The Gambrell Foundation
The Gambrell Foundation is a Form 990-PF private foundation based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Created in 1988, it supports partnerships and ideas intended to help people and communities live good lives, with substantial investments in transforming Charlotte into a flourishing city.
The Gambrell Foundation at a glance
In short: The Gambrell Foundation gave $5.2M across 28 grants in 2024 (avg $187K), top state North Carolina. 36% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $5,229,559
- +7.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 28
- +3.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $186,770
- +3.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $110,000
- Total assets
- $172,585,271
- +4.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 36% first-time grantees (10 of 28, 2024)
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (49% 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 Gambrell Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Its website says it works collaboratively with partners to develop proposals for consideration and is not currently accepting or reviewing unsolicited proposals. It also says it continues strategic support for a limited number of local organizations supporting community needs while honoring existing commitments. The foundation’s history page says it relies on community leaders and volunteers for ideas with potential for long-lasting impact.
- Contact
Mailing address: 5625 Fairview Road, Charlotte, NC 28209
Phone: (704) 553-8296
Website: https://gambrellfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Gambrell Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was American Institute for Boys and Men ($800K). Together the top 10 received $4.1M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($128,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
153 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 46 grants of 153 (30%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Charlotte. In 2024, 49% of grant dollars went to recipients in North Carolina, 19% to the District of Columbia, 19% to California, and 12% to New York. Georgia accounted for 0% as reported.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 28 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Gambrell Foundation open to new grantees?
36%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 10 of 28 grantees (36%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $208K; repeat grants $175K. How we count
Medians: $147K first-time, $100K repeat.
- 57% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 49% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 96% 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 $4.9M (2023) to $10.4M (2021). In 2024 it made 28 grants totaling $5.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| American Institute for Boys and Men Washington, DC | General Purpose | $800,000 |
| Local Initiatives Support Corporation New York, NY | General Purpose | $650,000 |
| Hopelab Foundation San Francisco, CA | General Purpose | $500,000 |
| Foundation for the Carolinas Charlotte, NC | General Purpose | $450,000 |
| Communities in Schools of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Inc Charlotte, NC | General Purpose | $399,706 |
| Board of Regents - University of California Oakland, CA | General Purpose | $350,000 |
| Lakeview Neighborhood Alliance Charlotte, NC | General Purpose | $303,680 |
| Urbanpromise Charlotte Charlotte, NC | General Purpose | $230,000 |
| The German Marshall Fund of the United States Washington, DC | General Purpose | $217,366 |
| UNC Charlotte Foundation Charlotte, NC | General Purpose | $166,667 |
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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 | $172,585,271 | $18,267,928 | $10,733,409 | $5,229,559 | 28 | $8,226,648 | $11,366,211 | $8,609,978 |
| 2023 | $164,985,006 | $17,756,452 | $8,949,874 | $4,861,768 | 27 | $7,278,692 | $622,373 | $8,457,397 |
| 2022 | $156,174,566 | $-23,882,443 | $13,262,607 | $8,991,323 | 39 | $10,283,891 | — | $8,153,499 |
| 2021 | $193,352,025 | $58,399,889 | $13,873,065 | $10,353,708 | 28 | $11,292,798 | $18,801,715 | $9,304,516 |
| 2020 | $148,805,338 | $18,901,501 | $9,401,998 | $6,350,954 | 31 | — | $2,200,049 | $6,731,456 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Gambrell Foundation reported a distributable amount of $8.6M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is guided by relationships, belonging, and awe. It says it collaborates with partners who are willing to try promising ideas and learn from them, and that it supports more than 31 partner organizations working to nurture the conditions for human flourishing.
Its 2024 grants included organizations with varied missions. The American Institute for Boys and Men, which received $800,000, says it conducts nonpartisan research on issues affecting boys’ and men’s well-being and designs programs and policies to help them thrive. Local Initiatives Support Corporation, which received $650,000, says it works with residents and partners to forge resilient and inclusive communities. The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, which received $125,000, says its mission is to ignite the human spirit through live symphonic music. These are examples of grantee missions, not stated foundation focus areas.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 28 grants totaling $5,229,559. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $800,000, with a median of $110,000. All itemized grants listed a general-purpose purpose.
Among the largest awards were $800,000 to the American Institute for Boys and Men, $650,000 to Local Initiatives Support Corporation, $500,000 to HopeLab Foundation, $450,000 to Foundation for the Carolinas, and $399,706 to Communities in Schools of Charlotte-Mecklenburg.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Sally Belk Gambrell as Director–CEO, Hannah Rankin as Program Director, Brian E. Bridgford as Director–VP, and Brian Collier as President.
The Gambrell Foundation is led by Sally Belk Gambrell, Director - CEO since 2022 (on filings since 2020); all 4 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Sally Belk Gambrell
Director - CEO
President → Director - President, 2021
Director - President → Director - CEO, 2022
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$102K (2020) → $125K (2024)
Brian Collier
President
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$45K (2022) → $374K (2024)
Hannah Rankin
Program Director
Executive Director → Program Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
8 hrs/week
$112K (2020) → $71K (2024)
Brian E. Bridgford
Director - Vice President
Director → Director - Vice President, 2022
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$87K (2020) → $125K (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 $374K, to Brian Collier (President). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Gambrell Foundation
How much does The Gambrell Foundation give each year?
The Gambrell Foundation gave $5.2M across 28 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $4.9M across 27 grants.
What is The Gambrell Foundation's typical grant size?
The Gambrell Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $110,000, and its average grant was $186,770, across 28 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Gambrell Foundation that year got $208K on average.
Where does The Gambrell Foundation give grants?
The Gambrell Foundation's top state is North Carolina, with 49% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were District of Columbia (19%) and California (19%). The most frequent recipient cities were Charlotte, NC (16 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does The Gambrell Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Gambrell Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (28 of 28) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Gambrell Foundation's largest grantees?
The Gambrell Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include American Institute for Boys and Men ($800,000), Local Initiatives Support Corporation ($650,000) and Hopelab Foundation ($500,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($128,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 37% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Gambrell Foundation?
The Gambrell Foundation reported $172.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $8.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $8.6M (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 Gambrell Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is guided by relationships, belonging, and awe. It says it collaborates with partners who are willing to try promising ideas and learn from them, and that it supports more than 31 partner organizations working to nurture the conditions for human flourishing. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Gambrell Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Gambrell Foundation's EIN?
The Gambrell Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-2120679. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Gambrell 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Gambrell Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Gambrell Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-gambrell-foundation-morg_8f4c3dbd3b41472d94cefe7322b6ac9e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_562120679_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Gambrell Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-gambrell-foundation-morg_8f4c3dbd3b41472d94cefe7322b6ac9e},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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 Gambrell 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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