The Gale Foundation
The Gale Foundation is a Cleveland, Ohio-based private foundation that filed Form 990-PF. Its 2025 filing is marked as its final return. The filing states that the foundation’s three members split it into three private foundations, funded with cash and securities transferred on March 7, 2025, leaving no assets held by The Gale Foundation. It therefore appears to have wound down.
The Gale Foundation at a glance
In short: The Gale Foundation gave $9.1M across 9 grants in 2025 (avg $1.0M), mostly in Ohio. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $9,120,600
- +1397.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 9
- -70.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,013,400
- +4892.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $488,743
- Primary geography
- Ohio (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Gale Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests; it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 2400 Orange Ave 6747, Cleveland, OH 44101
Phone: (440) 821-3748
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Gale Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Freer Foundation ($3.0M across 3 grants). Together the top 4 received $9.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
102 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 87 grants of 102 (85%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for 2025 went to recipients in Ohio.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Gale Foundation gives
- Giving grew 1261% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 115% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $389K (2021) to $9.1M (2025). In 2025 it made 9 grants totaling $9.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Freer Foundation Cleveland, OH | Funding for the Freer Founation with in-kind stock distribution at cost | $2,550,235 |
| MB Gale Foundation Cleveland, OH | Funding for the MBGale Foundation with in-kind stock distribution at cost | $2,550,235 |
| OurBlueSeas Foundation Cleveland, OH | Funding for OurBlueSeas Foundation with in-kind stock distribution at cost | $2,550,235 |
| Freer Foundation Cleveland, OH | Funding for the Freer Foundation with cash | $488,743 |
| MB Gale Foundation Cleveland, OH | Funding for the MBGale Foundation with cash | $488,743 |
| OurBlueSeas Foundation Cleveland, OH | Funding for OurBlueSeas Foundation with cash | $488,742 |
| OurBlueSeas Foundation Cleveland, OH | One-third IRS refund | $1,223 |
| Freer Foundation Cleveland, OH | One-third IRS refund | $1,222 |
| MBGale Foundation Cleveland, OH | One-third IRS refund | $1,222 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The 2025 filing states that the foundation transferred its cash and securities to the three new foundations and held no assets afterward.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | $38,432 | $9,183,203 | $9,120,600 | 9 | $9,138,861 | $12,009 | — |
| 2024 | $9,144,771 | $1,079,328 | $764,437 | $609,000 | 30 | $670,672 | $995,637 | $585,732 |
| 2023 | $8,822,518 | $1,349,070 | $589,119 | $497,136 | 23 | $514,767 | $1,274,718 | $517,323 |
| 2022 | $8,037,942 | $327,412 | $777,225 | $670,000 | 23 | $685,986 | $253,073 | $539,233 |
| 2021 | $8,487,755 | $854,256 | $482,453 | $389,000 | 17 | $408,302 | $780,105 | $553,443 |
| 2020 | $8,115,952 | $346,957 | $508,137 | $421,500 | 1 | — | $286,106 | $452,688 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The filing does not state a mission or specific program focus. In 2025, the foundation transferred funds to the Freer Foundation, the MBGale Foundation, and OurBlueSeas Foundation.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, The Gale Foundation reported 9 grants totaling $9,120,600. Grant amounts ranged from $1,222 to $2,550,235, with a median of $488,743. The largest grants were $2,550,235 each to the Freer Foundation, the MB Gale Foundation, and OurBlueSeas Foundation, for funding through in-kind stock distributions at cost. The foundation also reported cash grants of $488,743 to the Freer Foundation, $488,743 to the MBGale Foundation, and $488,742 to OurBlueSeas Foundation.
In 2024, it reported 30 grants totaling $609,000. Its 2025 filing, the latest on this page, reports 9 grants totaling $9.1 million.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Thomas V Gale as President/Trustee; Mary B Gale and Debbie G Freer as Vice-Presidents/Trustees; Chuck L Freer as Trustee; and Daniel L Horn as Secretary/Treasurer.
The Gale Foundation is led by Thomas V Gale, President & Trustee on every filing since 2020; 1 of 5 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Thomas V Gale
President & Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary B Gale
Vice President & Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chuck L Freer
Trustee
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Debbie G Freer
Vice President & Trustee
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Daniel L Horn
Secretary & Treasurer
Secretary → Secretary & Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$8K (2020) → $22K (2025)
Former officers (2)
- Former: Charles L. Freer (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Deborah G. Freer (2020–2023) — Trustee & Vice President
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 $22K, to Daniel L Horn (Secretary/Treasurer).
Frequently asked questions about The Gale Foundation
How much does The Gale Foundation give each year?
The Gale Foundation gave $9.1M across 9 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $609K across 30 grants.
What is The Gale Foundation's typical grant size?
The Gale Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $488,743, and its average grant was $1,013,400, across 9 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Gale Foundation give grants?
The Gale Foundation gives mostly in Ohio: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Cleveland, OH (9 grants).
Does The Gale Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 9 grants with a stated purpose on The Gale Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "One-third IRS refund" (3 grants).
Who are The Gale Foundation's largest grantees?
The Gale Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Freer Foundation ($3,040,200 across 3 grants), OurBlueSeas Foundation ($3,040,200 across 3 grants) and MB Gale Foundation ($3,038,978 across 2 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
What does The Gale Foundation fund?
The filing does not state a mission or specific program focus. In 2025, the foundation transferred funds to the Freer Foundation, the MBGale Foundation, and OurBlueSeas Foundation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Gale Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests; it 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 Gale Foundation's EIN?
The Gale Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 34-1812999. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Gale Foundation 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
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 2, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Gale Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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The Gale Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?