The Gaius Foundation Inc
The Gaius Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Bar Harbor, Maine. Its 2024 filing reports 13 grants totaling $59,500 to charitable organizations, with each listed grant designated for general support.
The Gaius Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Gaius Foundation Inc gave $60K across 13 grants in 2024 (avg $5K), top state Maine. 8% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $59,500
- -49.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 13
- -13.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $4,577
- -41.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $1,655,648
- -2.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 8% first-time grantees (1 of 13, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Maine (28% 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 The Gaius Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: Co B Ambielli 37 Ladyslipper Lane, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Phone: (207) 460-5191
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Gaius Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Christian Education League ($10K). Together the top 10 received $56K.
Grant Size Distribution
60 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 60 grants of 60 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state were Maine (28%), North Carolina (17%), New Jersey (13%), California (12%), and Colorado (11%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Gaius Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
8%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 13 grantees (8%) were first-time recipients. With only 13 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $5K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 92% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 26% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 59% 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 $26K (2020) to $117K (2023). In 2024 it made 13 grants totaling $60K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Christian Education League Augusta, ME | General Support | $10,000 |
| Friendship Center for New Beginnings Flemington, NJ | General Support | $7,500 |
| Focus on the Family Colorado Springs, CO | General Support | $6,500 |
| Maoz Israel Ministries Grand Prairie, TX | General Support | $6,000 |
| What If Foundation Berkeley, CA | General Support | $6,000 |
| Beach Food Pantry Kitty Hawk, NC | General Support | $5,000 |
| Beloved Asheville Ashville, NC | General Support | $5,000 |
| Family Research Council Washington, DC | General Support | $5,000 |
| Acadia Wildlife Center Mt Desert, ME | General Support | $2,500 |
| Peace Ridge Sanctuary Brooke, ME | General Support | $2,500 |
Ready to take the next step with The Gaius Foundation Inc?
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 | $1,655,648 | $26,549 | $60,891 | $59,500 | 13 | $60,072 | $26,199 | $101,097 |
| 2023 | $1,689,990 | $32,953 | $117,566 | $117,066 | 15 | $117,136 | $32,603 | $100,597 |
| 2022 | $1,774,603 | $-4,212 | $54,381 | $53,900 | 12 | $53,931 | $20,078 | $102,995 |
| 2021 | $1,833,196 | $48,102 | $81,071 | $80,550 | 13 | $80,550 | $17,667 | $53,225 |
| 2020 | $1,864,104 | $16,536 | $28,201 | $26,250 | 7 | — | $16,186 | $54,166 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Gaius Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $101K 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants include support for organizations whose own missions address Christian education and ministry, food assistance, community challenges, animal sanctuary and education, and services for coastal and island communities. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not a stated mission of the foundation.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 13 grants totaling $59,500. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $10,000, with a median of $5,000. The largest reported grants included $10,000 to Christian Education League, $7,500 to Friendship Center for New Beginnings, $6,500 to Focus on the Family, and $6,000 each to Maoz Israel Ministries and What If Foundation. Other reported recipients included Beach Food Pantry and Beloved Asheville ($5,000 each), Family Research Council ($5,000), Acadia Wildlife Center and Peace Ridge Sanctuary ($2,500 each), Maine Seacoast Mission ($1,500), and K-LOVE ($1,000). The listed grants were for general support.
Christian Education League describes its mission as encouraging the people of Maine in good citizenship. Friendship Center for New Beginnings describes its work as Christian ministry that empowers needy single-parent families and addresses causes of need. What If Foundation says it supports Haitian partners providing food, education, and health care programs for children and families. Beach Food Pantry says it distributes food and personal hygiene supplies to people in need in Dare County, North Carolina. Beloved Asheville describes work addressing challenges including racism and systemic inequities, housing and food insecurity, poverty, and health care inequalities. Family Research Council describes its mission as promoting the traditional family unit and Judeo-Christian values. Peace Ridge Sanctuary says it provides sanctuary to abused and neglected animals and promotes compassionate lifestyle choices through education. Maine Seacoast Mission describes work strengthening coastal and island communities in Maine.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Barbara Ambielli as president; Laura A. Swisher as vice president; and Karen Fuller, John F. Ambielli, Lynn A. Rampacek, and Sharon A. Dubuc as trustees.
