Peter a & Vernice H Gasser Foundation
The Peter A. & Vernice H. Gasser Foundation is a private foundation established in 1982 and based in Napa, California. It is a 501(c)(3) organization with tax-exempt status since May 1982. The foundation was created by Peter and Vernice "Pat" Gasser, longtime Napa residents with deep civic commitment to their community. The foundation operates with a small staff of three employees and serves as a major philanthropic force in the Napa region.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$84.4M
-4.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.5M
+28.7% YoY
Grant Count
78
-9.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$44K
+41.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Peter a & Vernice H Gasser Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: To serve Napans today and in the future with a focus on health care, education, the environment, and the people and community of Napa.
The foundation's primary funding areas include:
- Health care
- Education
- Environmental sustainability
- Community development
The foundation has recently appended its mission to include environmental sustainability as a principal factor in all of its activities.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 113 grants in 2023. Recent grants include:
Grant Range
s:**
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Peter a & Vernice H Gasser Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation focuses exclusively on Napa and the surrounding Napa Valley region in California.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total Assets: $84.4 million
- Total Liabilities: $39.6 million
- Net Assets: $44.7 million
- Revenue: $8.31 million
- Expenses: $9.25 million
- Net Income: -$934,177
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total Assets: $88.67 million
- Total Revenues: $6.87 million
- Total Expenses: $11.99 million
Revenue Sources (2023):
- Net rental income: $5.87 million
- Investment income and dividends: $502,626
- Total grants and contributions: $160,621
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $259,620
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $84,353,066 | $88,674,777 | $93,228,564 |
| Revenue | $8,311,806 | $6,873,978 | $11,712,588 |
| Expenses | $9,245,983 | $11,997,104 | $9,772,716 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,961,748 | $3,196,059 | $2,220,468 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,817,750 | $731,489 | $2,171,647 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,735,623 | $4,027,958 | $3,349,521 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Partnership Health Plan of California ($1,770,000), Monarch Justice Center ($375,000), Queen of the Valley Foundation ($200,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| PARTNERSHIP HEALTH PLAN OF CALIFORNIA FAIRFIELD, CA | PROPERTY DONATION | $1,770,000 |
| MONARCH JUSTICE CENTER NAPA, CA | 2024 OPERATIONAL SUPPORT GRANT | $375,000 |
| QUEEN OF THE VALLEY FOUNDATION NAPA, CA | OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM SUPPORT | $200,000 |
| JUSTIN-SIENA HIGH SCHOOL NAPA, CA | OPERATIONS GRANT | $200,000 |
| CANV NAPA, CA | CANV SOLAR PANEL INSTALLATION | $177,000 |
| NEWS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ABUSE NAPA, CA | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT | $75,000 |
| KOLBE ACADEMY & TRINITY PREP NAPA, CA | AGAPE FOOD PROGRAM | $70,000 |
| ABODE SERVICES INC FREMONT, CA | JOE PEATMAN AWARD 2025 - SOUTH NAPA SHELTER | $60,000 |
| SHARE THE CARE NAPA VALLEY NAPA, CA | DE CLUTTER PROGRAM GRANT | $58,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF NAPA VALLEY NAPA, CA | SECURITY FENCING | $42,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Current Trustees:
- Nancy Watt, Trustee - CEO
- Henry Gundling, Trustee
- Cathy Roche, Trustee
- Tim Streblow, Trustee
In Memorium:
- Joseph G. Peatman
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CATHY A ROCHE | CHAIR/DIRECTOR | 5 | $42,000 |
| HENRY H GUNDLING | PAST CHAIR/DIRECTOR | 5 | $42,000 |
| TIMOTHY T STREBLOW | VICE CHAIR/DIRECTOR | 5 | $42,000 |
| JOSEPH G PEATMAN | TREASURER/DIRECTOR (THROUGH 8/30/24) | 5 | $28,000 |
| NANCY WATT | CEO/SECRETARY | 25 | $206,038 |
| MITCH WIPPERN | COO | 25 | $196,173 |
Recent Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has been active in major community development projects, including responsibility for the South Napa Marketplace (home to Target, Home Depot, and Raley's) and the adjacent South Napa Century Center (featuring a 12-screen Cinemark movie theater, health club, hotel, and retail/restaurant establishments).
The foundation operates a workforce training initiative in conjunction with the local community college and has been involved in affordable housing initiatives in the region.
Gasser Foundation to create affordable housingFrequently Asked Questions
What does Peter a & Vernice H Gasser Foundation fund?
**Mission Statement:** To serve Napans today and in the future with a focus on health care, education, the environment, and the people and community of Napa. The foundation's primary funding areas include: • Health care • Education • Environmental sustainability • Community development The foundation has recently appended its mission to include environmental sustainability as a principal factor in all of its activities.
How do I apply for a grant from Peter a & Vernice H Gasser Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** The foundation made 113 grants in 2023. Recent grants include: • Mentis: $1,750,000 (property donation, 2023) • Feeding It Forward: $111,944 (2023) • Our Town St Helena: $100,000 (2023) **Grant Sizes:** Typical awards range from $500 to $1,770,000. **Annual Giving:** • 2024: $3,450,600 in total giving • 2023: Approximately $2.3 million in grants (based on available data) • The foundation contributes between $1.5 and $2.0 million annually to local hospitals, hospices, homeles…
Where does Peter a & Vernice H Gasser Foundation make grants?
The foundation focuses exclusively on Napa and the surrounding Napa Valley region in California.
What size grants does Peter a & Vernice H Gasser Foundation award?
In 2024, Peter a & Vernice H Gasser Foundation awarded 78 grants totaling $3.5M — an average of about $44K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Peter a & Vernice H Gasser Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Peter a & Vernice H Gasser Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Peter a & Vernice H Gasser Foundation's EIN?
Peter a & Vernice H Gasser Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-2816159. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Peter a & Vernice H Gasser Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Gochnauer Family Foundation
CORONA DEL MAR, CA
Assets
$15.2M
Grants
39
Total Given
$313K
Cottage Health
SANTA BARBARA, CA
Assets
$172.1M
Grants
6
Total Given
$179K
International Right of Way Association
GARDENA, CA
Assets
$5.7M
Grants
1
Total Given
$9K
Quince Interfaith Housing Corporation
LEMON GROVE, CA
Assets
—
Grants
0
Total Given
—
William & Lillian Schwartz Charitable Foundation
LA JOLLA, CA
Assets
$325K
Grants
1
Total Given
$3K
Covia Foundation
GLENDALE, CA
Assets
$15.2M
Grants
1
Total Given
$4.8M
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Peter a & Vernice H Gasser Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching Peter a & Vernice H Gasser Foundation to a real strategy.