust operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization with no employees, focusing its philanthropic efforts across multiple cause areas including medical research, education, animal-related causes, and support for veterans.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$192K
+78.5% YoY
Grant Count
18
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$11K
+78.5% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports a diverse range of charitable purposes:
- Education (37% of giving) — K-16 education support and scholarships
- Health (36% of giving) — Medical research and healthcare initiatives
- Social & Human Services (approximately 10% of giving)
- Animal-related causes
- Veterans support — Including support for veterans with disabilities
- Recreation programs
- Unrestricted charitable purposes
Grantmaking
Applicants must contact the foundation directly to inquire about current funding priorities. There are no application deadlines.
Grant Range
$100–$118,511
Review Cycle
.
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation distributes grants nationally with concentration in specific regions:
- 48% of grants remain in Illinois
- Significant funding also directed to Florida, Wyoming, Colorado, and Texas
- Additional states receiving grants include California, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and others
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total Assets: $1,886,558
- Total Revenues: $129,409
- Total Expenses: $199,474
- Total Giving: $191,919
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
107 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The Little Club Scholarship ($25,000), Deerfield Academy ($25,000), Brain Chemistry Labs ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| NATIONAL MILL DOG RESCUE COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | ANIMAL RELATED | $7,500 |
| PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRINCETON, NJ | SUPPORT OF EDUCATION | $10,000 |
| CIRCLE TEN COUNCIL DALLAS, TX | BSA CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT,LDRSHIP | $15,000 |
| NORTHFIELD COMMUNITY CHURCH NORTHFIELD, IL | HEALTH, HOPE & HEALING TO COMMUNITY | $20,000 |
| USSGA MEMORIAL FUND ELMSFORD, NY | PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR CADDIES | $5,000 |
| WILD ANIMAL SANCTUARY KEENESBURG, CO | PROTECT ENDANGERED ANIMALS | $7,500 |
| WITS CHICAGO, IL | SUPPORT EDUCATION | $10,000 |
| KC AUTISM TRAINING CENTER KANSAS CITY, MO | SUPPORT FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION | $15,000 |
| PARTNERSHIP TO END HUMAN TRAFFICING FAIRFIELD, CT | SUPPORT EDUCATION | $1,000 |
| NORA PROJECT MONTGOMERY, IL | PROMOTE DISABILITY INCLUSION | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Founder/Donor: James L. Garard Jr.
- Trustee: James L Garard Jr. (uncompensated)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAMES L GARARD JR | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Recent Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation continues active grantmaking with 27 grants awarded in 2024, demonstrating consistent philanthropic engagement across its priority areas.
GAR Foundation announces $1.4 million in grants: See the list - cleveland.comSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does James L Garard Jr Charitable Tr fund?
The foundation supports a diverse range of charitable purposes: • **Education** (37% of giving) — K-16 education support and scholarships • **Health** (36% of giving) — Medical research and healthcare initiatives • **Social & Human Services** (approximately 10% of giving) • **Animal-related causes** • **Veterans support** — Including support for veterans with disabilities • **Recreation programs** • **Unrestricted charitable purposes**
How do I apply for a grant from James L Garard Jr Charitable Tr?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 27 grants in 2024 • Total giving: $191,919 (2024) • Typical grant range: $100–$118,511 • Recent grants include: • $25,000 to Brain Chemistry Labs for developing new cures from plants • $25,000 to Deerfield Academy for K-16 education support • $10,000 to North Shore Country Day School for education support • $25,000 to Little Club Scholarship • $15,000 to KC Autism Training Center • $25,000 to Circle Ten Council **Application Process:** Applicants must contact the foun…
Where does James L Garard Jr Charitable Tr make grants?
The foundation distributes grants nationally with concentration in specific regions: • **48% of grants** remain in Illinois • Significant funding also directed to Florida, Wyoming, Colorado, and Texas • Additional states receiving grants include California, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and others
What size grants does James L Garard Jr Charitable Tr award?
In 2024, James L Garard Jr Charitable Tr awarded 18 grants totaling $192K — an average of about $11K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is James L Garard Jr Charitable Tr's EIN?
James L Garard Jr Charitable Tr's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-6971311. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
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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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