Robert David Lion Gardiner
Robert David Lion Gardiner is a private foundation based in Riverhead, an individual recipient Established in 1987, it primarily supports the study of Long Island history and the island’s role in the American experience, with particular emphasis on the Town of Islip and Suffolk County.
Robert David Lion Gardiner at a glance
In short: Robert David Lion Gardiner gave $4.3M across 85 grants in 2025 (avg $50K), mostly in New York. 29% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $4,262,675
- -33.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 85
- -6.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $50,149
- -29.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $122,665,581
- +6.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 29% first-time grantees (22 of 75, 2025)
- Primary geography
- New York (82% 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 Robert David Lion Gardiner
- How to Apply
-
Contact the foundation office before submitting an application. Prior discussion and a site visit are required, and applicants must complete the main application materials and any project-specific forms.
- Review Cycle
- The website lists a spring 2027 application deadline of March 5 at 5 p.m. and a fall 2027 deadline of August 6 at 5 p.m.
- Deadline
- The website lists a spring 2027 application deadline of March 5 at 5 p.m.
- Contact
Application contact: Kathryn Curran
Mailing address: 30 West Main St, Suite 309, Riverhead, NY 11901
Phone: (631) 594-3990
Website: https://www.rdlgfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Robert David Lion Gardiner
Who Robert David Lion Gardiner funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory ($500K). Together the top 10 received $2.7M.
Organizations only. It also paid 8 grants to individuals ($150,417), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
354 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 238 grants of 354 (67%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated purpose emphasizes the Town of Islip and Suffolk County, and its broader focus is the study of Long Island history and Long Island’s role in the American experience. In 2025, 82% of grant dollars went to recipients in an individual recipient, 8% to recipients in Washington, D.C., 8% to Virginia, 2% to Connecticut, and a rounded less than 1% to New Hampshire.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 85 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Robert David Lion Gardiner open to new grantees?
29%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 22 of 75 grantees (29%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $31K; repeat grants $68K. How we count
Medians: $23K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 64% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+1%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 85% 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 (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $3.9M (2020) to $6.4M (2024). In 2025 it made 85 grants totaling $4.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Cold Spring Harbor, NY | 2023 Grant Payment 2 of 6 | $500,000 |
| National Trust for Historic Presv Washingon, DC | 2023 Grant Award Pymt 3 of 3 | $333,333 |
| PBS Foundation Arlington, VA | 2023 Grant Award Pymt 2 of 3 | $333,333 |
| East End Seaport Museum and Greenport, NY | 2025 GYS and Grant Award | $295,440 |
| Long Island University Brookville, NY | 2022 Grant Award Pymt 4 of 4 | $250,000 |
| Celebrate St James Past Present St James, NY | 2025 Grant Award | $211,300 |
| Sag Harbor Historical Museum Sag Harbor, NY | 2025 GYS and Grant Award | $200,876 |
| Cooper Union for the ADV of Science New York, NY | 2025 Grant 1 of 3 | $200,000 |
| New York University New York, NY | 2024 Grant Award Pymt 2 of 6 | $200,000 |
| Northport Historical Society Northport, NY | 2025 GYS and Grant Award | $177,610 |
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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 | $122,665,581 | $12,341,558 | $6,039,694 | $4,262,675 | 85 | $4,782,482 | $11,553,761 | $5,659,231 |
| 2024 | $115,085,424 | $9,477,904 | $9,621,672 | $6,448,848 | 91 | $7,237,242 | $8,693,216 | $5,332,436 |
| 2023 | $66,968,513 | $1,931,145 | $5,416,363 | $3,955,695 | 61 | $4,791,431 | $1,543,502 | $4,554,700 |
| 2022 | $70,453,731 | $-3,992,677 | $6,091,570 | $4,209,512 | 58 | $5,049,772 | $773,252 | $4,692,697 |
| 2021 | $81,642,908 | $8,570,970 | $6,843,633 | $4,946,291 | 59 | $5,529,849 | $7,524,729 | $5,481,962 |
| 2020 | $78,810,641 | $3,662,271 | $5,536,172 | $3,929,158 | 67 | — | $2,806,739 | $4,771,023 |
| 2019 | $80,753,215 | $4,291,970 | $5,778,238 | $4,173,599 | 32 | — | $3,457,177 | $4,584,197 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Robert David Lion Gardiner reported a distributable amount of $5.7M for 2025 — 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 purpose is to educate and inform the public in an individual recipient State, particularly in Islip and Suffolk County, about local culture, art, traditions, and heritage. It also seeks to encourage appreciation of Islip’s societal heritage, particularly during the nineteenth century, and to support historical societies’ collections, repositories, preservation, restoration, and exhibition work.