The Gaius Foundation Inc is led by Barbara Ambielli, President since 2021 (on filings since 2020); none of the 6 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Barbara Ambielli
President
Vice President → President, 2021
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John F. Ambielli
Trustee
President & Trustee → Trustee, 2021
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Karen Fuller
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lynn A. Rampacek
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sharon A. Dubuc
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Laura A. Swisher
Vice President
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Laura Ambielli (2020) — Trustee
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 The Gaius Foundation Inc
How much does The Gaius Foundation Inc give each year?
The Gaius Foundation Inc gave $60K across 13 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $117K across 15 grants.
What is The Gaius Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Gaius Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $4,577, across 13 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Gaius Foundation Inc that year got $2K on average.
Where does The Gaius Foundation Inc give grants?
The Gaius Foundation Inc's top state is Maine, with 28% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were North Carolina (17%) and New Jersey (13%).
Does The Gaius Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Gaius Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (13 of 13) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Gaius Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Gaius Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Christian Education League ($10,000), Friendship Center for New Beginnings ($7,500) and Focus on the Family ($6,500), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 40% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Gaius Foundation Inc?
The Gaius Foundation Inc reported $1.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $60K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $101K (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 The Gaius Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants include support for organizations whose own missions address Christian education and ministry, food assistance, community challenges, animal sanctuary and education, and services for coastal and island communities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Gaius Foundation Inc?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Gaius Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Gaius Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-3801217. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Gaius Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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 The Gaius Foundation Inc funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Gaius Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
One Foundation Incorporated
Cedar Rapids, IA
Assets
$2.1M
Grants
7
Total Given
$211K
Albert R & Louise C Gillespie
Naples, FL
The foundation supports Christian ministries, missions and evangelism, education, and public policy organizations. In 2025, it awarded 20 grants of $100–$33,500 (median $1,700), with most funding going to recipients in Florida, followed by Washington, DC; it accepts contributions only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$2.5M
Grants
20
Total Given
$133K
Lamoreaux Family Foundation
Sisters, OR
The Lamoreaux Family Foundation funds youth ministry, education, church and community outreach, and assistance for people in need, with 2025 grants ranging from $450 to $12,500 (median $2,250). Its grants went mainly to organizations in Oregon and California, with others in several states. It gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$698K
Grants
22
Total Given
$73K
Krislynn Foundation
Irvine, CA
The foundation’s 2024 grants supported religious, family, and civil-liberties organizations, with awards ranging from $50 to $100,000 and a median of $1,200. Grants went mainly to organizations in California and Florida, with smaller amounts in Texas, Washington, DC, and Colorado. It funds only preselected charities and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.9M
Grants
26
Total Given
$270K
Troesh Family Foundation
Henderson, NV
The Troesh Family Foundation funds health research, education and scholarships, civic engagement, and human services. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,000 to $2 million, with a median of $30,000, and mainly went to organizations in California, Maryland, Arizona, Nevada, and New Jersey. It supports only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$69.4M
Grants
33
Total Given
$6.9M
Smeenk Family Foundation Inc
Fairport, NY
Assets
$1.8M
Grants
38
Total Given
$82K
More similar funders
More Funders in Maine
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Gaius Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-gaius-foundation-inc-morg_664f22cf83454e8397970a3e10255c61
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_223801217_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Gaius Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-gaius-foundation-inc-morg_664f22cf83454e8397970a3e10255c61},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 Gaius Foundation Inc'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.
The Gaius Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?