The Gallagher Family Foundation
The Gallagher Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Waterloo, Iowa. It gave $1,599,451 through 60 grants in 2024; the listed grants went primarily to Iowa recipients, including colleges, schools, cultural organizations, and community-service organizations.
The Gallagher Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Gallagher Family Foundation gave $1.6M across 60 grants in 2024 (avg $27K), mostly in Iowa. 3% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,599,451
- -9.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 60
- -1.6% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $26,658
- -7.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $15,146,315
- +0.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 3% first-time grantees (2 of 60, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Iowa (95% 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 Gallagher Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 1351, Waterloo, IA 50704
Phone: (319) 610-2941
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Gallagher Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Clarke University ($348K). Together the top 10 received $1.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
294 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 271 grants of 294 (92%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 95% of grant dollars went to recipients in Iowa, 3% to recipients in Washington, DC, and 1% each to recipients in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Less than 1% went to recipients in Nebraska.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 60 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Gallagher Family Foundation open to new grantees?
3%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 2 of 60 grantees (3%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $20K; repeat grants $27K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 97% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+11%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 187% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $1.4M (2020) to $1.8M (2023). In 2024 it made 60 grants totaling $1.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Clarke University Dubuque, IA | Education Support | $348,333 |
| Loras College Dubuque, IA | Education Support | $315,000 |
| St Edward's Catholic Church Waterloo, IA | Education Support | $80,000 |
| Cedar Valley Catholic Schools Waterloo, IA | Education Support | $70,000 |
| Grout Museum Inc Waterloo, IA | Education Support | $65,000 |
| University of Northern Iowa Foundation Cedar Falls, IA | Education Support | $45,500 |
| Georgetown University Washington, DC | Education Support | $44,286 |
| NAMI Dubuque Alliance for the Mentally Ill Dubuque, IA | Education Support | $35,000 |
| Northeast Iowa Food Bank Inc Waterloo, IA | Education Support | $35,000 |
| Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Dubuque Dubuque, IA | Education Support | $30,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Gallagher Family 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 | $15,146,315 | $1,771,237 | $1,678,156 | $1,599,451 | 60 | $1,618,019 | $1,707,915 | $864,481 |
| 2023 | $15,053,268 | $296,714 | $1,841,980 | $1,766,520 | 61 | $1,785,058 | $239,792 | $833,016 |
| 2022 | $16,598,579 | $299,427 | $1,828,674 | $1,708,820 | 57 | $1,727,284 | $189,077 | $917,786 |
| 2021 | $18,127,667 | $1,728,722 | $1,519,977 | $1,436,286 | 58 | $1,453,392 | $1,662,087 | $1,086,532 |
| 2020 | $17,918,881 | $295,042 | $1,457,433 | $1,373,486 | 58 | — | $147,515 | $987,901 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Gallagher Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $864K 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 filing lists each grant’s purpose as “education support.” Recipients included colleges and universities, Catholic schools and churches, a museum, a food bank, legal aid, and hospice organizations.
The grantees describe their own work in varied ways. Loras College says it creates a Catholic liberal arts community of active learners, reflective thinkers, ethical decision makers, and responsible contributors. The University of Northern Iowa Foundation says it grows private resources and relationships to support the university, its people, and its programs. Northeast Iowa Food Bank says it provides food and hunger education in northeast Iowa. Iowa Legal Aid Foundation says it supports legal aid for low-income Iowans, and Cedar Valley Hospice says it provides palliative and end-of-life care and support for people who grieve.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 60 grants totaling $1,599,451. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $348,333, with a median of $10,000. Among the largest were $348,333 to Clarke University and $315,000 to Loras College, both in Dubuque, Iowa; $80,000 to St. Edward’s Catholic Church and $70,000 to Cedar Valley Catholic Schools, both in Waterloo; and $65,000 to Grout Museum Inc. in Waterloo. Other listed grants included $45,500 to the University of Northern Iowa, $44,286 to Georgetown University, and $35,000 each to NAMI Dubuque and Northeast Iowa Food Bank.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists EJ Gallagher III as president; Mary Kay Beecher as vice president; Nancy Fischer as secretary; John J Burns as treasurer; and Kathryn Beecher Kolck and Gail Gallagher as directors.
The Gallagher Family Foundation is led by Ej Gallagher III, President on every filing since 2020; all 6 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Ej Gallagher III
President
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$1K (2020) → $1K (2024)
Gail Gallagher
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$1K (2020) → $1K (2024)
Kathryn Beecher Kolck
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$1K (2020) → $1K (2024)
John J. Burns
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$1K (2020) → $1K (2024)
Mary Kay Beecher
Vice President
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$1K (2020) → $1K (2024)
Nancy Fischer
Secretary
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$7K (2020) → $6K (2024)
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $6K, to Nancy Fischer (Secretary). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Gallagher Family Foundation
How much does The Gallagher Family Foundation give each year?
The Gallagher Family Foundation gave $1.6M across 60 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.8M across 61 grants.
What is The Gallagher Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Gallagher Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $26,658, across 60 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Gallagher Family Foundation that year got $20K on average.
Where does The Gallagher Family Foundation give grants?
The Gallagher Family Foundation gives mostly in Iowa: 95% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Waterloo, IA (31 grants), Dubuque, IA (11 grants), Cedar Falls, IA (6 grants) and Des Moines, IA (2 grants).
Does The Gallagher Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 60 grants with a stated purpose on The Gallagher Family Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Education Support" (60 grants).
Who are The Gallagher Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Gallagher Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Clarke University ($348,333), Loras College ($315,000) and St Edward's Catholic Church ($80,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 46% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Gallagher Family Foundation?
The Gallagher Family Foundation reported $15.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $864K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Gallagher Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 filing lists each grant’s purpose as “education support.” Recipients included colleges and universities, Catholic schools and churches, a museum, a food bank, legal aid, and hospice organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Gallagher Family Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Gallagher Family Foundation's EIN?
The Gallagher Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 42-1362579. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Gallagher Family 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 23, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 2, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 8, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Gallagher Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Gallagher Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-gallagher-family-foundation-morg_dac73cc387004fe09aa2f4facaf9954d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_421362579_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Gallagher Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-gallagher-family-foundation-morg_dac73cc387004fe09aa2f4facaf9954d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-05. 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 Gallagher Family 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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