The Gordon Charter Foundation
The Gordon Charter Foundation is a private foundation based in Wayne, Pennsylvania, established in November 2009. The foundation is family-run and operated entirely by its Board of Trustees, with strong ties to the Philadelphia area where the majority of its grantmaking is concentrated.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$16.3M
+4.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.2M
+16.8% YoY
Grant Count
78
+13.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$15K
+3.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Gordon Charter Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Gordon Charter Foundation is committed to assisting healthcare, medical research, educational, and other charitable organizations that make a difference in improving the lives of people. The foundation has a particular interest in supporting organizations that serve people in need who are suffering from illness, poverty, abuse, aging, hunger, homelessness, or other challenges.
Primary funding areas include:
- Education
- Healthcare and Medical Research
- Human Services
- Philanthropy and Voluntarism
Grantmaking
1. Complete a Letter of Intent (LOI)
How to Apply
** The foundation uses an online grants management system. Applicants must:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in the Greater Philadelphia area and Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $16,346,799
- Total Giving: $1,153,000
- Total Revenues: $2,014,816
- Total Expenses: $1,333,201
- Investment Income and Dividends: $476,761
- Number of Employees: 0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $16,346,799 | $15,665,768 | $15,217,794 |
| Revenue | $2,014,816 | $1,650,923 | $2,616,933 |
| Expenses | $1,333,201 | $1,202,363 | $1,225,862 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,222,165 | $1,062,698 | $1,084,425 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,918,780 | $1,551,258 | $2,514,496 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,233,047 | $1,067,612 | $1,078,927 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Lankenau Medical Center Foundation ($60,000), The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society ($50,000), Maine Line Meals on Wheels ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| WXPN - MUSICIANS ON CALL (MOC) PHILADELPHIA, PA | FOR PROGRAM SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| BRINGING HOPE HOME MALVERN, PA | FOR GENERAL OPERATING FUNDS | $15,000 |
| HARCUM COLLEGE BRYN MAWR, PA | FOR HARCUM COLLEGE - DENTAL HYGIENE SCHOLARSHIP | $10,000 |
| SHARING EXCESS PHILADELPHIA, PA | FOR GENERAL OPERATING FUNDS | $20,000 |
| TRICOUNTY ACTIVE ADULT CENTER POTTSTOWN, PA | FOR PRIME TIME HEALTH | $10,000 |
| MAINE LINE MEALS ON WHEELS DEVON, PA | FOR SUBSIDY AND SALAD PROGRAM | $25,000 |
| GOOD WORKS INC COATESVILLE, PA | FOR GENERAL OPERATING FUNDS | $10,000 |
| THE LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY PHILADELPHIA, PA | FOR AML RESEARCH | $50,000 |
| OVERBROOK SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND PHILADELPHIA, PA | FOR OSB TAKING FLIGHT CAMPAIGN | $25,000 |
| BOURNELYF SPECIAL CAMP WEST CHESTER, PA | FOR SUMMER CAMP | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Current Trustees:
- Leila Gordon
- Hunter R. Gordon
- C. Scott Gordon
- Clayton K. Dyer
Previous Trustees:
- Joseph K. Gordon, Esq.
- Ray McLean Gordon
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEILA GORDON | PRESIDENT | 10 | — |
| HUNTER R GORDON | TREASURER | 2 | — |
| C SCOTT GORDON | SECRETARY | 2 | — |
| CLAYTON K DYER | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Gordon Charter Foundation fund?
The Gordon Charter Foundation is committed to assisting healthcare, medical research, educational, and other charitable organizations that make a difference in improving the lives of people. The foundation has a particular interest in supporting organizations that serve people in need who are suffering from illness, poverty, abuse, aging, hunger, homelessness, or other challenges. Primary funding areas include: • Education • Healthcare and Medical Research • Human Services • Philanthropy and Vo…
How do I apply for a grant from The Gordon Charter Foundation?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $2,500 to $60,000. **Recent Activity:** The foundation made 75 grants in 2024, with total giving of $1,153,000. **Recent Grantees Include:** • Lankenau Medical Center Foundation ($60,000 for Linear Accelerator) • Pennsylvania Institute of Technology ($26,000 for General Operating Funds) • Baker Industries ($25,000 for General Operating Funds) **Application Process:** The foundation uses an online grants management system. Applicants must: 1. Complete…
Where does The Gordon Charter Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in the Greater Philadelphia area and Pennsylvania.
What size grants does The Gordon Charter Foundation award?
In 2024, The Gordon Charter Foundation awarded 78 grants totaling $1.2M — an average of about $15K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Gordon Charter Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Gordon Charter Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Gordon Charter Foundation's EIN?
The Gordon Charter Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-1234570. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Gordon Charter Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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