The George and Mary Jo Sanders Foundation Inc

Private foundation · Grantmaker Fort Myers, FL EIN: 59-3189770
EducationReligionHuman servicesYouth development

THE GEORGE AND MARY JO SANDERS is a private foundation based in Fort Myers, Florida. In 2024, it reported 47 grants totaling $273,000 to organizations whose stated purposes included charitable activities. Its 2025 filing, the latest on this page, reports 43 grants totaling $248,000.

Key facts about The George and Mary Jo Sanders Foundation Inc

In short: The George and Mary Jo Sanders Foundation Inc gave $248K across 43 grants in 2025 (avg $6K), mostly in Florida. 14% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
59-3189770
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$248,000
Grants made (2025)
43
Average grant
$5,767
Median grant
$5,000
New grantees (estimate)
14% first-time grantees (6 of 43, 2025)
Total assets
$5,638,807
Primary geography
Florida (85% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
How to apply
The foundation says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$5.6M

+11.9% YoY

Annual Giving

$248K

-9.2% YoY

Grant Count

43

-8.5% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$6K

-0.7% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The George and Mary Jo Sanders Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $321K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Is The George and Mary Jo Sanders Foundation Inc open to new grantees?

14%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 6 of 43 grantees (14%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $6K. How we count

Medians: $3K first-time, $5K repeat.

  • 84% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−14%). Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 106% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 filing identifies eligible purposes as charitable, medical, educational, scientific, artistic, literary, and cultural. Examples of grantee missions illustrate the range of organizations it supports: ArtFest Fort Myers says it promotes public access to visual art and arts education in Southwest Florida; Valerie’s House says it helps children and families work through the loss of a loved one; and ECHO says it provides training, resources, networking, and seeds to development workers supporting small-scale farmers and their families.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation made 47 grants totaling $273,000. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $30,500, with a median of $5,000. The largest listed grant was $30,500 to the University of Florida Foundation Inc. – IFAS. Other notable grants included $20,000 each to Community Cooperative Ministries and Lee Memorial Health Systems Foundation; $15,000 each to Fort Myers Community Church and Samaritan’s Purse; and $13,000 to Reliant. The stated purpose for these grants was support for charitable activities. Its 2025 filing, the latest on this page, reports 43 grants totaling $248,000.

Other 2024 grantees included ArtFest Fort Myers, which received $5,000, and ECHO, which received $5,000. Samaritan’s Purse describes its work as providing spiritual and physical aid to people affected by war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine. These are grantees’ descriptions of their own missions, not statements of the foundation’s mission.

How to Apply

The foundation says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Applicants should send Mary Jo Walker a simple letter outlining the charitable purpose and a copy of the organization’s IRS determination letter confirming section 501(c)(3) status. Eligible organizations must qualify under section 501(c)(3) for charitable, medical, educational, scientific, artistic, literary, or cultural purposes.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, 78% of grant dollars went to recipients in Florida. Other recipient-state shares were North Carolina, 7%; Massachusetts, 5%; New York, 4%; and South Carolina, 2%.

Grant Distribution by State

14states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 43 itemized grants.

Cities

Fort MyersImmokaleeTallahasseeBrevardGainesvilleCape CoralBlackvilleBooneClemsonNaplesPunta GordaStaten IslandAtlantaAtlantic BeachHendersonvilleJacksonvilleWorcesterBabcock RanchNorth Fort MyersOmaha

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$100K$200K$300K55 grants2020 52 grants2021 47 grants2022 42 grants2023 47 grants2024 43 grants2025

From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $248K (2025) to $290K (2022). In 2025 it made 43 grants totaling $248K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

University of FL Fdn Inc - Ifas: $30KUniversity of FL Fdn Inc -Ifas$30KLee Memorial Health Systems: $18KLee Memorial Health Systems$18KFort Myers Community Church Inc: $17KFort Myers Community ChurchInc$17KSamaritan's Purse: $15KSamaritan's Purse$15KCommunity Cooperative Ministries: $10KCommunity CooperativeMinistries$10KHope Hospice: $10KHope Hospice$10KStephen Siller Tunnel to Towers: $10KStephen Siller Tunnel toTowers$10KReliant: $8KReliant$8KProject Dentists Care: $8KProject Dentists Care$8KSalvation Army: $8KSalvation Army$8K

The largest 2025 recipient was University of FL Fdn Inc - Ifas ($30K). Together the top 10 received $132K.

