The Edward & Elizabeth Gardner Foundation
THE EDWARD & ELIZABETH GARDNER is a private foundation based in Lakewood Ranch, Florida. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations in several states, including organizations working in housing, education, arts and culture, food access, and human services.
The Edward & Elizabeth Gardner Foundation at a glance
In short: The Edward & Elizabeth Gardner Foundation gave $275K across 26 grants in 2025 (avg $11K), top state Florida. 42% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $275,000
- +22.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 26
- +4.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $10,577
- +17.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,500
- Total assets
- $1,923,875
- +3.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 42% first-time grantees (11 of 26, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Florida (22% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated November 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Edward & Elizabeth Gardner Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 110136, Lakewood Ranch, FL 34211
Phone: (304) 549-3828
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Edward & Elizabeth Gardner Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Heritage University ($30K). Together the top 10 received $185K.
Grant Size Distribution
108 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 108 grants of 108 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in Florida (23%), Washington (20%), New York (20%), South Carolina (15%), and New Jersey (9%). Listed recipients also included organizations in Oregon, Ohio, and Washington, DC.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 26 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Edward & Elizabeth Gardner Foundation open to new grantees?
42%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 11 of 26 grantees (42%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $13K; repeat grants $9K. How we count
Medians: $9K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 50% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 104% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 179% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $135K (2022) to $275K (2025). In 2025 it made 26 grants totaling $275K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Heritage University Toppenish, WA | To Further Recipients' Expressed Charit Purp. | $30,000 |
| The Dunhuang Foundation Houston, TX | To Further Recipients' Expressed Charit Purp | $30,000 |
| Asolo Repertory Theatre Sarasota, FL | To Further Recipients' Expressed Charit Purp. | $20,000 |
| Univerity of Memphis Foundation Memphis, TN | To Further Recipients' Expressed Charit Purp | $20,000 |
| Rubin Museum of Art New York City, NY | To Further Recipients' Expressed Charit Purp | $20,000 |
| Habitat for Humanity of Georgetown SC Georgetown, SC | To Further Recipients' Expressed Charit Purp. | $15,000 |
| Music Cares Reading, PA | To Further Recipients' Expressed Charit Purp | $15,000 |
| Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee Bradenton, FL | To Further Recipients' Expressed Charit Purp. | $12,500 |
| Turning Points Bradenton, FL | To Further Recipients' Expressed Charit Purp. | $12,500 |
| Cooper Union Scholarship Fund New York, NY | To Further Recipients' Expressed Charit Purp. | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Edward & Elizabeth 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,923,875 | $424,289 | $362,631 | $275,000 | 26 | $275,209 | $356,945 | $153,425 |
| 2024 | $1,862,217 | $540,467 | $253,681 | $225,000 | 25 | $225,211 | $513,664 | $144,313 |
| 2023 | $1,575,431 | $51,319 | $171,155 | $150,000 | 20 | $150,200 | $30,364 | $126,637 |
| 2022 | $1,695,267 | $40,486 | $154,278 | $135,000 | 21 | $135,200 | $23,442 | $130,427 |
| 2021 | $1,809,059 | $52,384 | $171,168 | $150,000 | 16 | $150,200 | $32,416 | $137,965 |
| 2020 | $1,927,843 | $481,761 | $224,247 | $210,000 | 17 | — | $117,714 | $114,004 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Edward & Elizabeth Gardner Foundation reported a distributable amount of $153K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its grants include support for organizations with varied charitable purposes. For example, Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee says its mission is to help individuals live independently through nutrition and supportive services. Planned Parenthood Federation of America describes its mission as providing leadership in comprehensive reproductive and complementary health care and advocating public policies. The grantees’ stated missions also include supporting education and research, performing choral music, and improving access to food.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 25 grants totaling $225,000. Grant amounts ranged from $2,000 to $25,895, with a median of $8,000. Its largest listed grants were $25,895 to Habitat for Humanity of Georgetown, South Carolina, and $25,105 to Heritage University Child Care Scholarships to Needy Students in Washington. Its 2025 filing, the latest on this page, reports 26 grants totaling $275,000.
Other notable 2024 grants included $15,000 each to Asolo Repertory Theatre and the Rubin Museum of Art for Himalayan Art; $12,000 each to Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee and Turning Points; and $10,000 each to Cooper Union Scholarship Fund, Ringling College of Art & Design, YWCA Seattle King Snohomish, UW Foundation, and Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Additional reported grants included $8,000 to Holt International Children’s Services, $8,000 to Rutgers University Foundation, $5,000 to Oberlin College, $5,000 to Princeton Pro Musica, and $4,000 each to West Side Center for Community Life and Machik Corp.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Edward T. Gardner III as president and trustee; Janet Gardner as vice president and trustee; Mimi Gardner Gates as treasurer and trustee; and David Wickham as secretary.
The Edward & Elizabeth Gardner Foundation is led by Edward T. Gardner III, President & Trustee on the 2025 filing; 1 of 3 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Edward T. Gardner III
President & Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
6 hrs/week
$38K (2025)
Janet Gardner
Vice President & Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Mimi Gardner Gates
Treasurer & Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: David Wickham Co Dinsmore Shohl (2020–2024) — Secretary
- Former: Edward T. Gardner Iii Co Dinsmore (2020–2024) — President & Trustee
- Former: Janet Gardner Co Dinsmore Shohl (2020–2024) — Vice President & Trustee
- Former: Mimi Gardner Gates Co Dinsmore (2020–2024) — Treasurer & Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 $38K, to Edward T Gardner III (President, Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about The Edward & Elizabeth Gardner Foundation
How much does The Edward & Elizabeth Gardner Foundation give each year?
The Edward & Elizabeth Gardner Foundation gave $275K across 26 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $225K across 25 grants.
What is The Edward & Elizabeth Gardner Foundation's typical grant size?
The Edward & Elizabeth Gardner Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,500, and its average grant was $10,577, across 26 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Edward & Elizabeth Gardner Foundation that year got $13K on average.
Where does The Edward & Elizabeth Gardner Foundation give grants?
The Edward & Elizabeth Gardner Foundation's top state is Florida, with 22% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (16%) and Washington (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Sarasota, FL (3 grants), New York, NY (3 grants), Bradenton, FL (2 grants) and New York City, NY (2 grants).
Does The Edward & Elizabeth Gardner Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 26 grants with a stated purpose on The Edward & Elizabeth Gardner Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Further Recipients' Expressed Charit Purp." (26 grants).
Who are The Edward & Elizabeth Gardner Foundation's largest grantees?
The Edward & Elizabeth Gardner Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Heritage University ($30,000), The Dunhuang Foundation ($30,000) and Asolo Repertory Theatre ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 29% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Edward & Elizabeth Gardner Foundation?
The Edward & Elizabeth Gardner Foundation reported $1.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $275K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $153K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Edward & Elizabeth Gardner Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its grants include support for organizations with varied charitable purposes. For example, Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee says its mission is to help individuals live independently through nutrition and supportive services. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Edward & Elizabeth Gardner Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Edward & Elizabeth Gardner Foundation's EIN?
The Edward & Elizabeth Gardner Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1338344. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Edward & Elizabeth Gardner Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS September 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Edward & Elizabeth Gardner Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-edward-and-elizabeth-gardner-foundation-morg_7c3edc2c158a432483e7ec3c343f22a9
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_311338344_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Edward \& Elizabeth Gardner Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-edward-and-elizabeth-gardner-foundation-morg_7c3edc2c158a432483e7ec3c343f22a9},
note = {Accessed 2026-11-02. 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 The Edward & Elizabeth 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.
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