R R & Clara J Gould Foundation
The R R & Clara J Gould Foundation is a private foundation based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Its 2024 filing says it was set up primarily to assist and benefit youth in and around the donor’s home city of Brainerd, Minnesota, and birthplace of Jamestown, New York.
R R & Clara J Gould Foundation at a glance
In short: R R & Clara J Gould Foundation gave $38K across 17 grants in 2024 (avg $2K), mostly in Minnesota. 6% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $38,000
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 17
- +6.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $2,235
- -5.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,440
- Total assets
- $637,688
- -1.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 6% first-time grantees (1 of 17, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (67% 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 R R & Clara J Gould Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The filing says an application may be made by sending a letter outlining the nature of the request and a copy of the applicant’s IRS letter. The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It makes no direct grants to individuals.
- Contact
Application contact: Ransford Ray Clara J Gould Founda
Mailing address: 101 E 5Th Street Ep-Mn-S14, St Paul, MN 55101
Phone: (651) 466-8731
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who R R & Clara J Gould Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Jamestown YMCA (And Team) ($5K). Together the top 10 received $32K.
Grant Size Distribution
92 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 92 grants of 92 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s filing identifies Brainerd, Minnesota, and Jamestown, New York, as the communities it was set up primarily to benefit. In 2024, 67% of grant dollars went to recipients in Minnesota, 30% to recipients in New York, and 3% to recipients in New Hampshire.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
Cities
Is R R & Clara J Gould Foundation open to new grantees?
6%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 17 grantees (6%) were first-time recipients. With only 17 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $1K repeat.
- 65% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+15%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 95% 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 (2020–2024). 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 $33K (2021) to $44K (2022). In 2024 it made 17 grants totaling $38K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Jamestown YMCA (And Team) Jamestown, NY | General Operating | $5,175 |
| Brainerd Rotary Foundation Brainerd, MN | General Operating | $5,050 |
| Brainerd Family YMCA Brainerd, MN | General Operating | $4,980 |
| Elks Lodge #615 Brainerd, MN | General Operating | $4,030 |
| Aurora Lodge #100 Masonic Temple Brainerd, MN | General Operating | $3,510 |
| Central Minnesota Council Sartell, MN | General Operating | $2,830 |
| Brainerd Area Girl Scouts Brainerd, MN | General Operating | $1,950 |
| Chautauqua Opportunities Inc Jamestown, NY | General Operating | $1,440 |
| Boys and Girls Club of Jamestown Inc Jamestown, NY | General Operating | $1,440 |
| St Lukes Church Youth Ministry Jamestown, NY | General Operating | $1,270 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $637,688 | $47,519 | $55,153 | $38,000 | 17 | $42,560 | $35,543 | $44,938 |
| 2023 | $645,578 | $41,956 | $52,622 | $37,995 | 16 | $42,229 | $30,842 | $41,307 |
| 2022 | $654,814 | $21,964 | $64,287 | $44,496 | 19 | $52,343 | $10,646 | $41,206 |
| 2021 | $697,136 | $54,823 | $51,501 | $33,000 | 20 | $37,855 | $41,852 | $47,899 |
| 2020 | $693,813 | $50,039 | $53,494 | $38,000 | 20 | — | $38,751 | $39,816 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, R R & Clara J Gould Foundation reported a distributable amount of $45K for 2024 — 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 foundation’s filing describes its primary purpose as assisting and benefiting youth in and around Brainerd, Minnesota, and Jamestown, New York. Its 2024 grants included organizations whose own missions describe work in several areas: Chautauqua Opportunities Inc. says it fights poverty by mobilizing resources and creating partnerships; Confidence Learning Center Inc. describes itself as a year-round outdoor education and recreation center for people of all ages with developmental disabilities; and Paul Bunyan Arboretum says it provides knowledge and resources to maintain a public arboretum.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 17 grants totaling $38,000. Grant amounts ranged from $580 to $5,175, with a median of $1,440. Notable grants included $5,175 to Jamestown YMCA (and team), $5,050 to Brainerd Rotary Foundation, $4,980 to Brainerd Family YMCA, and $4,030 to Elks Lodge #615. These grants were designated for general operating support. The foundation also gave $1,440 to Chautauqua Opportunities Inc., $1,060 to Confidence Learning Center Inc., and $760 to Paul Bunyan Arboretum.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
US Bank N A is listed as trustee on the 2024 filing.
R R & Clara J Gould Foundation's only listed officer is US Bank N A, Trustee on every filing since 2020 (compensated).
Officers on the 2024 filing
US Bank N A
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$13K (2020) → $14K (2024)
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 $14K, to US Bank N a (Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about R R & Clara J Gould Foundation
How much does R R & Clara J Gould Foundation give each year?
R R & Clara J Gould Foundation gave $38K across 17 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $38K across 16 grants.
What is R R & Clara J Gould Foundation's typical grant size?
R R & Clara J Gould Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $1,440, and its average grant was $2,235, across 17 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from R R & Clara J Gould Foundation that year got $5K on average.
Where does R R & Clara J Gould Foundation give grants?
R R & Clara J Gould Foundation gives mostly in Minnesota: 67% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (30%). The most frequent recipient cities were Brainerd, MN (8 grants) and Jamestown, NY (6 grants).
Does R R & Clara J Gould Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of R R & Clara J Gould Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (17 of 17) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are R R & Clara J Gould Foundation's largest grantees?
R R & Clara J Gould Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Jamestown YMCA (And Team) ($5,175), Brainerd Rotary Foundation ($5,050) and Brainerd Family YMCA ($4,980), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 40% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is R R & Clara J Gould Foundation?
R R & Clara J Gould Foundation reported $638K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $43K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $45K (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 R R & Clara J Gould Foundation fund?
The foundation’s filing describes its primary purpose as assisting and benefiting youth in and around Brainerd, Minnesota, and Jamestown, New York. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from R R & Clara J Gould Foundation?
The filing says an application may be made by sending a letter outlining the nature of the request and a copy of the applicant’s IRS letter. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is R R & Clara J Gould Foundation's EIN?
R R & Clara J Gould Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-6056658. 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 18, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 27, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 28, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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