The James J and Joan a Gardner
The James J and Joan A Gardner Family Foundation is a private foundation established in 1994 and based in Cincinnati, Ohio. The foundation operates as a major philanthropic organization with a focus on supporting nonprofit organizations across the United States through strategic grantmaking.
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission centers on "the care of the poor in the most abandoned places," driven by the faith of founders Jim and Joan Gardner. Primary funding priorities include:
- Education (including higher education and Christian education)
- Healthcare
- Catholic organizations and churches
- Social services and human services
- Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking
Grantmaking
The foundation maintains an active grant-making program with the following characteristics:
Grant Range
s:** $5,000 to $3,051,000+
Grant Types
How to Apply
** Online portal application system available at www.gardnerfamilyfoundation.com (account required)
Ready to take the next step with The James J and Joan a Gardner?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports organizations across multiple states and cities, with particular emphasis on:
- Ohio (primarily Cincinnati)
- Florida (including Key Largo)
- South Carolina
- Colorado
- Additional support in New York, Boston, Washington D.C., and other U.S. communities
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $73.9 to $84.2 million (varying by reporting period)
Annual Revenue: $15.3 million (2023)
Annual Expenses: $8.3 to $8.7 million
Total Giving: Over $109 million distributed to nearly 300 nonprofit organizations over three decades
| 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 |
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
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The James J and Joan a Gardner
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Great Parks Forever ($500,000), Xavier Jesuit Academy ($250,000), Luke 5 Adventures ($145,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| JUVENILE DIABETES RESEARCH FOUNDATION INTERNATIONAL SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL O CINCINNATI, OH | EXEMPT PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION | $5,000 |
| OHIO RIVER FOUNDATION CINCINNATI, OH | EXEMPT PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION | $20,000 |
| THE CINCINNATI BALLET COMPANY INC CINCINNATI, OH | EXEMPT PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION | $15,010 |
| XAVIER JESUIT ACADEMY CINCINNATI, OH | EXEMPT PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION | $250,000 |
| ROTARY FOUNDATION OF CINCINNATI CINCINNATI, OH | EXEMPT PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION | $25,000 |
| TRI-STATE TRAILS CINCINNATI, OH | EXEMPT PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION | $125,000 |
| SWEET CHEEKS DIAPER BANK CINCINNATI, OH | EXEMPT PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION | $20,000 |
| BACK2BACK MINISTRIES INC MASON, OH | EXEMPT PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION | $11,075 |
| CINCINNATI NATURE CENTER ASSOCIATION MILFORD, OH | EXEMPT PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION | $25,000 |
| FREESTORE FOODBANK INC CINCINNATI, OH | EXEMPT PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Executive Director: Bettina H. Ross (full-time)
- Chairman: Keri S. Mueller
- Treasurer: Linda G. Mueller (through February 2024)
- Trustees: Spencer J. Gardner, Lorraine G. Sommer
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LINDA G MUELLER | TREASURER UNTIL 02.13.24 AND TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| LORRAINE G SOMMER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| SPENCER J GARDNER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| MARGARET M JOHNS | SECRETARY AND TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| ERIC G MUELLER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| JONATHAN J MUELLER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| LAURA K MUELLER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| KYLE J JOHNS | TRUSTEE & TREASURER STARTING 02.13.24 | 1 | — |
| BLAIRE A HARDER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| ELLIE A JOHNS | VICE CHAIRMAN AND TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| ADAM T MUELLER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| MARIA E SOMMER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| MADELINE M JOHNS | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| BETTINA H ROSS 010124 - 062824 | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 24 | — |
| KERI S MUELLER | CHAIRMAN AND TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| ALLISON D MUELLER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| KYLE C HARDER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| ANGELIA M GARDNER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| KATIE HAAG 062824 - PRESENT | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has made several transformative gifts in recent years:
Gardner Family Foundation gifts $20M toward UC neuroscience research - Movers**$20 million gift** to the UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute to support national leadership in brain health research
$20 million new gift from James J. and Joan A. Gardner to university neuroscience**$50+ million** contributed to the UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute over time
$20 million new gift from James J. and Joan A. Gardner to university neuroscience**$15 million** gift to Cincinnati Children's Hospital for mental health services
These major commitments demonstrate the foundation's strategic focus on healthcare innovation and research, particularly in neuroscience and pediatric mental health.
Contact Information
- Website: www.gardnerfamilyfoundation.com
- Phone: 513-459-1085
- Address: 8044 Montgomery Road, Suite 480, Cincinnati, OH 45236-2925
- EIN: 31-1397164
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The James J and Joan a Gardner fund?
The foundation's mission centers on "the care of the poor in the most abandoned places," driven by the faith of founders Jim and Joan Gardner. Primary funding priorities include: • Education (including higher education and Christian education) • Healthcare • Catholic organizations and churches • Social services and human services • Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking
How do I apply for a grant from The James J and Joan a Gardner?
The foundation maintains an active grant-making program with the following characteristics: **Grant Ranges:** $5,000 to $3,051,000+ **Annual Giving:** Approximately $7.5 to $8.7 million annually **Application Process:** Online portal application system available at www.gardnerfamilyfoundation.com (account required) **Grant Types:** • General grant program with annual application cycles • Major multi-year commitments considered for transformative projects **Recent Grant Activity (2023):** • Cinc…
Where does The James J and Joan a Gardner make grants?
The foundation supports organizations across multiple states and cities, with particular emphasis on: • Ohio (primarily Cincinnati) • Florida (including Key Largo) • South Carolina • Colorado • Additional support in New York, Boston, Washington D.C., and other U.S. communities
What size grants does The James J and Joan a Gardner award?
In 2024, The James J and Joan a Gardner awarded 101 grants totaling $8.7M — an average of about $86K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The James J and Joan a Gardner required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The James J and Joan a Gardner reported a distributable amount of $11.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The James J and Joan a Gardner'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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