Its website lists funding categories including cataloguing and digitalization, conservation of objects, collections care, exhibitions, education, public programs, publications, events and community activities, structural stabilization and restoration, and adaptive reuse. The 2025 filing describes direct charitable activities as scholarships and donations to educational facilities and other charitable organizations for education and preservation of Long Island history and artifacts.
The 2025 grantees included a range of institutions. Their own descriptions identify an individual recipient as conducting biological sciences research, especially in molecular biology and genetics; the East End Seaport Museum and Marine Foundation as stewarding the maritime heritage of Long Island’s East End; and the Sag Harbor Historical Museum as promoting local history. Other recipients included universities, a public broadcasting foundation, and museums and historical organizations.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 85 grants totaling $4,262,675. Grant amounts ranged from $1,152 to $500,000, with a median of $10,000. Among the largest listed awards were $500,000 to an individual recipient for a 2023 grant payment, $333,333 to the National Trust for an individual recipient for a 2023 award payment, and $333,333 to PBS Foundation for a 2023 award payment. Other listed grants included $295,440 to East End Seaport Museum and Marine Foundation, $250,000 to Long Island University, and $211,300 to Celebrate St. James Past Present.
The website says applications are reviewed twice each year and requires applicants to contact the foundation office before applying; applications are not considered without prior discussion and site visits. Applicants must submit the main application, proposal checklist, parts A–E, attachments, and any additional forms relevant to their project. The foundation’s website states that applicants must be qualifying 501(c)(3) organizations. No more than two proposals may be submitted annually by a single organization or entity. Grant amounts and matching requirements vary by project category; the website lists awards up to $300,000 for cataloguing and digitalization, conservation of objects, and collections care; up to $100,000 for exhibitions and education; and up to $50,000 for public programs, publications, events, and community activities. Structural stabilization and restoration and adaptive reuse grants may be up to $500,000 and require a full match. The website also sets match requirements according to institutional budget and permits in-kind contributions for no more than 20% of the matching funds.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Robert Watkins as vice president, Kathryn M. Curran as executive director, Lynne C. Nowick as treasurer, and Jennifer Attonito and Justice Peter Fox Cohalan as trustees.
Robert David Lion Gardiner's 2025 filing lists 5 officers; all 5 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jennifer Attonito
Trustee & Chai
Secretary & Director → Trustee & Chai, 2021
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
$38K (2019) → $65K (2025)
Justice Peter Fox Cohalan
Trustee & Director
Director → Trustee & Director, 2021
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$38K (2019) → $43K (2025)
Kathryn M. Curran
Executive Di
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$162K (2019) → $219K (2025)
Lynne C. Nowick
Treasurer & Secretary
Treasurer & Director → Treasurer & Secretary, 2021
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$88K (2019) → $93K (2025)
Robert Watkins
Vice President & D
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$38K (2019) → $43K (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Joseph Attonito (2019–2023) — Trustee & Director
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 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $219K, to Kathryn M Curran (Executive Di). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Robert David Lion Gardiner
How much does Robert David Lion Gardiner give each year?
Robert David Lion Gardiner gave $4.3M across 85 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $6.4M across 91 grants.
What is Robert David Lion Gardiner's typical grant size?
Robert David Lion Gardiner's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $50,149, across 85 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Robert David Lion Gardiner that year got $31K on average.
Where does Robert David Lion Gardiner give grants?
Robert David Lion Gardiner gives mostly in New York: 82% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were District of Columbia (8%) and Virginia (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (6 grants), Southampton, NY (4 grants), Huntington, NY (4 grants) and Cold Spring Harbor, NY (3 grants).
Does Robert David Lion Gardiner give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 85 grants with a stated purpose on Robert David Lion Gardiner's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "2025 Gardiner Young Scholar" (17 grants), "2025 Grant Award" (15 grants) and "2025 Challenge Match Grant" (6 grants).
Who are Robert David Lion Gardiner's largest grantees?
Robert David Lion Gardiner's largest 2025 grantees include Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory ($500,000), National Trust for Historic Presv ($333,333) and PBS Foundation ($333,333), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 8 grants to individuals ($150,417), which are not listed by name. Together they received 27% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Robert David Lion Gardiner?
Robert David Lion Gardiner reported $122.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $4.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $5.7M (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 Robert David Lion Gardiner fund?
The foundation’s purpose is to educate and inform the public in an individual recipient State, particularly in Islip and Suffolk County, about local culture, art, traditions, and heritage. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Robert David Lion Gardiner?
Contact the foundation office before submitting an application. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Robert David Lion Gardiner's EIN?
Robert David Lion Gardiner's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3354308. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 17, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 25, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Robert David Lion Gardiner's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Robert David Lion Gardiner funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/robert-david-lion-gardiner-morg_02923c43040647a39d921724868d610d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_133354308_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Robert David Lion Gardiner funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/robert-david-lion-gardiner-morg_02923c43040647a39d921724868d610d},
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 Robert David Lion Gardiner'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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