Sterling & Shelli Gardner Foundation
Sterling & Shelli Gardner Foundation is a private foundation, based in Alpine, UT. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $3.1M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 9 grants totaling $64K. Net investment income was $115K.
Sterling & Shelli Gardner Foundation at a glance
In short: Sterling & Shelli Gardner Foundation gave $64K across 9 grants in 2024 (avg $7K), mostly in Utah. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $63,750
- -73.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 9
- -67.9% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $7,083
- -17.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $3,070,194
- +1.7% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Utah (76% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Sterling & Shelli Gardner Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Courage Reins ($25K). Together the top 9 received $64K.
Grant Size Distribution
58 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 55 grants of 58 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
Cities
How Sterling & Shelli Gardner Foundation gives
- In 2024 it paid out 38% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $64K (2024) to $241K (2023). In 2024 it made 9 grants totaling $64K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Courage Reins Highland, UT | Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| Give Kids a Smile Chicago, IL | Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| 5 for the Fight Foundation Provo, UT | Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| Little Lives Rescue Pasco, WA | Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| The Policy Project Salt Lake City, UT | Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| Five 12 Foundation Alpine, UT | Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| Elizabeth Smart Foundation Herriman, UT | Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| Happy Factory Cedar City, UT | Unrestricted | $2,500 |
| New Hope Calvary Chapel Lehi, UT | Unrestricted | $1,250 |
Ready to take the next step with Sterling & Shelli Gardner 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 | $3,070,194 | $150,199 | $99,271 | $63,750 | 9 | $63,750 | $114,678 | $167,922 |
| 2023 | $3,019,266 | $-30,179 | $265,168 | $241,250 | 28 | $241,250 | $61,110 | $155,178 |
| 2022 | $3,314,613 | $57,435 | $246,107 | $205,000 | 13 | $205,000 | $43,703 | $165,768 |
| 2021 | $3,503,285 | $90,302 | $26,529 | — | — | — | $62,854 | $172,518 |
| 2020 | $3,439,512 | $2,500,000 | $161,199 | $160,000 | 8 | — | — | $61,247 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sterling & Shelli Gardner Foundation reported a distributable amount of $168K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Sterling & Shelli Gardner Foundation's 2024 filing lists 9 officers; none of the 9 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Jon Brown
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Megan White
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nate White
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sage Hoopiiaina
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sara Douglass
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sean Douglass
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shalae Brown
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shelli Gardner
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sterling Gardner
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/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.
Frequently asked questions about Sterling & Shelli Gardner Foundation
How much does Sterling & Shelli Gardner Foundation give each year?
Sterling & Shelli Gardner Foundation gave $64K across 9 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $241K across 28 grants.
What is Sterling & Shelli Gardner Foundation's typical grant size?
Sterling & Shelli Gardner Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $7,083, across 9 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Sterling & Shelli Gardner Foundation give grants?
Sterling & Shelli Gardner Foundation gives mostly in Utah: 76% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Illinois (16%) and Washington (8%).
Does Sterling & Shelli Gardner Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Sterling & Shelli Gardner Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (9 of 9) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Sterling & Shelli Gardner Foundation's largest grantees?
Sterling & Shelli Gardner Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Courage Reins ($25,000), Give Kids a Smile ($10,000) and 5 for the Fight Foundation ($5,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 63% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Sterling & Shelli Gardner Foundation?
Sterling & Shelli Gardner Foundation reported $3.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $64K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $168K (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 is Sterling & Shelli Gardner Foundation's EIN?
Sterling & Shelli Gardner Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-0686202. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Sterling & Shelli Gardner Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Sterling & Shelli Gardner Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
doTERRA Healing Hands Foundation
Pleasant Grove, UT
The doTERRA Healing Hands Foundation funds projects that support community self-reliance, including health, education, clean water, sanitation, crisis relief, microcredit, and anti-trafficking work, in the U.S. and more than 110 countries. Its 2024 grants ranged from $6,103 to $386,271, with a median of $20,000; its Match Program offers approved projects up to $10,000 in matching funds. It accepts applications through that program, but applicants must meet eligibility requirements and speak with the Executive Director before applying.
Assets
$6.6M
Grants
52
Total Given
$2.1M
Joan and Tim Fenton Family Foundation
Midvale, UT
The foundation supports a broad range of charitable, educational, health, arts, community, environmental, and religious work, with a focus on Utah; in 2024, most grant dollars went to Utah organizations. Grants ranged from $4,000 to $300,000, with a median of $25,000. It accepts applications online or in person, and asks new applicants to inquire before applying.
Assets
$92.4M
Grants
29
Total Given
$2.2M
Beesley Family Foundation
St George, UT
The Beesley Family Foundation funds education, humanitarian aid, and medical services, with most of its giving going to organizations in Utah. In 2024, it made 92 grants ranging from $1,000 to $1,520,468, with a median grant of $11,500. It gives only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited funding requests.
Assets
$63.5M
Grants
92
Total Given
$4.7M
Community Trust of Utah
Salt Lake City, UT
Community Trust of Utah primarily distributes donor-advised fund grants to public charities, supporting varied charitable purposes rather than a stated set of focus areas. Its 2024 grants ranged from $6,000 to $26 million, with a median of $21,500; 16% of grant dollars went to Utah recipients, while the rest’s locations aren’t specified. The profile doesn’t state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$23.8M
Grants
14
Total Given
$31.6M
The Ashton Family Foundation
Lehi, UT
The Ashton Family Foundation supports a broad range of work, including human services, health care, arts, and education. Its 2024 grants were typically $2,000–$10,000, with a median of $5,000, and mostly went to Utah organizations, with some funding in California and Pennsylvania. It accepts unsolicited written requests that explain the need.
Assets
$372K
Grants
36
Total Given
$207K
More similar funders
More Funders in Utah
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Sterling & Shelli Gardner 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.
Sterling & Shelli Gardner Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?