James P Gills Foundation
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
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, James P Gills Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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
States
Cities
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
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
115 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Tarpon Springs Shepherd Center Inc ($50,000), Free Grace Church ($12,000), New Harvest Mission ($12,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACTS FOUNDATION BRANDON, FL | MINISTRY | $9,600 |
| AFRICA OUTREACH INC JONESBORO, AR | MINISTRY | $3,600 |
| BILL WOLFF MINISTRIES INC LOUDEN, TN | MINISTRY | $1,200 |
| BREAKTHROUGH INTERCESSORS PEMBROKE PINES, FL | MINISTRY | $1,200 |
| FOCUS ON FAMILY KANSAS CITY, MO | MINISTRY | $6,000 |
| FOREVER BE SURE WATERTOWN, WI | MINISTRY | $1,500 |
| FREE GRACE CHURCH LAND O LAKES, FL | MINISTRY | $12,000 |
| FRESH START MINISTRIES PALM HARBOR, FL | MINISTRY | $2,400 |
| GALCOM INTERNATIONAL USA INC TAMPA, FL | MINISTRY | $2,400 |
| GRACE BIBLE FELLOWSHIP CAPE CORAL, FL | MINISTRY | $2,400 |
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
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEW FRIEDLAND | VICE PRES | 0.25 | — |
| T SHEA GRUNDY | PRESIDENT | 0.25 | — |
| GARY CARTER | SECRETARY | 0.25 | — |
| GARY SALING | TREASURER | 0.25 | — |
| MARGARET GILLS | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| JAMES P GILLS III | VICE PRES | 0.25 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
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 ExplorerFrequently Asked Questions
What does James P Gills Foundation fund?
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.
How do I apply for a grant from James P Gills Foundation?
**Grant Activity (2023):** • Total giving: $2,689,640 • Total expenses: $3,064,015 • Number of grants: 16 grants documented **Recent Grant Examples (2023):** • Tarpon Springs Shepherd Center: $70,000 • New Harvest Missions International: $12,000 • Map International: $10,000 **Grant Range:** Typical awards range from $240 to $2,500,000 **Application Status:** Open to new applicants, with approximately 12% of new applicants funded
Where does James P Gills Foundation make 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
What size grants does James P Gills Foundation award?
In 2024, James P Gills Foundation awarded 27 grants totaling $182K — an average of about $7K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is James P Gills Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, James P Gills Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.3M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is James P Gills Foundation's EIN?
James P Gills Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 59-2871396. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
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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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