The Joel C & Bernice W Gordon Family
The Joel C & Bernice W Gordon Family Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1986 and based in Nashville, Tennessee. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and focuses its philanthropic efforts on supporting Jewish agencies, temples, education, the arts, and health and social services.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.9M
+5.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$330K
-29.7% YoY
Grant Count
27
+80.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$12K
-61.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Joel C & Bernice W Gordon Family reported a distributable amount of $197K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving priorities include:
- Jewish agencies and temples
- Education
- The arts
- Health and social services
- Human services and poverty alleviation
The foundation primarily directs funding toward organizations in Tennessee, Texas, and New York.
Grantmaking
The foundation does not appear to have published formal application guidelines or grant deadlines in available sources.
Review Cycle
in available sources.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Primary funding areas include Tennessee, Texas, and New York, with a notable concentration of grants to Nashville-based organizations.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending June 2025:
| Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,899,883 |
| Total Revenue | $436,634 |
| Total Expenses | $338,162 |
| Net Income | $98,472 |
| Total Liabilities | $0 |
The foundation maintains a debt-free financial position with modest annual revenues and consistent grantmaking activity.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,899,883 | $1,801,411 | $1,795,330 |
| Revenue | $436,634 | $547,122 | $168,942 |
| Expenses | $338,162 | $479,317 | $261,736 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $330,905 | $472,025 | $208,009 |
| Net Investment Income | $429,744 | $539,830 | $145,215 |
| Distributable Amount | $197,078 | $168,280 | $170,174 |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
162 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Abe's Garden ($75,000), Frist Art Museum ($48,000), Jewish Federation of Nashville ($47,800).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CONGREGATION SHERITH ISRAEL NASHVILLE, TN | TO FURTHER ONE OR MORE OF THE EXEMPT PURPOSES OF THE CHARITY | $2,180 |
| ENSWORTH SCHOOL NASHVILLE, TN | TO FURTHER ONE OR MORE OF THE EXEMPT PURPOSES OF THE CHARITY | $6,000 |
| FRIENDS OF THE ISRAEL DEFENSE FORCES NEW YORK, NY | TO FURTHER ONE OR MORE OF THE EXEMPT PURPOSES OF THE CHARITY | $5,000 |
| FRIST ART MUSEUM NASHVILLE, TN | TO FURTHER ONE OR MORE OF THE EXEMPT PURPOSES OF THE CHARITY | $48,000 |
| GORDON JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER NASHVILLE, TN | TO FURTHER ONE OR MORE OF THE EXEMPT PURPOSES OF THE CHARITY | $12,260 |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF NASHVILLE NASHVILLE, TN | TO FURTHER ONE OR MORE OF THE EXEMPT PURPOSES OF THE CHARITY | $47,800 |
| KIPP NASHVILLE NASHVILLE, TN | TO FURTHER ONE OR MORE OF THE EXEMPT PURPOSES OF THE CHARITY | $1,000 |
| NASHVILLE ZOO NASHVILLE, TN | TO FURTHER ONE OR MORE OF THE EXEMPT PURPOSES OF THE CHARITY | $2,500 |
| TENNESSEE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER NASHVILLE, TN | TO FURTHER ONE OR MORE OF THE EXEMPT PURPOSES OF THE CHARITY | $9,000 |
| THE TEMPLE NASHVILLE, TN | TO FURTHER ONE OR MORE OF THE EXEMPT PURPOSES OF THE CHARITY | $30,180 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Founders & Key Figures:
Joel C. Gordon (1929–2023): Co-founder of the foundation. Mr. Gordon was a devoted business and civic leader in Nashville. He was born in Crofton, Kentucky, and built a 67-year partnership with his wife Bernice that served as the foundation for their philanthropic work.
Bernice Weingart Gordon: Co-founder and surviving spouse of Joel C. Gordon. The foundation continues under her stewardship.
The foundation has four children and twelve grandchildren in the family.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BERNICE W GORDON | PRESIDENT | — | — |
| SHERRIE GORDON EISENMAN | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| ALAN J EISENMAN | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| ROBERT A GORDON | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| JULIE S GORDON | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| FRANK E GORDON | SECRETARY | — | — |
| GWEN L GORDON | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| GAIL GORDON JACOBS | TRUSTEE | — | — |
Contact Information
Telephone: 615-385-3541
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Joel C & Bernice W Gordon Family fund?
The foundation's giving priorities include: • Jewish agencies and temples • Education • The arts • Health and social services • Human services and poverty alleviation The foundation primarily directs funding toward organizations in Tennessee, Texas, and New York.
How do I apply for a grant from The Joel C & Bernice W Gordon Family?
**Grant Activity (Fiscal Year Ending June 2025):** • Total giving: $330,395 • Number of grants: 48 • Typical award range: $28–$165,800 **Recent Grant Recipients Include:** • Abe's Garden: $75,000 • Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville: $47,800 • Temple Congregation Ohabai Sholom: $30,180 The foundation does not appear to have published formal application guidelines or grant deadlines in available sources.
Where does The Joel C & Bernice W Gordon Family make grants?
Primary funding areas include Tennessee, Texas, and New York, with a notable concentration of grants to Nashville-based organizations.
What size grants does The Joel C & Bernice W Gordon Family award?
In 2025, The Joel C & Bernice W Gordon Family awarded 27 grants totaling $330K — an average of about $12K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Joel C & Bernice W Gordon Family required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, The Joel C & Bernice W Gordon Family reported a distributable amount of $197K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Joel C & Bernice W Gordon Family's EIN?
The Joel C & Bernice W Gordon Family's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 62-1306906. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
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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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