Peter a & Vernice H Gasser Foundation
The Peter A. & Vernice H. Gasser Foundation is a private foundation based in Napa, California. Its stated mission is to serve people in Napa today and in the future, with a focus on health care, education, the environment, and Napa’s people and community.
Peter a & Vernice H Gasser Foundation at a glance
In short: Peter a & Vernice H Gasser Foundation gave $3.5M across 78 grants in 2024 (avg $44K), mostly in California. 39% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,450,600
- +28.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 78
- -9.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $44,238
- +41.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $84,353,066
- -4.9% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 39% first-time grantees (24 of 61, 2024)
- Primary geography
- California (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Peter a & Vernice H Gasser Foundation
- How to Apply
-
For a budgeted grant, submit a letter of intent stating the requested amount and purpose. The board selects organizations to invite to apply. The filing lists Nancy Watt as the contact for the process. Requests must align with the foundation’s mission, be made by 501(c)(3) organizations, and benefit Napa County.
- Review Cycle
- The stated deadline for budgeted-grant letters of intent is September 1 for funding in the following year. The September 1, 2026 deadline has passed. The filing says the teacher-stipend deadline is selected each year.
- Deadline
- The stated deadline for budgeted-grant letters of intent is September 1 for funding in the following year.
- Contact
Application contact: Nancy Watt
Mailing address: 433 Soscol Avenue Suite A120, Napa, CA 94559
Phone: (707) 255-1646
Email: nancy@gasserfoundation.org
Website: https://gasserfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Peter a & Vernice H Gasser Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Partnership Health Plan of California ($1.8M). Together the top 10 received $3.0M.
Organizations only. It also paid 17 grants to individuals ($42,500), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
507 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 467 grants of 507 (92%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s mission centers on Napa and its people and community. Its 2024 filing states that grants must benefit Napa County; all reported 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 78 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Peter a & Vernice H Gasser Foundation open to new grantees?
39%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 24 of 61 grantees (39%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $91K; repeat grants $34K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $8K repeat.
- 41% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 44% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 106% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.3M (2020) to $6.1M (2021). In 2024 it made 78 grants totaling $3.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| 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 |
Ready to take the next step with Peter a & Vernice H Gasser Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $84,353,066 | $8,311,806 | $9,245,983 | $3,450,600 | 78 | $3,961,748 | $1,817,750 | $3,735,623 |
| 2023 | $88,674,777 | $6,873,978 | $11,997,104 | $2,680,796 | 86 | $3,196,059 | $731,489 | $4,027,958 |
| 2022 | $93,228,564 | $11,712,588 | $9,772,716 | $1,986,510 | 97 | $2,220,468 | $2,171,647 | $3,349,521 |
| 2021 | $102,697,484 | $8,916,406 | $13,439,074 | $6,121,708 | 133 | $6,377,809 | $5,571,174 | $4,375,305 |
| 2020 | $109,139,410 | $7,396,021 | $7,636,566 | $1,330,081 | 113 | — | $576,884 | $4,502,929 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s website identifies health care, education, the environment, and the people and community of Napa as its mission focus areas. Its 2024 grants included operational and program support, a property donation, shelter support, a solar panel installation, and projects involving food, safety, and the arts.
Grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of organizations supported. Monarch Justice Center describes its work as reducing barriers for survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, elder abuse, and sexual assault. Abode Services describes providing housing programs linked to supportive services for homeless families, adults, and youth. Share the an individual recipient says it serves older adults and people with disabilities through resources that support health, independence, and quality of life. Other 2024 recipients include organizations whose stated missions involve affordable housing, school choral programs, family support, bicycle access, and hunger relief.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 78 grants totaling $3,450,600. Grants ranged from $500 to $1,770,000, with a median of $5,000. The largest award was $1,770,000 to Partnership Health Plan of California for a property donation. Other notable awards included $375,000 to Monarch Justice Center for operational support; $200,000 each to Queen of the Valley Foundation for operational and program support and to Justin-Siena High School for operations; and $177,000 to CANV for solar panel installation.