Grant Size Distribution

231 grants across all recorded years

231<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 231 grants of 231 (100%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
University of FL Fdn Inc - Ifas Gainesville, FLOperations$30,000
Lee Memorial Health Systems Fort Myers, FLOperations$17,500
Fort Myers Community Church Inc Fort Myers, FLOperations$16,500
Samaritan's Purse Boone, NCOperations$15,000
Community Cooperative Ministries Fort Myers, FLOperations$10,000
Hope Hospice Fort Myers, FLOperations$10,000
Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Staten Island, NYOperations$10,000
Reliant Orlando, FLOperations$8,000
Project Dentists Care Fort Myers, FLOperations$7,500
Salvation Army Fort Myers, FLOperations$7,500

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants
2024 $5,037,324 $395,487 $477,454 $273,000
2023 $5,117,639 $234,136 $442,008 $278,500
2022 $5,327,780 $230,382 $475,122 $289,500
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$250K$500K$750K$1M2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$5,638,807$5,037,324$5,117,639
Revenue$901,851$395,487$234,136
Expenses$470,617$477,454$442,008
Qualifying Distributions$340,725$359,161$348,660
Net Investment Income$775,784$282,276$140,788
Distributable Amount$321,251$352,150$332,390

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 5, 2026)
  2. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Mary Jo Walker as director/president, Michael C. Sanders as director/vice president, and Richard O. Hilliker and Michael A. Sanders as directors.

The George and Mary Jo Sanders Foundation Inc is led by Mary Jo Walker, Director & President on every filing since 2020; 2 of 3 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Mary Jo Walker

    Director & President

    On filings since 2020

    10 hrs/week

    $65K (2020) → $48K (2025)

  • Richard O. Hilliker

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    $10K (2020) → $18K (2025)

  • Michael A. Sanders

    Director, Vice & Director

    Director, Vice President & Director → Director, Vice & Director, 2025

    On filings since 2020

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

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

Mary Jo Walker — Director/Pre: $48KMary Jo WalkerDirector/Pre$48KRichard O Hilliker — Director: $18KRichard O HillikerDirector$18K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $48K, to Mary Jo Walker (Director/Pre). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Contact

Application contact: Mary Jo Walker
Mailing address: 1412 Royal Palm Sq Blvd 102, Fort Myers, FL 33919
Phone: (239) 334-8852

Frequently asked questions about The George and Mary Jo Sanders Foundation Inc

How much does The George and Mary Jo Sanders Foundation Inc give each year?

The George and Mary Jo Sanders Foundation Inc gave $248K across 43 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $273K across 47 grants.

What is The George and Mary Jo Sanders Foundation Inc's typical grant size?

The George and Mary Jo Sanders Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $5,767, across 43 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The George and Mary Jo Sanders Foundation Inc that year got $3K on average.

Where does The George and Mary Jo Sanders Foundation Inc give grants?

The George and Mary Jo Sanders Foundation Inc gives mostly in Florida: 85% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was North Carolina (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Fort Myers, FL (23 grants), Immokalee, FL (2 grants) and Cape Coral, FL (2 grants).

Does The George and Mary Jo Sanders Foundation Inc give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 43 grants with a stated purpose on The George and Mary Jo Sanders Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Operations" (43 grants).

Who are The George and Mary Jo Sanders Foundation Inc's largest grantees?

The George and Mary Jo Sanders Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include University of FL Fdn Inc - Ifas ($30,000), Lee Memorial Health Systems ($17,500) and Fort Myers Community Church Inc ($16,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 26% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is The George and Mary Jo Sanders Foundation Inc?

The George and Mary Jo Sanders Foundation Inc reported $5.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $341K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $321K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does The George and Mary Jo Sanders Foundation Inc fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 filing identifies eligible purposes as charitable, medical, educational, scientific, artistic, literary, and cultural. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from The George and Mary Jo Sanders Foundation Inc?

The foundation says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is The George and Mary Jo Sanders Foundation Inc's EIN?

The George and Mary Jo Sanders Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 59-3189770. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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