Nelson & Shirley Garner Scholarship Fund
The Nelson & Shirley Garner Scholarship Fund is a private foundation based in Galion, Ohio. Its 2025 filing describes scholarship awards for graduating seniors of Crestline High School who plan to attend college, technical school, or trade school.
Nelson & Shirley Garner Scholarship Fund at a glance
In short: Nelson & Shirley Garner Scholarship Fund gave $56K across 13 grants in 2025 (avg $4K), mostly in Ohio. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $56,023
- +61.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 13
- +30.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $4,309
- +24.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $3,000
- Total assets
- $1,172,136
- +9.4% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Ohio (86% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Nelson & Shirley Garner Scholarship Fund
- 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. Its filing also provides scholarship application instructions: applicants must complete an application, submit a one-page typed essay describing their intended field of study and why they should receive a scholarship, and submit a copy of the most current federal income tax return filed by the parent or guardian with whom they reside. Applicants must be graduating seniors at Crestline High School in Ohio, plan to attend a college, technical school, or trade school, and have a GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. The filing says awards are based on character, grades, and financial needs.
- Review Cycle
- The filing lists April 30. The April 30, 2026 date has passed.
- Deadline
- The filing lists April 30.
- Contact
Mailing address: 5544 County Rd 57, Galion, OH 44833
Phone: (567) 241-8004
Email: debbe@zoominternet.net
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Nelson & Shirley Garner Scholarship Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 6 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Akron University Lilliauna Bayes ($9K). Together the top 6 received $29K.
Organizations only. It also paid 7 individual scholarships ($26,573), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
54 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 54 grants of 54 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 86% of grant dollars went to recipients in Ohio and 14% to recipients in Florida. The listed awards included institutions in Ohio and Florida.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
Cities
How Nelson & Shirley Garner Scholarship Fund gives
- Giving grew 32% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 106% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $12K (2019) to $56K (2025). In 2025 it made 13 grants totaling $56K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Akron University Lilliauna Bayes Akron, OH | Tuition Paid Directly to Institution | $9,000 |
| Univ of Central FLA Rachel Grunkeme Orlando, FL | Tuition Paid Directly to Institution | $8,000 |
| 7 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $26,573 |
| University of Findlaydaija Sewell Findlay, OH | Tuition Paid Directly to Institution | $7,895 |
| North Central State Lexis McCombs Mansfield, OH | Tuition Paid Directly to Institution | $3,000 |
| North Central State Cody Griffith Mansfield, OH | Tuition Paid Directly to Institution | $1,266 |
| Emma Kirbymarietta College Marietta, OH | Reimbursed for Books | $289 |
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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 | $1,172,136 | $90,752 | $58,911 | $56,023 | 13 | $57,083 | $88,924 | $53,652 |
| 2024 | $1,071,855 | $70,996 | $47,055 | $34,760 | 10 | $44,694 | $68,635 | $57,149 |
| 2023 | $993,665 | $48,244 | $57,812 | $55,850 | 10 | $56,598 | $46,679 | $45,879 |
| 2022 | $915,003 | $30,112 | $53,811 | $42,497 | 10 | $51,960 | $25,362 | $47,822 |
| 2021 | $1,110,235 | $59,836 | $42,461 | $32,755 | 11 | $40,312 | $50,918 | $51,669 |
| 2020 | $1,029,851 | $12,829 | $20,239 | $19,099 | 7 | — | $12,948 | $43,624 |
| 2019 | $803,295 | $790,948 | $7,653 | $12,000 | 5 | — | $12,951 | $22,785 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Nelson & Shirley Garner Scholarship Fund reported a distributable amount of $54K 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
The available information does not state a broader mission. The fund’s filing describes scholarships for eligible Crestline High School seniors pursuing further education.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the fund reported 13 grants totaling $56,023. Grant amounts ranged from $289 to $9,000, with a median of $3,000. The largest listed awards included $9,000 to Akron University for Lilliauna Bayes, $8,000 to the University of Central Florida for Rachel Grunkeme, and $8,000 to Ashland University for an individual recipient The filing states that tuition was paid directly to the institution or school.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists J Sebastian Berger as president, James W Chapman as vice president, Debbe K Steinhilber as treasurer, and Jean M Rinehart and Gloria McDonald as board members.
Nelson & Shirley Garner Scholarship Fund is led by J. Sebastian Berger, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
J. Sebastian Berger
President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$3K (2021) → $0 (2025)
Debbe K. Steinhilber
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$3K (2021) → $0 (2025)
Gloria McDonald
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James W. Chapman
Vice President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jean M. Rinehart
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $5K, to J Sebastian Berger (President). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Nelson & Shirley Garner Scholarship Fund
How much does Nelson & Shirley Garner Scholarship Fund give each year?
Nelson & Shirley Garner Scholarship Fund gave $56K across 13 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $35K across 10 grants.
What is Nelson & Shirley Garner Scholarship Fund's typical grant size?
Nelson & Shirley Garner Scholarship Fund's median grant in 2025 was $3,000, and its average grant was $4,309, across 13 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Nelson & Shirley Garner Scholarship Fund give grants?
Nelson & Shirley Garner Scholarship Fund gives mostly in Ohio: 86% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Florida (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Mansfield, OH (2 grants).
Does Nelson & Shirley Garner Scholarship Fund give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 13 grants with a stated purpose on Nelson & Shirley Garner Scholarship Fund's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Tuition Paid Directly to Institution" (10 grants).
Who are Nelson & Shirley Garner Scholarship Fund's largest grantees?
Nelson & Shirley Garner Scholarship Fund's largest 2025 grantees include Akron University Lilliauna Bayes ($9,000), Univ of Central FLA Rachel Grunkeme ($8,000) and University of Findlaydaija Sewell ($7,895), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 7 individual scholarships ($26,573), which are not listed by name. Together they received 44% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Nelson & Shirley Garner Scholarship Fund?
Nelson & Shirley Garner Scholarship Fund reported $1.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $57K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $54K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Nelson & Shirley Garner Scholarship Fund fund?
The available information does not state a broader mission. The fund’s filing describes scholarships for eligible Crestline High School seniors pursuing further education. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Nelson & Shirley Garner Scholarship Fund?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Nelson & Shirley Garner Scholarship Fund's EIN?
Nelson & Shirley Garner Scholarship Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-1153219. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Nelson & Shirley Garner Scholarship Fund 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
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 12, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 5, 2026)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 4, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 3, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 9, 2024)
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