James P Gills Foundation

TARPON SPRINGS, FL EIN: 59-2871396

The James P Gills Foundation is a private foundation established in 1987 in Florida and granted tax-exempt status in August 1988. Based in Tarpon Springs, Florida, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to philanthropic giving across multiple sectors and geographic regions.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$6.2M

-4.7% YoY

Annual Giving

$182K

-93.2% YoY

Grant Count

27

-6.9% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$7K

-92.7% YoY

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation provides giving primarily for:

  • Youth services
  • Christian organizations
  • Baptist and Methodist churches
  • Higher education
  • Human services, including services for people who are blind
  • Federated giving programs

The foundation operates the Love Press Ministry, which publishes Christian ministry books written by Dr. James P. Gills. These books are distributed free of charge to prisons, jails, churches, and other ministries.

Grantmaking

Grant Range

** Typical awards range from $240 to $2,500,000

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation funds projects across multiple U.S. states and cities, including:

  • Florida
  • Illinois
  • Virginia
  • Tennessee
  • Additional funding in cities such as Bartlesville, Chicago, Orlando, and Virginia Beach

Grant Distribution by State

16states
+8 more states

Cities

BartlesvilleBradentonBrandonBrooklynBrunswickCape CoralChicagoColorado SpringsDonoraElfersFredericksburgGoodlettsvilleHamptonHoldernessHollandJacksonvilleJonesboroKansas CityLand O LakesLehigh Acres

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of 2023:

  • Total assets: $6,542,233
  • Total revenue: $373,994
  • Total expenses: $3,064,015
  • Total liabilities: $0

Program Expenses (2023):

  • Love Press Ministry printing and shipping: $27,729
  • Administrative expenses: $330,613
  • Total program activity expense: $358,342
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$843K$2M$3M$3M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$6,231,791$6,542,233$9,232,531
Revenue$346,195$373,994$133,244
Expenses$656,637$3,064,015$1,771,468
Qualifying Distributions$642,909$3,047,465$1,740,646
Net Investment Income$333,288$357,942$126,412
Distributable Amount$3,285,399$1,374,451$971,965

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$672K$1M$2M$3M18 grants202018 grants202123 grants202229 grants202327 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

TARPON SPRINGS SHEPHERD …$50KFREE GRACE CHURCH$12KNEW HARVEST MISSION$12KSRL$12KLIVING WATER COMMUNITY T…$10KACTS FOUNDATION$10KCHARACTER GPS$8KJOSHUA GENERATION$7KFOCUS ON FAMILY$6KLUIS PALAU ASSOCATION$6K

Grant Size Distribution

115 grants across all recorded years

109<$50K2$50–100K$100–250K2$250–500K$500K–1M2$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

No grants recorded for .

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The foundation's leadership team operates on a voluntary basis without compensation:

  • T. Shea Grundy, President
  • Lew Friedland, Vice President
  • James P. Gills III, Vice President
  • Gary Carter, Secretary
  • Gary Saling, Treasurer
  • Margaret Gills, Director

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
LEW FRIEDLANDVICE PRES0.25
T SHEA GRUNDYPRESIDENT0.25
GARY CARTERSECRETARY0.25
GARY SALINGTREASURER0.25
MARGARET GILLSDIRECTOR0.25
JAMES P GILLS IIIVICE PRES0.25

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

2024

In 2024, James and Heather Gills made a $10 million donation to the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins Medicine. Dr. James P. Gills was honored as the 2019 Leadership Award Winner by the Pasco Economic Development Council.

The James P Gills Foundation Inc - Full Filing - Nonprofit Explorer

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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

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