The John R and Ruth W Gurtler
The John R and Ruth W Gurtler is a private foundation based in Winter Park, Florida. In its 2025 filing, it reported 14 grants totaling $326,500 to charitable organizations, including organizations in Florida and Maryland.
The John R and Ruth W Gurtler at a glance
In short: The John R and Ruth W Gurtler gave $327K across 14 grants in 2025 (avg $23K), mostly in Florida. 15% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $326,500
- +14.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 14
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $23,321
- +14.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $24,250
- Total assets
- $4,803,299
- -1.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 15% first-time grantees (2 of 13, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Florida (79% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The John R and Ruth W Gurtler
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Its filing says to submit a written application, a copy of the organization’s IRS determination letter for 501(c)(3) status, and a statement of the organization’s purpose. The filing lists no restrictions on awards.
- Contact
Application contact: Mary W Christian
Mailing address: PO Box 880, Winter Park, FL 32790
Phone: (407) 467-0238
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The John R and Ruth W Gurtler funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The Christian Service Center ($45K). Together the top 10 received $237K.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($82,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
70 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 63 grants of 70 (90%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 grant dollars were distributed to recipients in Florida (79%) and Maryland (21%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The John R and Ruth W Gurtler open to new grantees?
15%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 13 grantees (15%) were first-time recipients. With only 13 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $15K; repeat grants $21K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $24K repeat.
- 85% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−5%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 92% 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $273K (2020) to $344K (2022). In 2025 it made 14 grants totaling $327K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 2 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $82,000 |
| The Christian Service Center Orlando, FL | To provide funding for the family and emergency services program and the daily bread kitchen. | $45,000 |
| Winter Park Public Library Winter Park, FL | To Provide Funding for the "Summer Reading Program". | $30,000 |
| Grace Medical Home Orlando, FL | To provide funding for pre-medical gap-year internship program and for integrated pediatric care. | $30,000 |
| Rollins College Winter Park, FL | to provide FUNDING FOR the redesign OF THE COLLEGE'S HONORS DEGREE PROGRAM. | $25,000 |
| Lighthouse Central Florida Orlando, FL | To Provide Funding for Youth Services Program. | $25,000 |
| Scouting America Apopka, FL | To provide funding for the scoutreach program and camperships for at risk youth. | $25,000 |
| A Gift for Teaching Orlando, FL | to provide FUNDING for THE ARTWORKS program, WORLD ART DAY SUPPLIES, AND A GIFT FOR MUSIC PROGRAMS. | $23,500 |
| First Congregational Church of Wint Winter Park, FL | to provide FUNDING FOR the FAITH FORMATION PROGRAM, VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL, YOUTH MISSIONS AND RETREATS. | $15,500 |
| Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Flo Orlando, FL | To provide support for academic, mentoring and other youth programs in eatonville, Florida. | $10,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $4,803,299 | $407,990 | $466,304 | $326,500 | 14 | $377,293 | $318,979 | $412,204 |
| 2024 | $4,861,613 | $213,080 | $418,180 | $284,300 | 14 | $334,969 | $129,869 | $382,870 |
| 2023 | $5,066,713 | $127,560 | $430,313 | $301,600 | 14 | $352,219 | $94,149 | $340,260 |
| 2022 | $5,369,466 | $165,920 | $472,385 | $344,099 | 14 | $394,679 | $88,214 | $354,378 |
| 2021 | $5,675,931 | $553,722 | $441,534 | $312,107 | 14 | $377,453 | $489,641 | $396,459 |
| 2020 | $5,563,743 | $6,442 | $397,949 | $273,358 | 12 | — | $85,101 | $338,546 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The John R and Ruth W Gurtler reported a distributable amount of $412K for 2025 — 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 is provided in the available information. The 2025 grants supported programs and services including nursing education, emergency and family services, library programming, health care, youth services, education, and child care.
Several grantees describe their work in their own terms: Grace Medical Home says it offers health care to people in the community who need it most; Rollins College describes a mission of educating students for global citizenship and responsible leadership; Lighthouse Central Florida describes its work as supporting living, learning, and earning with vision loss; A Gift for Teaching says it provides educational resources to empower teachers; and Winter Park Day Nursery says it serves children of lower-income working families with affordable child care and preschool education.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation gave 14 grants totaling $326,500. Grants ranged from $2,500 to $70,000, with a median grant of $24,250. The largest listed grants included $70,000 to Johns Hopkins School of Nursing for a scholarship for a returning Peace Corps volunteer in its master’s nursing program; $45,000 to The Christian Service Center for its Family and Emergency Services Program and Daily Bread Kitchen; and $30,000 each to Winter Park Public Library for its Summer Reading Program and Grace Medical Home for a pre-medical gap-year internship program and integrated pediatric care.
Other listed awards included $25,000 to Rollins College, $25,000 to Lighthouse Central Florida, $25,000 to Scouting America, $23,500 to A Gift for Teaching, $15,500 to First Congregational Church of Winter Park, $12,000 to an individual recipient, $10,000 to Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Florida, and $8,000 to Winter Park Day Nursery.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Mary W Christian as president, secretary, and treasurer; Harold A Ward III as vice president; and W Graham White as vice president.
The John R and Ruth W Gurtler is led by Mary W. Christian, President, Secretary & Treasurer on every filing since 2020; 1 of 3 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Mary W. Christian
President, Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$55K (2020) → $55K (2025)
Harold A. Ward III
Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
W. Graham White
Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $55K, to Mary W Christian (Pres, Sec, Tres).
Frequently asked questions about The John R and Ruth W Gurtler
How much does The John R and Ruth W Gurtler give each year?
The John R and Ruth W Gurtler gave $327K across 14 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $284K across 14 grants.
What is The John R and Ruth W Gurtler's typical grant size?
The John R and Ruth W Gurtler's median grant in 2025 was $24,250, and its average grant was $23,321, across 14 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The John R and Ruth W Gurtler that year got $15K on average.
Where does The John R and Ruth W Gurtler give grants?
The John R and Ruth W Gurtler gives mostly in Florida: 79% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Maryland (21%). The most frequent recipient cities were Winter Park, FL (6 grants) and Orlando, FL (5 grants).
Does The John R and Ruth W Gurtler give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 14 grants with a stated purpose on The John R and Ruth W Gurtler's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The John R and Ruth W Gurtler's largest grantees?
The John R and Ruth W Gurtler's largest 2025 grantees include The Christian Service Center ($45,000), Winter Park Public Library ($30,000) and Grace Medical Home ($30,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($82,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 32% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The John R and Ruth W Gurtler?
The John R and Ruth W Gurtler reported $4.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $377K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $412K (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 R and Ruth W Gurtler fund?
No mission statement is provided in the available information. The 2025 grants supported programs and services including nursing education, emergency and family services, library programming, health care, youth services, education, and child care. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The John R and Ruth W Gurtler?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and 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 John R and Ruth W Gurtler's EIN?
The John R and Ruth W Gurtler's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 59-3437461. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The John R and Ruth W Gurtler 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 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The John R and Ruth W Gurtler funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The John R and Ruth W Gurtler funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-john-r-and-ruth-w-gurtler-morg_7b23be39ba794cebb042f61b63089402
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_593437461_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The John R and Ruth W Gurtler funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-john-r-and-ruth-w-gurtler-morg_7b23be39ba794cebb042f61b63089402},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 John R and Ruth W Gurtler'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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