The Heiser Foundation Inc
The Heiser Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in St. Augustine, Florida. It provides economic assistance to individuals and supports organizations that assist people affected by tragic losses, with particular emphasis on military connections, as well as community services and educational scholarships.
The Heiser Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Heiser Foundation Inc gave $452K across 15 grants in 2025 (avg $30K), mostly in Florida. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $452,100
- -35.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 15
- +15.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $30,140
- -44.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $7,000
- Total assets
- $6,063,264
- -3.1% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Florida (93% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Heiser Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Contact
Mailing address: 10 Beach St, St Augustine, FL 32080
Phone: (904) 669-3038
Website: https://www.theheiserfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Heiser Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Gratitude America ($150K). Together the top 10 received $431K.
Grant Size Distribution
42 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 30 grants of 42 (71%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Florida. Its 2025 filing reports that 93% of grant dollars went to recipients in Florida, 3% to Georgia, and 1% each to Oklahoma, Texas, and Alabama. Listed Florida recipients include organizations in Fernandina Beach, Palm Coast, Bunnell, Tampa, Melbourne, and Pensacola.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Heiser Foundation Inc gives
- 57% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 155% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $3K (2019) to $705K (2024). In 2025 it made 15 grants totaling $452K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Gratitude America Fernandina Beach, FL | Our funding is helping others, primarily with military ties, incluing veterans and families of the fallen. | $150,000 |
| Teens-N-Flight Palm Coast, FL | Our funding is helping others, primarily with military ties, incluing veterans and families of the fallen. | $150,000 |
| BAK K-9 Training Palm Coast, FL | Our funding is helping others, primarily with military ties, incluing veterans and families of the fallen. | $57,500 |
| Flagler County Dav Palm Coast, FL | Our funding is helping others, primarily with military ties, incluing veterans and families of the fallen. | $30,000 |
| Flagler County Education Fund Bunnell, FL | Our scholarships are awarded primarily to students with military ties through family and through education fields helping veterans and surivors of the fallen. | $10,100 |
| University of South Florida Tampa, FL | Our scholarships are awarded primarily to students with military ties through family and through education fields helping veterans and surivors of the fallen. | $8,000 |
| Florida Institute of Technology Melbourne, FL | Our scholarships are awarded primarily to students with military ties through family and through education fields helping veterans and surivors of the fallen. | $7,000 |
| Savannah College of Arts Savannah, GA | Our scholarships are awarded primarily to students with military ties through family and through education fields helping veterans and surivors of the fallen. | $7,000 |
| University of Oklahoma Stillwater, OK | Our scholarships are awarded primarily to students with military ties through family and through education fields helping veterans and surivors of the fallen. | $6,000 |
| Brave Aid Palm Coast, FL | Our funding is helping others, primarily with military ties, incluing veterans and families of the fallen. | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Heiser Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $6,063,264 | $302,986 | $505,390 | $452,100 | 15 | $452,100 | $302,909 | $292,392 |
| 2024 | $6,259,444 | $2,009,476 | $706,757 | $705,100 | 13 | $705,100 | $329,063 | $207,795 |
| 2023 | $4,964,000 | $120,021 | $518,360 | $479,350 | 13 | $479,350 | $80,011 | $159,639 |
| 2022 | $5,306,748 | $1,898,690 | $373,902 | — | — | $342,704 | — | — |
| 2021 | $3,901,405 | $290,063 | $451,520 | $50,000 | 1 | $411,725 | — | — |
| 2020 | $3,858,666 | $136,839 | $257,314 | $132,900 | 1 | — | $75,900 | $184,503 |
| 2019 | $3,676,686 | $2,856,680 | $65,945 | $2,500 | 1 | — | $21,363 | $108,991 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Heiser Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $292K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to provide economic assistance to individuals and partner with organizations that support people who have suffered tragic losses. It places emphasis, but not exclusively, on military connections—particularly people left childless or without a parent. It also supports organizations serving local communities and awards scholarships for educational advancement. The foundation says it seeks to raise awareness of terrorism’s effects on American families.
Its 2025 filing reports grants to organizations and scholarships through educational programs. Examples among the recipients include Florida Institute of Technology, whose stated mission includes preparing students for work, further education, and community service, and University of West Florida, whose affiliated foundation supports education and university facilities. Thomas University describes itself as a nonprofit institution preparing students for careers and responsible citizenship. Wintergreen Adaptive Sports describes its work as outdoor sports instruction for people with disabilities.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 15 grants totaling $452,100. Grant amounts ranged from $1,500 to $150,000, with a median of $7,000. The two largest reported grants were $150,000 each to Gratitude America and Teens-N-Flight. Other notable grants included $57,500 to BAK K-9 Training, $30,000 to Flagler County DAV, and $10,100 to Flagler County Education Fund. The filing describes the first four grants as helping others, primarily people with military ties, including veterans and families of the fallen; it describes the education grants as scholarships primarily for students with military ties.
The foundation’s website provides a grant-request form asking for a concise 300–500-word description of the qualifying event and the people who would benefit. It says grants are awarded quarterly at the directors’ discretion. However, the foundation states in its 2025 filing that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
The website also provides a scholarship application. Applicants must have at least a 3.0 GPA and plan to continue their education at an institute of higher learning. The application calls for a transcript, acceptance letter, academic and volunteer activity information, and an essay of at least 100 words. Scholarship funds are paid directly to the educational institution after written verification of enrollment. Scholarships are for one year, with renewal at the directors’ discretion.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Linda Keith as treasurer; Tom Heiser as president; Sandra McDermott as secretary; Gavin Sherwood as vice president; and Rob Witt and Shane Heiser as members.
The Heiser Foundation Inc is led by Tom Heiser, President since 2024 (on filings since 2023); none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Tom Heiser
President
Member → President, 2024
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Linda Keith
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Gavin Sherwood
Vice President
Member → Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Sandra McDermott
Secretary
Member → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Rob Witt
Member
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Shane Heiser
Member
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Steve Barnier (2019–2024) — Member
- Former: Gary Sherwood (2019–2023) — President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about The Heiser Foundation Inc
How much does The Heiser Foundation Inc give each year?
The Heiser Foundation Inc gave $452K across 15 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $705K across 13 grants.
What is The Heiser Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Heiser Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $7,000, and its average grant was $30,140, across 15 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Heiser Foundation Inc give grants?
The Heiser Foundation Inc gives mostly in Florida: 93% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Palm Coast, FL (4 grants).
Does The Heiser Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 15 grants with a stated purpose on The Heiser Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Heiser Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Heiser Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Gratitude America ($150,000), Teens-N-Flight ($150,000) and BAK K-9 Training ($57,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 79% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Heiser Foundation Inc?
The Heiser Foundation Inc reported $6.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $452K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $292K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Heiser Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to provide economic assistance to individuals and partner with organizations that support people who have suffered tragic losses. It places emphasis, but not exclusively, on military connections—particularly people left childless or without a parent. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Heiser Foundation Inc?
The Heiser Foundation Inc does not accept unsolicited proposals, according to Grantable's research on its published guidelines. Check theheiserfoundation.org for any change to that policy.
What is The Heiser Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Heiser Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 59-3670526. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does The Heiser Foundation Inc 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 3, 2026)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 1, 2026)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 18, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 19, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 16, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 16, 2023)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS June 1, 2026)
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Heiser Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-heiser-foundation-inc-morg_dc870fcb495c4413a78d7afdf7dc587d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_593670526_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Heiser Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-heiser-foundation-inc-morg_dc870fcb495c4413a78d7afdf7dc587d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Heiser Foundation Inc'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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