The John C Griswold Family Foundation
The John C Griswold Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware. In its 2025 filing, it reported grants to organizations including a university, a Montessori school, a farmers market institute, and arts and community organizations.
Key facts about The John C Griswold Family Foundation
In short: The John C Griswold Family Foundation gave $657K across 76 grants in 2025 (avg $9K), top state California. 31% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 13-2978937
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $656,960
- Grants made (2025)
- 76
- Average grant
- $8,644
- Median grant
- $4,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 31% first-time grantees (21 of 67, 2025)
- Total assets
- $13,375,772
- Primary geography
- California (27% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 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 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$13.4M
-0.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$657K
+23.1% YoY
Grant Count
76
+11.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$9K
+10.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The John C Griswold Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $896K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is The John C Griswold Family Foundation open to new grantees?
31%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 21 of 67 grantees (31%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $7K; repeat grants $11K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 60% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 28% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 86% 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 (2020–2025). 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations with varied purposes. St Helena Montessori School describes its programs as serving children from early childhood through adolescence, with a curriculum that includes art, music, athletics, and other subjects. Millikin University says it prepares students for professional success, democratic citizenship, and a meaningful personal life. Santa Fe Farmers Market Institute says it advocates for land-based producers, expands access to local food, and supports a locally based agricultural community. Cameron Parsons Foundation describes its mission as conserving and promoting the art and writings of Cameron and Jack Parsons.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation made 76 grants totaling $656,960. Grant amounts ranged from $750 to $50,000, with a median grant of $4,500.
Among the largest grants were $50,000 to Millikin University for general and unrestricted purposes and $50,000 to St Helena Montessori School for its music room. Millikin University also received $40,000 for maintenance of the Griswold Center. Santa Fe Farmers Market Institute received $40,000 for general and unrestricted purposes, and VHS Cheer received $40,000 for general and unrestricted purposes.
How to Apply
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
Ready to take the next step with The John C Griswold Family Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in California (27%), Illinois (15%), Florida (12%), New Mexico (11%), and Connecticut (8%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 76 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $455K (2023) to $908K (2022). In 2025 it made 76 grants totaling $657K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Millikin University ($96K across 3 grants). Together the top 10 received $375K.
Grant Size Distribution
389 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 382 grants of 389 (98%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Millikin University Decatur, IL | General & Unrestricted | $50,000 |
| St Helena Montessori School Inc Saint Helena, CA | Music Room | $50,000 |
| Millikin University Decatur, IL | Maintenance of Griswold Center | $40,000 |
| Santa Fe Farmers Market Institute Santa Fe, NM | General & Unrestricted | $40,000 |
| VHS Cheer Inc Venice, FL | General & Unrestricted | $40,000 |
| NFL Flag Venice Donations Inc Venice, FL | For the purchase of Turf Tank Paint Machine | $28,810 |
| Severall Friends Cerrillos, NM | General & Unrestricted | $25,778 |
| Cameron Parsons Foundation Inc Santa Monica, CA | General & Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| Tonks Feline Foster Garden Grove, CA | General & Unrestricted | $22,000 |
| Vocal Arts Ensemble of Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH | General & Unrestricted | $20,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grant total | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $13,375,772 | $891,538 | $929,904 | $656,960 | 76 |
| 2024 | $13,409,138 | $1,775,102 | $795,149 | $533,734 | 68 |
| 2023 | $12,429,185 | $1,779,731 | $691,198 | $454,779 | 71 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $13,375,772 | $13,409,138 | $12,429,185 |
| Revenue | $891,538 | $1,775,102 | $1,779,731 |
| Expenses | $929,904 | $795,149 | $691,198 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $769,942 | $629,087 | $532,261 |
| Net Investment Income | $742,652 | $1,631,593 | $1,640,294 |
| Distributable Amount | $895,701 | $811,142 | $707,415 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 24, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Dana Brinkmeyer, Allyson Griswold Dayak, Jacqueline Dubois Earls, John V Earls, Kit Earls, and Michael G Earls as trustees. Nathaniel Earls is listed as trustee and president; Brett VH Griswold as trustee and secretary; Natalie Griswold as vice president and trustee; and Jeffrey W Earls as treasurer.
The John C Griswold Family Foundation is led by Nathaniel Earls, Trustee & President since 2024 (on filings since 2020); none of the 13 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Nathaniel Earls
Trustee & President
Trustee → Trustee & President, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Allyson Griswold Dayak
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John V Earls
Trustee
Trustee, Secretary, Vice President & President → Trustee, Secretary & President, 2023
Trustee, Secretary & President → Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kit Earls
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael G Earls
Trustee
Trustee & Pres* → Trustee, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Whitney Griswold Larson
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Natalie Griswold
Vice President & Trustee
Secretary → Secretary & Vice President, 2024
Secretary & Vice President → Vice President & Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brett VH Griswold
Trustee & Secretary
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jacqueline Dubois Earls
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dana Brinkmeyer
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Emily Dayak
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Victoria Strain
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey W Earls
Treasurer
Trustee & Treasurer → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: D Ross Griswold Jr. (2020–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Natalie Barraclough (2020–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Mark Griswold (2020) — Trustee & Vice President
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.
Contact
Mailing address: Foundation Source 501 Silverside Rd, Wilmington, DE 19809-1377
Phone: (800) 839-1754
Frequently asked questions about The John C Griswold Family Foundation
How much does The John C Griswold Family Foundation give each year?
The John C Griswold Family Foundation gave $657K across 76 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $534K across 68 grants.
What is The John C Griswold Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The John C Griswold Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $4,500, and its average grant was $8,644, across 76 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The John C Griswold Family Foundation that year got $7K on average.
Where does The John C Griswold Family Foundation give grants?
The John C Griswold Family Foundation's top state is California, with 27% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Illinois (15%) and Florida (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Antonio, TX (7 grants), Greenwich, CT (5 grants), Long Beach, CA (5 grants) and Los Angeles, CA (4 grants).
Does The John C Griswold Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 74% of The John C Griswold Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (56 of 76) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The John C Griswold Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The John C Griswold Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Millikin University ($96,000 across 3 grants), St Helena Montessori School Inc ($62,000 across 2 grants) and Santa Fe Farmers Market Institute ($40,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 30% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The John C Griswold Family Foundation?
The John C Griswold Family Foundation reported $13.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $770K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $896K (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 John C Griswold Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations with varied purposes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The John C Griswold Family Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The John C Griswold Family Foundation's EIN?
The John C Griswold Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-2978937. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The John C Griswold Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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