The James J and Joan a Gardner
The James J. and Joan A. Gardner Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Established in 1994, it says it is dedicated to enriching the lives of fellow citizens and works to carry forward Jim and Joan Gardner’s vision of making a life-giving and life-changing impact across the region.
Key facts about The James J and Joan a Gardner
In short: The James J and Joan a Gardner gave $8.7M across 101 grants in 2024 (avg $86K), mostly in Ohio. 40% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 31-1397164
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $8,700,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 101
- Average grant
- $86,139
- Median grant
- $25,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 40% first-time grantees (34 of 86, 2024)
- Total assets
- $84,194,618
- Primary geography
- Ohio (86% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Register and submit an application through the foundation’s online application process. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- The website lists the Q3 & Q4 2026 cycle deadline as October 2, 2026.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; 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 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$84.2M
+13.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$8.7M
+16.0% YoY
Grant Count
101
+42.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$86K
-18.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The James J and Joan a Gardner reported a distributable amount of $11.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is The James J and Joan a Gardner open to new grantees?
40%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 34 of 86 grantees (40%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $36K; repeat grants $144K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $50K repeat.
- 47% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 36% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 82% 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 (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation describes its purpose as enriching the lives of fellow citizens and says its partners should use resources wisely, invest in sound business practices, monitor their success, stay focused on their vision, support family unity, and share the foundation’s values and beliefs. Its website describes the Gardners’ philanthropy as driven by their faith and commitment to their Cincinnati community.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of its grantmaking. The University of Cincinnati Foundation describes its mission as inspiring a community of UC and UC Health supporters through philanthropy. Accelerate Great Schools says it works to ensure every student in every Cincinnati neighborhood has access to a great school. Great Parks Forever says it partners with the Great Parks of Hamilton County to protect and enhance regional parkland and provide outdoor recreation and nature education. Cincinnati Works describes its work as helping people living in poverty advance toward self-sufficiency through employment, training, and coaching.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 101 grants totaling $8.7 million. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $1.5 million, with a median of $25,000. Its largest reported grants included $1.5 million to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, $875,000 to the University of Cincinnati Foundation, $800,000 to the Zoological Society of Cincinnati, and $664,240 to Accelerate Great Schools. Other grants included $500,000 to Great Parks Forever, $300,000 to Mary Magdalen Foundation, and $250,000 to Xavier Jesuit Academy.
The foundation’s website considers proposals of $5,000 or more and says multi-year requests may be considered. Applicants must be tax-exempt under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3). The website directs applicants to register and submit an application online. The 2024 filing lists a letter stating the purpose and amount requested, along with general information about the organization, as application materials; it lists no filing deadline or award restrictions. The website says it will not consider mass funding appeals; sponsorships except in special circumstances; event tickets or fundraising-event advertising; grants or loans to individuals; political campaigns or activities; or organizations supporting or affiliated with abortion. An organization denied a grant must wait at least one year from its original application date before reapplying.
Review Cycle
The website lists the Q3 & Q4 2026 cycle deadline as October 2, 2026.
How to Apply
Register and submit an application through the foundation’s online application process. The 2024 filing lists a letter stating the purpose and amount of the request and general information about the organization as materials.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The James J and Joan a Gardner
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The website gives highest priority to eligible organizations and projects in communities where the trustees live; organizations outside that geographic scope are considered only under special circumstances. In 2024, Ohio recipients received 86% of grant dollars. Colorado received 4%, Florida 3%, and Kansas and Washington, D.C., 1% each.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 101 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $5.4M (2020) to $8.7M (2024). In 2024 it made 101 grants totaling $8.7M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center ($1.5M). Together the top 10 received $5.6M.
