The Joel C & Bernice W Gordon Family
The Joel C & Bernice W Gordon Family is a private foundation based in Nashville, Tennessee. Its 2026 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, all of which were in Tennessee.
The Joel C & Bernice W Gordon Family at a glance
In short: The Joel C & Bernice W Gordon Family gave $193K across 19 grants in 2026 (avg $10K), mostly in Tennessee. 11% of 2026 grantees were new. Source: 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2026)
- $193,436
- -41.5% vs 2025
- Grants made (2026)
- 19
- -29.6% vs 2025
- Average grant
- $10,181
- -16.8% vs 2025
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Total assets
- $1,834,474
- -3.4% vs 2025
- New grantees (estimate)
- 11% first-time grantees (2 of 19, 2026; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Tennessee (100% of itemized 2026 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2026 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2026; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Joel C & Bernice W Gordon Family
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 3102 West End Avenue 650, Nashville, TN 37203
Phone: (615) 385-3541
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Joel C & Bernice W Gordon Family funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2026
The largest 2026 recipient was Jewish Federation of Nashville ($49K). Together the top 10 received $183K.
Grant Size Distribution
131 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 126 grants of 131 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for 2026 went to recipients in Tennessee.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2026 grant dollars across all 19 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Joel C & Bernice W Gordon Family open to new grantees?
11%
first-time grantees, 2026
In 2026, 2 of 19 grantees (11%) were first-time recipients. With only 19 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $11K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $6K repeat.
- 79% of 2026 grantees were also funded in 2025. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2023 to 2026 (−6%). Method
- In 2026 it paid out 96% 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 (2021–2026). 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 2021 to 2026, annual grant giving ranged from $193K (2026) to $539K (2021). In 2026 it made 19 grants totaling $193K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Jewish Federation of Nashville Nashville, TN | To further one or more of the exempt purposes of the charity | $48,890 |
| The Temple Nashville, TN | To further one or more of the exempt purposes of the charity | $44,200 |
| Vanderbilt Athletics Nashville, TN | To further one or more of the exempt purposes of the charity | $24,000 |
| Frist Art Museum Nashville, TN | To further one or more of the exempt purposes of the charity | $18,000 |
| The University School of Nashville Nashville, TN | To further one or more of the exempt purposes of the charity | $12,500 |
| United Way of Greater Nashville Nashville, TN | To further one or more of the exempt purposes of the charity | $10,000 |
| Tennessee Performing Arts Center Nashville, TN | To further one or more of the exempt purposes of the charity | $9,000 |
| Ensworth School Nashville, TN | To further one or more of the exempt purposes of the charity | $7,500 |
| Gordon Jewish Community Center Nashville, TN | To further one or more of the exempt purposes of the charity | $6,046 |
| Friends of Warner Parks Nashville, TN | To further one or more of the exempt purposes of the charity | $2,500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $1,834,474 | $145,995 | $211,404 | $193,436 | 19 | $195,578 | $134,622 | $203,447 |
| 2025 | $1,899,883 | $436,634 | $338,162 | $330,395 | 27 | $330,905 | $429,744 | $197,078 |
| 2024 | $1,801,411 | $547,122 | $479,317 | $470,225 | 15 | $472,025 | $539,830 | $168,280 |
| 2023 | $1,795,330 | $168,942 | $261,736 | $206,359 | 33 | $208,009 | $145,215 | $170,174 |
| 2022 | $1,964,075 | $1,109,249 | $292,053 | $273,924 | 37 | $275,559 | $1,098,355 | $186,101 |
| 2021 | $1,044,385 | $138,439 | $543,653 | $539,402 | 56 | — | $135,438 | $232,092 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Joel C & Bernice W Gordon Family reported a distributable amount of $203K for 2026 — 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 2026 grants include support for religious and community organizations, schools, arts and cultural organizations, and other Nashville-area nonprofits.
Some grantees describe their work as presenting exhibitions and educational programs (Frist Art Museum), inspiring discovery of the natural world through conservation and animal care (Nashville Zoo), supporting at-risk youth through watersports, outdoor adventure, and education (Water Walkers), and fostering community and civility through public programs about ideas, history, arts, and culture (Humanities Tennessee).
Grantmaking
In 2026, the foundation gave $193,436 across 19 grants. Awards ranged from $100 to $48,890, with a median grant of $2,500.
The largest reported grants were $48,890 to Jewish Federation of Nashville, $44,200 to The Temple, $24,000 to Vanderbilt Athletics, $18,000 to Frist Art Museum, and $12,500 to The University School of Nashville. Other reported grants included $10,000 to United Way of Greater Nashville, $9,000 to Tennessee Performing Arts Center, and $7,500 to Ensworth School.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2026 filing lists Bernice W Gordon as president; Robert A Gordon, Julie S Gordon, and Gwen L Gordon as trustees; Frank E Gordon as secretary; and Gail Gordon Jacobs as trustee.
The Joel C & Bernice W Gordon Family is led by Bernice W. Gordon, President since 2023 (on filings since 2021); none of the 6 officers listed in 2026 report compensation.
Officers on the 2026 filing
Bernice W. Gordon
President
Secretary → President, 2023
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gail Gordon Jacobs
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gwen L. Gordon
Trustee
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Julie S. Gordon
Trustee
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert A. Gordon
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Frank E. Gordon
Secretary
Trustee → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Alan J. Eisenman (2021–2025) — Trustee
- Former: Sherrie Gordon Eisenman (2021–2025) — Trustee
- Former: Joel C. Gordon (2021–2022) — President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2026. "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 Joel C & Bernice W Gordon Family
How much does The Joel C & Bernice W Gordon Family give each year?
The Joel C & Bernice W Gordon Family gave $193K across 19 grants in 2026, according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2025 it gave $330K across 27 grants.
What is The Joel C & Bernice W Gordon Family's typical grant size?
The Joel C & Bernice W Gordon Family's median grant in 2026 was $2,500, and its average grant was $10,181, across 19 grants on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Joel C & Bernice W Gordon Family that year got $1K on average.
Where does The Joel C & Bernice W Gordon Family give grants?
The Joel C & Bernice W Gordon Family gives mostly in Tennessee: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Nashville, TN (19 grants).
Who are The Joel C & Bernice W Gordon Family's largest grantees?
The Joel C & Bernice W Gordon Family's largest 2026 grantees include Jewish Federation of Nashville ($48,890), The Temple ($44,200) and Vanderbilt Athletics ($24,000), according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 61% of its itemized 2026 grant dollars.
How large is The Joel C & Bernice W Gordon Family?
The Joel C & Bernice W Gordon Family reported $1.8M in total assets on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $196K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $203K (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 Joel C & Bernice W Gordon Family fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2026 grants include support for religious and community organizations, schools, arts and cultural organizations, and other Nashville-area nonprofits. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Joel C & Bernice W Gordon Family?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 2021–2026.
Does The Joel C & Bernice W Gordon Family 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
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2026 (received by the IRS August 21, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Joel C & Bernice W Gordon Family funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 23, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-joel-c-and-bernice-w-gordon-family-morg_79cf8d554f61495ebfe47649a72f26f3
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_621306906_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Joel C \& Bernice W Gordon Family funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-joel-c-and-bernice-w-gordon-family-morg_79cf8d554f61495ebfe47649a72f26f3},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-23. 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 Joel C & Bernice W Gordon Family'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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