The Gordon E and May R Cadwgan
The Gordon E and May R Cadwgan Charitable Foundation is a private foundation established in 1998, originally in Massachusetts and currently based in West Palm Beach, Florida. The foundation operates as a family foundation with a primary focus on meeting IRS minimum distribution requirements through strategic charitable giving.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$778K
+0.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$236K
+13.5% YoY
Grant Count
35
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$7K
+13.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Gordon E and May R Cadwgan reported a distributable amount of $103K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary purpose is to meet IRS minimum distribution by funding long-term capital gains. Grant-making focuses on:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
Grantmaking
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Florida
- Massachusetts
- Nebraska
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $774,991
- Total revenues: $80,980
- Total expenses: $225,326
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $778,471
- Total giving: $236,000
Staffing:
- 0 employees (foundation operates without staff)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $778,471 | $774,991 | $920,250 |
| Revenue | $257,941 | $80,980 | $128,730 |
| Expenses | $254,325 | $225,326 | $222,534 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $244,925 | $216,379 | $208,278 |
| Net Investment Income | $248,541 | $72,033 | $114,474 |
| Distributable Amount | $103,017 | $102,687 | $112,784 |
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
157 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include American Red Cross ($22,500), Alpha-1 Foundation ($15,000), Mercy Chefs ($15,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALPHA-1 FOUNDATION CORAL GABLES, FL | PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE FOUNDATION TO MEET IRS MINIMUM DISTRIBUTION | $15,000 |
| ALPHA-1 FOUNDATION CORAL GABLES, FL | PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE FOUNDATION TO MEET IRS MINIMUM DISTRIBUTION | $10,000 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS WASHINGTON, DC | PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE FOUNDATION TO MEET IRS MINIMUM DISTRIBUTION | $22,500 |
| AMERICARES FOUNDATION STAMFORD, CT | PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE FOUNDATION TO MEET IRS MINIMUM DISTRIBUTION | $10,000 |
| BIG DOG RESCUE RANCH LOXAHATCHEE, FL | PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE FOUNDATION TO MEET IRS MINIMUM DISTRIBUTION | $3,000 |
| CHILDRENS HOME SOCIETY OF FLORIDA ORLANDO, FL | PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE FOUNDATION TO MEET IRS MINIMUM DISTRIBUTION | $2,000 |
| COALITION TO END HOMELESSNESS PAWTUCKET, RI | PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE FOUNDATION TO MEET IRS MINIMUM DISTRIBUTION | $2,000 |
| DANA HALL SCHOOL - ANNUAL FUND WELLESLEY, MA | PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE FOUNDATION TO MEET IRS MINIMUM DISTRIBUTION | $8,000 |
| DANA HALL SCHOOL - RIDING CENTER FUND WELLESLEY, MA | PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE FOUNDATION TO MEET IRS MINIMUM DISTRIBUTION | $6,000 |
| DANA HALL SCHOOL - IN MEMORY OF CAROL LAVELL WELLESLEY, MA | PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE FOUNDATION TO MEET IRS MINIMUM DISTRIBUTION | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Gordon E. Cadwgan Jr., PhD (1944–2025) was the founder and a principal figure in the foundation's work. Dr. Cadwgan held a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (1967) and a PhD in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst (1975). He had a distinguished career in chemistry, working for Union Carbide for 5 years and DuPont for 16 years in Wilmington, Delaware.
Dr. Cadwgan was diagnosed with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency at age 48 in 1992. After relocating to West Palm Beach, Florida with his wife Ruth in 2000, he became deeply involved in philanthropic work. He served as Chair of the Alpha-1 Foundation Board of Directors from 2013 to 2018 and remained on the board for 14 years total (2006–2020).
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| GORDON E CADWGAN JR | TRUSTEE | — | — |
Contact Information
Address: 7731 Blue Heron Way West Palm Beach, FL 33412-3130
Telephone: 617-624-0800
EIN: 04-3426100
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Gordon E and May R Cadwgan fund?
The foundation's primary purpose is to meet IRS minimum distribution by funding long-term capital gains. Grant-making focuses on: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services
How do I apply for a grant from The Gordon E and May R Cadwgan?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 31 grants in 2023 • Typical award range: $1,500–$22,500 • Total giving in 2023: $225,326 • Total giving in 2024: $236,000 **Recent Grantees (2023):** • Alpha-1 Foundation: $15,000 • Ibis Charities Foundation: $12,500 • Save the Children Federation: $11,500
Where does The Gordon E and May R Cadwgan make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Florida • Massachusetts • Nebraska
What size grants does The Gordon E and May R Cadwgan award?
In 2024, The Gordon E and May R Cadwgan awarded 35 grants totaling $236K — an average of about $7K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Gordon E and May R Cadwgan required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Gordon E and May R Cadwgan reported a distributable amount of $103K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Gordon E and May R Cadwgan's EIN?
The Gordon E and May R Cadwgan's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-3426100. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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