Jolly Foundation Inc
Jolly Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Savannah, Georgia. Its 2025 filing lists grants to charitable organizations, most of them in Georgia, with recipients working in areas including environmental conservation, social services, arts, and research.
Jolly Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Jolly Foundation Inc gave $18K across 20 grants in 2025 (avg $910), mostly in Georgia. 15% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $18,200
- +8.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 20
- -4.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $910
- +14.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $750
- Total assets
- $149,823
- -3.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 15% first-time grantees (3 of 20, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Georgia (90% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Jolly Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 20 Denmark Drive, Savannah, GA 31406
Phone: (912) 655-6172
Website: https://www.jollyfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Jolly Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was First Presbyterian Church ($4K). Together the top 10 received $13K.
Grant Size Distribution
98 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 98 grants of 98 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 90% of grant dollars went to recipients in Georgia, 5% to Colorado, 3% to Illinois, and 1% to Alabama. The listed grants include recipients in Savannah and other Georgia communities.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Jolly Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
15%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 20 grantees (15%) were first-time recipients. With only 20 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $500; repeat grants $982. How we count
Medians: $500 first-time, $750 repeat.
- 85% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 37% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 96% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $8K (2023) to $18K (2025). In 2025 it made 20 grants totaling $18K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| First Presbyterian Church Savannah, GA | Music with a Mission | $3,500 |
| Caretta Research Project Savannah, GA | Research Support | $2,000 |
| Ogeechee Riverkeeper Savannah, GA | Unrestricted Grant | $1,200 |
| Mountain Film in Savannah Telluride, CO | General Fund | $1,000 |
| Savannah Tree Foundation Savannah, GA | Unrestricted Grant | $1,000 |
| Savannah Wildlife Rescue Center Savannah, GA | Unrestricted Grant | $1,000 |
| The Orianne Society Tiger, GA | Unrestricted Grant | $1,000 |
| Union Mission Savannah, GA | Unrestricted Grant | $1,000 |
| Ossabaw Island Foundation Inc Savannah, GA | Unrestricted Grant | $750 |
| University of Georgia Athens, GA | Marine Extension and Ga Sea Grant | $750 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $149,823 | $14,634 | $19,981 | $18,200 | 20 | $18,200 | $14,605 | $18,951 |
| 2024 | $154,641 | $10,832 | $18,562 | $16,750 | 21 | $16,750 | $10,632 | $18,135 |
| 2023 | $162,322 | $32,689 | $9,100 | $8,050 | 15 | $8,050 | $32,689 | $15,161 |
| 2022 | $138,733 | $8,837 | $14,421 | $13,250 | 20 | $13,250 | $9,107 | $15,678 |
| 2021 | $144,317 | $27,011 | $15,920 | $12,800 | 22 | $14,650 | $8,028 | $15,901 |
| 2020 | $133,226 | $7,188 | $15,112 | $11,750 | 21 | — | $7,375 | $13,387 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Jolly Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $19K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations whose work includes river water-quality monitoring and education, homelessness services, wildlife rescue, conservation of imperiled reptiles and amphibians, urban forestry, disability advocacy, coastal conservation, and services for older adults. These descriptions reflect the respective grantees’ stated missions, not a stated mission of the foundation.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 20 grants totaling $18,200. Grants ranged from $250 to $3,500, with a median grant of $750.
The largest listed grants included $3,500 to First Presbyterian Church for “Music with a Mission,” $2,000 to Caretta Research Project for research support, and $1,200 to Ogeechee Riverkeeper for an unrestricted grant. Other listed awards included $1,000 each to Mountain Film in Savannah, Savannah Tree Foundation, Savannah Wildlife Rescue Center, The Orianne Society, and Union Mission; and $750 each to Ossabaw Island Foundation, University of Georgia, and Chatham-Savannah Citizen Advocacy.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and trustees listed on the 2025 filing are Gwen S. McKee, president; Thomas W. McKee, vice president; Sarah Pollett, secretary; Eiman Azim, treasurer; and trustees Mary Ellen McKee, Kevin Adams, Dieter Gunkel, Clermont Fraser, Claire Compton, and Billy McKee.
Jolly Foundation Inc is led by Gwen S. McKee, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 11 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Gwen S. McKee
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Billy McKee
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Claire Compton
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Clermont Fraser
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Dave Wolfowitz
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Dieter Gunkel
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Kevin Adams
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Mary Ellen McKee
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Eiman Azim
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Sarah Pollett
Secretary
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Thomas W. McKee
Vice President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Jolly Foundation Inc
How much does Jolly Foundation Inc give each year?
Jolly Foundation Inc gave $18K across 20 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $17K across 21 grants.
What is Jolly Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Jolly Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $750, and its average grant was $910, across 20 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Jolly Foundation Inc that year got $500 on average.
Where does Jolly Foundation Inc give grants?
Jolly Foundation Inc gives mostly in Georgia: 90% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Colorado (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Savannah, GA (13 grants).
Does Jolly Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 85% of Jolly Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (17 of 20) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Jolly Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Jolly Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include First Presbyterian Church ($3,500), Caretta Research Project ($2,000) and Ogeechee Riverkeeper ($1,200), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 37% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Jolly Foundation Inc?
Jolly Foundation Inc reported $150K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $18K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $19K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Jolly Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Jolly Foundation Inc?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Jolly Foundation Inc's EIN?
Jolly Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-2073674. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Jolly Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 28, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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