The James C and Margaret W Pontious Foundation Inc

Private foundation · Grantmaker Lakewood Ranch, FL EIN: 23-2870268

The James C and Margaret W Pontious is a private foundation based in Lakewood Ranch, Florida. It reported 13 grants totaling $9,450 in 2025, supporting organizations including a college, arts and conservation organizations, health charities, and civic and educational organizations.

The James C and Margaret W Pontious Foundation Inc at a glance

In short: The James C and Margaret W Pontious Foundation Inc gave $9K across 13 grants in 2025 (avg $726.923), top state New York. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2025)
$9,450
-4.5% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
13
+85.7% vs 2024
Average grant
$727
-48.6% vs 2024
Median grant
$500
Total assets
$274,656
+32.2% vs 2024
Primary geography
New York (32% 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 James C and Margaret W Pontious Foundation Inc

How to Apply

It lists no required form or materials and no restrictions on awards.

Contact

Application contact: James C Pontious
Mailing address: 7051 Portmarnock Place, Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202-2594
Phone: (941) 536-2445

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who The James C and Margaret W Pontious Foundation Inc funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Lake Erie College: $3KLake Erie College$3KMinnesota Landscape Arboretum: $1KMinnesota Landscape Arboretum$1K1000 Islands Art Center: $1K1000 Islands Art Center$1K1000 Islands Land Trust: $1K1000 Islands Land Trust$1KAlzheimer's Association: $1KAlzheimer's Association$1KJudicial Watch: $500Judicial Watch$500Sloan Kettering: $500Sloan Kettering$500Get Your Rack Back Inc: $500Get Your Rack Back Inc$500Kappa Sigma Endowment Fund: $500Kappa Sigma Endowment Fund$500St Jude Children's Research Hospital: $300St Jude Children's ResearchHospital$300

The largest 2025 recipient was Lake Erie College ($3K). Together the top 10 received $9K.

Grant Size Distribution

29 grants across all recorded years

29<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 29 grants of 29 (100%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The 2025 grant dollars were distributed among recipients in multiple states. The largest reported shares went to New York (32%) and Ohio (26%), followed by Minnesota and Illinois (11% each) and Washington, DC (7%).

Grant Distribution by State

9states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.

Cities

ClaytonMemphisWatertownNew YorkPainesvilleWashingtonClifton ParkTopekaCharlottesvilleCharlottsvilleChaskaChicagoSarasotaTallahassee

How The James C and Margaret W Pontious Foundation Inc gives

  • 38% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving grew 845% from 2022 to 2025. Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 56% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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

$0$5K$10K$15K6 grants2020 3 grants2021 1 grant2022 5 grants2023 7 grants2024 13 grants2025

From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1K (2022) to $14K (2020). In 2025 it made 13 grants totaling $9K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Lake Erie College Painesville, OHEducational Grant$2,500
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Chaska, MNGeneral Charitable Giving$1,000
1000 Islands Art Center Clayton, NYGeneral Charitable Giving$1,000
1000 Islands Land Trust Clayton, NYGeneral Charitable Giving$1,000
Alzheimer's Association Chicago, ILGeneral Charitable Giving$1,000
Judicial Watch Washington, DCGeneral Charitable Giving$500
Sloan Kettering New York, NYGeneral Charitable Giving$500
Get Your Rack Back Inc Clifton Park, NYGeneral Charitable Giving$500
Kappa Sigma Endowment Fund Charlottesville, VAGeneral Charitable Giving$500
St Jude Children's Research Hospital Memphis, TNGeneral Charitable Giving$300
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2025$274,656$78,864$12,263$9,45013$11,860$78,829$21,368
2024$207,702$38,957$12,254$9,9007$12,212$28,957$15,652
2023$180,863$2,360$5,550$3,4005$5,475$3,022$12,131
2022$183,905$557$3,302$1,0001$2,939$5,397$11,367
2021$186,420$34,991$5,441$2,7503$4,607$26,105$12,070
2020$156,780$39,922$15,723$13,6006—$59,705$7,737

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The James C and Margaret W Pontious Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $21K 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

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for varied organizations. Lake Erie College describes its mission as providing an inclusive, personalized liberal arts education that prepares students for personal and professional success. The Kappa Sigma Endowment Fund says it provides scholarships and educational programs for Kappa Sigma Fraternity. Other 2025 grantees describe work in government accountability, pediatric disease research and treatment, and supporting the effectiveness of Florida sheriffs.

Grantmaking

In 2025, the foundation awarded 13 grants totaling $9,450. Grants ranged from $200 to $2,500, with a median grant of $500. The largest award was $2,500 to Lake Erie College. Other listed grants included $1,000 each to Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, 1000 Islands Art Center, 1000 Islands Land Trust, and the Alzheimer’s Association; $500 each to Judicial Watch, Sloan Kettering, Get Your Rack Back Inc., and Kappa Sigma Endowment Fund; and $300 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

The foundation’s filing states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It lists James C Pontious as the person to contact; application form and materials, deadlines, and restrictions on awards are listed as N/A.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists James C Pontious and Margaret W Pontious as trustees, and James C Pontious Jr, Deborah J Sloat, and Karen D Pontious as directors.

The James C and Margaret W Pontious Foundation Inc's 2025 filing lists 5 officers; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Deborah J. Sloat

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • James C. Pontious

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • James C. Pontious Jr.

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Karen D. Pontious

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Margaret W. Pontious

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    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.

Frequently asked questions about The James C and Margaret W Pontious Foundation Inc

How much does The James C and Margaret W Pontious Foundation Inc give each year?

The James C and Margaret W Pontious Foundation Inc gave $9K across 13 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $10K across 7 grants.

What is The James C and Margaret W Pontious Foundation Inc's typical grant size?

The James C and Margaret W Pontious Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $500, and its average grant was $727, across 13 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does The James C and Margaret W Pontious Foundation Inc give grants?

The James C and Margaret W Pontious Foundation Inc's top state is New York, with 32% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Ohio (26%) and Minnesota (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Clayton, NY (2 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).

Does The James C and Margaret W Pontious Foundation Inc give general operating support?

Yes: 92% of The James C and Margaret W Pontious Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (12 of 13) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are The James C and Margaret W Pontious Foundation Inc's largest grantees?

The James C and Margaret W Pontious Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Lake Erie College ($2,500), Minnesota Landscape Arboretum ($1,000) and 1000 Islands Art Center ($1,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 48% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is The James C and Margaret W Pontious Foundation Inc?

The James C and Margaret W Pontious Foundation Inc reported $275K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $12K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $21K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.

What does The James C and Margaret W Pontious Foundation Inc fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for varied organizations. Lake Erie College describes its mission as providing an inclusive, personalized liberal arts education that prepares students for personal and professional success. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from The James C and Margaret W Pontious Foundation Inc?

It lists no required form or materials and no restrictions on awards. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is The James C and Margaret W Pontious Foundation Inc's EIN?

The James C and Margaret W Pontious Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-2870268. 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.

Data update history

(2)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 8, 2026)
  2. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open

Figures come from The James C and Margaret W Pontious 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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