The foundation’s filing describes a budgeted-grant process in which nonprofits submit a letter of intent stating the requested amount and purpose. The board reviews letters and decides which organizations will be invited to apply; it approves awards and creates a funding schedule in January. The filing also describes reserve grants awarded outside the normal cycle and a board-budgeted CEO/president fund for grants of up to $2,000 to nonprofits. Separately, it says each Napa County high school is granted $5,000 annually to provide scholarships, and each elementary and middle school may apply annually for two teacher stipends of up to $500 each for items such as field trips, instructional supplies, or books.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Cathy A. Roche as chair/director, Henry H. Gundling as past chair/director, Timothy T. Streblow as vice chair/director, Joseph G. Peatman as treasurer/director through August 30, 2024, Nancy Watt as CEO/secretary, and Mitch Wippern as COO. The foundation’s website lists Gundling, Roche, and Streblow as trustees and Watt as trustee and CEO; it lists Peatman as “In Memorium.”
Peter a & Vernice H Gasser Foundation is led by Nancy Watt, CEO & Secretary since 2023 (on filings since 2020); all 6 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Nancy Watt
CEO & Secretary
CEO → CEO & Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2020
25 hrs/week
$180K (2020) → $206K (2024)
Cathy A. Roche
Chair & Director
Director → Chair & Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$42K (2020) → $42K (2024)
Henry H. Gundling
Past Chair & Director
Chair & Director → Past Chair & Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$42K (2020) → $42K (2024)
Joseph G. Peatman
Treasurer & Director
Past Chair & Director → Treasurer & Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$42K (2020) → $28K (2024)
Timothy T. Streblow
Vice Chair & Director
Treasurer & Director → Vice Chair & Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$42K (2020) → $42K (2024)
Mitch Wippern
COO
On filings since 2021
25 hrs/week
$6K (2021) → $196K (2024)
Former officers (3)
- Former: Jennifer M. Hall (2021–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Edward I. Barwick (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Jennifer M. Johnson (2020) — Office Mngr & Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 $206K, to Nancy Watt (CEO/Secretary). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Peter a & Vernice H Gasser Foundation
How much does Peter a & Vernice H Gasser Foundation give each year?
Peter a & Vernice H Gasser Foundation gave $3.5M across 78 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.7M across 86 grants.
What is Peter a & Vernice H Gasser Foundation's typical grant size?
Peter a & Vernice H Gasser Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $44,238, across 78 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Peter a & Vernice H Gasser Foundation that year got $91K on average.
Where does Peter a & Vernice H Gasser Foundation give grants?
Peter a & Vernice H Gasser Foundation gives mostly in California: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Napa, CA (43 grants), St Helena, CA (4 grants), Calistoga, CA (2 grants) and Angwin, CA (2 grants).
Does Peter a & Vernice H Gasser Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 8% of Peter a & Vernice H Gasser Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (6 of 78) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "2024 Teacher Stipends" (5 grants), "Teacher Stipend 2024" (5 grants) and "2024 Annual Scholarships" (4 grants).
Who are Peter a & Vernice H Gasser Foundation's largest grantees?
Peter a & Vernice H Gasser Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Partnership Health Plan of California ($1,770,000), Monarch Justice Center ($375,000) and Queen of the Valley Foundation ($200,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 17 grants to individuals ($42,500), which are not listed by name. Together they received 68% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Peter a & Vernice H Gasser Foundation?
Peter a & Vernice H Gasser Foundation reported $84.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $4.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3.7M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Peter a & Vernice H Gasser Foundation fund?
The foundation’s website identifies health care, education, the environment, and the people and community of Napa as its mission focus areas. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Peter a & Vernice H Gasser Foundation?
For a budgeted grant, submit a letter of intent stating the requested amount and purpose. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Peter a & Vernice H Gasser Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/peter-a-and-vernice-h-gasser-foundation-morg_a40823435c434dc099f50b58561b50b5
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_942816159_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Peter a \& Vernice H Gasser Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/peter-a-and-vernice-h-gasser-foundation-morg_a40823435c434dc099f50b58561b50b5},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Peter a & Vernice H Gasser Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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