Grant Size Distribution
372 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 235 grants of 372 (63%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center Cincinnati, OH | Exempt Purpose of Organization | $1,500,000 |
| University of Cincinnati Foundation Cincinnati, OH | Exempt Purpose of Organization | $875,000 |
| Zoological Society of Cincinnati (Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden) Cincinnati, OH | Exempt Purpose of Organization | $800,000 |
| Accelerate Great Schools Cincinnati, OH | Exempt Purpose of Organization | $664,240 |
| Great Parks Forever Cincinnati, OH | Exempt Purpose of Organization | $500,000 |
| Mary Magdalen Foundation Inc Cincinnati, OH | Exempt Purpose of Organization | $300,000 |
| Xavier Jesuit Academy Cincinnati, OH | Exempt Purpose of Organization | $250,000 |
| Accelerate Great Schools Cincinnati, OH | Exempt Purpose of Organization | $177,975 |
| Cincinnati Works Inc Cincinnati, OH | Exempt Purpose of Organization | $150,000 |
| Kenzie's Closet Cincinnati, OH | Exempt Purpose of Organization | $150,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $84,194,618 | $20,005,045 | $9,818,305 | $8,700,000 |
| 2023 | $73,947,037 | $15,291,576 | $8,259,617 | $7,500,000 |
| 2022 | $66,915,139 | $7,370,172 | $8,530,246 | $7,800,000 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $84,194,618 | $73,947,037 | $66,915,139 |
| Revenue | $20,005,045 | $15,291,576 | $7,370,172 |
| Expenses | $9,818,305 | $8,259,617 | $8,530,246 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $9,161,427 | $7,786,605 | $8,012,394 |
| Net Investment Income | $19,119,291 | $13,742,414 | $6,486,752 |
| Distributable Amount | $11,136,369 | $8,592,670 | $8,081,930 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Lorraine G. Sommer, Spencer J. Gardner, Margaret M. Johns, Eric G. Mueller, Jonathan J. Mueller, Laura K. Mueller, Kyle J. Johns, Blaire A. Harder, and Ellie A. Johns as trustees. Linda G. Mueller was listed as treasurer until February 13, 2024, and Kyle J. Johns as treasurer starting February 13, 2024. Ellie A. Johns was also listed as vice chairman, and Margaret M. Johns as secretary. The foundation’s website lists Katie Haag as executive director and Kelly Bachus as program officer.
The James J and Joan a Gardner is led by Bettina H. Ross, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 19 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Bettina H. Ross
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
24 hrs/week
$89K (2020) → $0 (2024)
Katie Haag
Executive Director
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Keri S. Mueller
Chairman & Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Adam T. Mueller
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Allison D. Mueller
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Angelia M. Gardner
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Blaire A. Harder
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ellie A. Johns
Vice Chairman & Trustee
Trustee → Vice Chairman & Trustee, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eric G. Mueller
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jonathan J. Mueller
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kyle C. Harder
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kyle J. Johns
Trustee & Treasurer Starting
Trustee → Trustee & Treasurer Starting, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Laura K. Mueller
Trustee
Vice Chairman & Trustee → Trustee, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lorraine G. Sommer
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Madeline M. Johns
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Margaret M. Johns
Secretary & Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Maria E. Sommer
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Spencer J. Gardner
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Linda G. Mueller
Treasurer
Treasurer & Trustee → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Gary D. Johns (2020) — Chairman & Trustee
- Former: Keri S. Young (2020) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2021 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2021 filing was $98K, to Bettina H Ross (Executive Director).
Contact
Application contact: The James J And Joan A Gardner Fami
Mailing address: 8044 Montgomery Road Suite 480, Cincinnati, OH 45236
Phone: (513) 459-1085
Website: https://www.gardnerfamilyfoundation.com
Frequently asked questions about The James J and Joan a Gardner
How much does The James J and Joan a Gardner give each year?
The James J and Joan a Gardner gave $8.7M across 101 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $7.5M across 71 grants.
What is The James J and Joan a Gardner's typical grant size?
The James J and Joan a Gardner's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $86,139, across 101 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The James J and Joan a Gardner that year got $36K on average.
Where does The James J and Joan a Gardner give grants?
The James J and Joan a Gardner gives mostly in Ohio: 86% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Cincinnati, OH (61 grants), Mason, OH (4 grants), Charleston, SC (4 grants) and Key Largo, FL (4 grants).
Who are The James J and Joan a Gardner's largest grantees?
The James J and Joan a Gardner's largest 2024 grantees include Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center ($1,500,000), University of Cincinnati Foundation ($875,000) and Zoological Society of Cincinnati (Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden) ($850,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 37% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The James J and Joan a Gardner?
The James J and Joan a Gardner reported $84.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $9.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $11.1M (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 J and Joan a Gardner fund?
The foundation describes its purpose as enriching the lives of fellow citizens and says its partners should use resources wisely, invest in sound business practices, monitor their success, stay focused on their vision, support family unity, and share the foundation’s values and beliefs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The James J and Joan a Gardner?
Register and submit an application through the foundation’s online application process. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The James J and Joan a Gardner's EIN?
The James J and Joan a Gardner's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1397164. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Here's the math on researching The James J and Joan a Gardner by hand.
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