Southern Fruit Distributors Fund Inc
Southern Fruit Distributors Fund Inc is a private foundation based in Orlando, Florida. Its 2024 filing reports grants to organizations including arts, social-service, health, faith-related, and veterans’ organizations; the listed grants were generally described as contributions to the recipients’ general operating funds.
Key facts about Southern Fruit Distributors Fund Inc
In short: Southern Fruit Distributors Fund Inc gave $19K across 16 grants in 2024 (avg $1K), mostly in Florida. 50% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 59-1002700
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $18,850
- Grants made (2024)
- 16
- Average grant
- $1,178
- Median grant
- $1,050
- New grantees (estimate)
- 50% first-time grantees (8 of 16, 2024; small sample)
- Total assets
- $569,231
- Primary geography
- Florida (71% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The filing says to contact Jim Caruso with a letter stating the amount requested and background information about the applicant. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$569K
+1.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$19K
-31.7% YoY
Grant Count
16
-11.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$1K
-23.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Southern Fruit Distributors Fund Inc reported a distributable amount of $29K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Southern Fruit Distributors Fund Inc open to new grantees?
50%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 8 of 16 grantees (50%) were first-time recipients. With only 16 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $1K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 50% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+15%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 66% 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, the Orlando Museum of Art describes its mission as presenting art to a diverse public and providing inclusive educational programming in Central Florida. Wounded Warrior Project describes its work as supporting the well-being of post-9/11 veterans, active-duty service members, and their families.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation gave $18,850 through 16 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $250 to $2,000, with a median grant of $1,050. Notable awards included $2,000 each to Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida, the Orlando Museum of Art, and I Dignity; and $1,500 each to Shriners Hospital for Children, St. Jude’s Children’s Research, International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, and Salvation Army Orlando. Wounded Warrior Project received $250.
How to Apply
The filing says to contact Jim Caruso with a letter stating the amount requested and background information about the applicant. Awards are discretionary and based on the manager’s decision. The filing says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
Ready to take the next step with Southern Fruit Distributors Fund Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 71% of grant dollars went to Florida recipients. The remaining reported shares went to Tennessee (8%), Illinois (8%), Michigan (5%), and Iowa (5%). These figures describe the locations of 2024 grant recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $16K (2021) to $37K (2020). In 2024 it made 16 grants totaling $19K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Coalition for the Homless of Central FL ($2K). Together the top 10 received $15K.
Grant Size Distribution
82 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 82 grants of 82 (100%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Coalition for the Homless of Central FL Orlando, FL | Contribution toGeneralOperating Fund | $2,000 |
| Orlando Museum of Art Orlando, FL | Contribution togeneraloperating fund | $2,000 |
| I Dignity Orlando, FL | Contribution to generaloperating fund | $2,000 |
| Shriners Hospital for Children Tampa, FL | Contributionto generaloperating fund | $1,500 |
| St Judes Childrens Research Memphis, TN | Contributionto generaloperating fund | $1,500 |
| Internationsl Fellowship Christians & Jews Chicago, IL | Contributionto generaloperating fund | $1,500 |
| Salvation Army Orlando Orlando, FL | Contributionto generaloperating fund | $1,500 |
| Wucf Orlando, FL | Contributionto generaloperating fund | $1,100 |
| Rollins College Gifts Winter Park, FL | Contribution togeneraloperating fund | $1,000 |
| Biologs Grand Rapids, MI | Contribution togeneral operating fund | $1,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $569,231 | $17,221 | $24,344 | $18,850 |
| 2023 | $559,806 | $13,673 | $35,618 | $27,600 |
| 2022 | $526,458 | -$2,585 | $25,560 | $21,050 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $569,231 | $559,806 | $526,458 |
| Revenue | $17,221 | $13,673 | $-2,585 |
| Expenses | $24,344 | $35,618 | $25,560 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $18,850 | $27,600 | $21,050 |
| Net Investment Income | $21,144 | $34,820 | — |
| Distributable Amount | $28,534 | $25,896 | $26,963 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists James P Caruso as President; Phylis P Caruso as Vice President/Secretary; Judith WLarue as Vice President; and J Paul Caruso as Vice President.
Southern Fruit Distributors Fund Inc is led by James P Caruso, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
James P Caruso
President
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
J Paul Caruso
Vice President
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Judith WLarue
Vice President
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Phylis P Caruso
Vice President & Secretary
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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.
Contact
Application contact: Jim Caruso
Mailing address: PO Box 568367, Orlando, FL 32856
Phone: (407) 859-3550
Frequently asked questions about Southern Fruit Distributors Fund Inc
How much does Southern Fruit Distributors Fund Inc give each year?
Southern Fruit Distributors Fund Inc gave $19K across 16 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $28K across 18 grants.
What is Southern Fruit Distributors Fund Inc's typical grant size?
Southern Fruit Distributors Fund Inc's median grant in 2024 was $1,050, and its average grant was $1,178, across 16 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Southern Fruit Distributors Fund Inc that year got $1K on average.
Where does Southern Fruit Distributors Fund Inc give grants?
Southern Fruit Distributors Fund Inc gives mostly in Florida: 71% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Tennessee (8%) and Illinois (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Orlando, FL (7 grants).
Does Southern Fruit Distributors Fund Inc give general operating support?
Occasionally: 6% of Southern Fruit Distributors Fund Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 16) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Contributionto generaloperating fund" (10 grants) and "Contribution toGeneralOperating Fund" (3 grants).
Who are Southern Fruit Distributors Fund Inc's largest grantees?
Southern Fruit Distributors Fund Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Coalition for the Homless of Central FL ($2,000), Orlando Museum of Art ($2,000) and I Dignity ($2,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 32% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Southern Fruit Distributors Fund Inc?
Southern Fruit Distributors Fund Inc reported $569K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $19K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $29K (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 Southern Fruit Distributors Fund Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, the Orlando Museum of Art describes its mission as presenting art to a diverse public and providing inclusive educational programming in Central Florida. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Southern Fruit Distributors Fund Inc?
The filing says to contact Jim Caruso with a letter stating the amount requested and background information about the applicant. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Southern Fruit Distributors Fund Inc's EIN?
Southern Fruit Distributors Fund Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 59-1002700. 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.
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