The Gardener Foundation Inc is a private grantmaking foundation based in Sarasota, Florida. Established in 2007, it operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with tax-exempt status since October 2007. The foundation functions as a private foundation dedicated to philanthropic giving across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$17.0M
-7.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$5.4M
+230.0% YoY
Grant Count
41
+28.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$131K
+157.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Gardener Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grantmaking priorities include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
Grantmaking
The foundation made 25 grants totaling approximately $1,783,284 in the most recent fiscal year.
Ready to take the next step with The Gardener Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Florida
- New York
- Colorado
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending June 2024:
- Total assets: $16,964,953
- Total revenues: $4,117,698
- Total expenses: $5,493,769
- Total liabilities: $0
- Number of employees: 0
Revenue Breakdown (FYE 06/2024):
- Grants, contributions, etc.: $2,069,748
- Investment income and dividends: $491,548
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $1,554,410
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $16,964,953 | $18,388,984 | $19,366,536 |
| Revenue | $4,117,698 | $753,414 | $979,580 |
| Expenses | $5,493,769 | $1,741,951 | $3,253,207 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $5,376,444 | $1,629,308 | $3,089,489 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,732,042 | $788,449 | $924,312 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,100,113 | $1,117,844 | $1,322,321 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
136 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Stony Brook Foundation ($2,300,000), Boys & Girls Club of Sarasota ($1,000,000), Visible Men Academy ($500,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALL FAITHS FOOD BANK SARASOTA, FL | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $10,000 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS TAMPA, FL | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $75,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF BELLPORT BELLPORT, NY | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $50,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF SARASOTA SARASOTA, FL | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $1,000,000 |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SARASOTA SARASOTA, FL | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $150,000 |
| ENSEMBLE NEW SRQ SARASOTA, FL | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $20,000 |
| ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND NEW YORK, NY | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $1,000 |
| FORTY CARROTS SARASOTA, FL | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $100,000 |
| GIFT OF LIFE LONG ISLAND PATCHOGUE, NY | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $5,000 |
| HEIFER INTERNATIONAL LITTLE ROCK, AR | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is governed by trustees William Knapp and Jane Knapp.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| WILLIAM KNAPP | PRESIDENT | 35 | — |
| JANE KNAPP | SECRETARY | 35 | — |
| MARCELLA BUTLER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Gardener Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's grantmaking priorities include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services
How do I apply for a grant from The Gardener Foundation Inc?
**Grant Activity:** • Total annual giving: $5,376,444 (based on most recent filing) • Annual grants made: $3,099,333 • Typical award range: $30–$2,300,000 **Recent Grants (Fiscal Year 2024):** • Visible Men Academy: $500,000 • The Community Foundation of Sarasota: $150,000 • Sarasota Architectural Foundation: $135,000 The foundation made 25 grants totaling approximately $1,783,284 in the most recent fiscal year.
Where does The Gardener Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Florida • New York • Colorado
What size grants does The Gardener Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, The Gardener Foundation Inc awarded 41 grants totaling $5.4M — an average of about $131K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Gardener Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Gardener Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Gardener Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Gardener Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-0615969. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Gardener Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Virgil P Warren Fdn Tr Ua
ORLANDO, FL
Assets
$4.2M
Grants
14
Total Given
$96K
Palm Valley Academy Parent-teacher
PONTE VEDRA, FL
Assets
$261K
Grants
1
Total Given
$78K
The Fritch Foundation
FT LAUDERDALE, FL
Assets
—
Grants
17
Total Given
$167K
Leiman Asterisk Foundation Inc
DELRAY BEACH, FL
Assets
$1.2M
Grants
2
Total Given
$62K
Rachel Memorial Foundation
SANTA RSA BCH, FL
Assets
—
Grants
6
Total Given
$10K
My Brother'ssister's Keeper Charitable
ROYAL PALM BEACH, FL
Assets
$462K
Grants
1
Total Given
$50K
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with The Gardener Foundation Inc on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching The Gardener Foundation Inc to a real strategy.