The JW Gardner II Foundation
The JW Gardner II Foundation is a private foundation based in Quincy, Illinois. It makes grants to qualified organizations serving Quincy and the Tri-State area.
The JW Gardner II Foundation at a glance
In short: The JW Gardner II Foundation gave $330K across 21 grants in 2025 (avg $16K), mostly in Illinois. 24% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $330,035
- +10.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 21
- -19.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $15,716
- +37.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $4,009,452
- -2.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 24% first-time grantees (5 of 21, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (94% 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 JW Gardner II Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Submit a written request, including any supporting documentation, to John G Stevenson Jr. The foundation states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations; grants are limited to qualified organizations serving Quincy and the Tri-State area.
- Review Cycle
- June 30.
- Deadline
- June 30.
- Contact
Application contact: John G Stevenson Jr
Mailing address: 510 Maine Street, Quincy, IL 62301
Phone: (217) 277-2526
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The JW Gardner II Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Quincy University Corporation ($47K). Together the top 10 received $270K.
Grant Size Distribution
126 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 125 grants of 126 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 94% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois and 6% to recipients in Missouri. The foundation’s stated restriction is that grants are limited to qualified organizations serving Quincy and the Tri-State area.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The JW Gardner II Foundation open to new grantees?
24%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 21 grantees (24%) were first-time recipients. With only 21 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $12K; repeat grants $17K. How we count
Medians: $11K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 52% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−4%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 95% 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 $268K (2020) to $342K (2022). In 2025 it made 21 grants totaling $330K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Quincy University Corporation Quincy, IL | Educational | $47,135 |
| Good Samaritan Home Quincy, IL | General Operating | $40,000 |
| Salvation Army Quincy, IL | General Operating | $36,500 |
| Quincy Family YMCA Quincy, IL | General Operating | $30,000 |
| Jackson Lincoln Pool Quincy, IL | General Operating | $25,000 |
| Advocacy Network for Children Quincy, IL | General Operating | $20,000 |
| Down Country Taylor, MO | General Operating | $20,000 |
| Love Foundation Quincy, IL | General Operating | $20,000 |
| Make-a-Wish Illinois Chicago, IL | General Operating | $20,000 |
| Horizons Social Services Quincy, IL | General Operating | $11,400 |
Ready to take the next step with The JW Gardner II Foundation?
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 | $4,009,452 | $324,483 | $412,625 | $330,035 | 21 | $334,551 | $253,007 | $350,883 |
| 2024 | $4,109,202 | $925,212 | $383,403 | $298,108 | 26 | $302,870 | $857,019 | $325,147 |
| 2023 | $3,567,393 | $538,907 | $340,446 | $278,098 | 26 | $281,749 | $480,235 | $283,918 |
| 2022 | $3,368,932 | $322,885 | $411,454 | $342,342 | 24 | $345,391 | $262,656 | $287,180 |
| 2021 | $3,452,501 | $422,815 | $358,475 | $283,665 | 29 | $285,862 | $356,719 | $343,497 |
| 2020 | $3,388,161 | $351,498 | $326,632 | $267,931 | 25 | — | $295,588 | $288,432 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The JW Gardner II Foundation reported a distributable amount of $351K 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 foundation mission is stated. The 2025 grants show support for education and general operating expenses. The grantees describe their own work in varied terms: Advocacy Network for Children says it protects the rights of children who have experienced abuse or neglect; Down Country says it provides education and specialized training related to Down syndrome and other abilities and disabilities; and Quincy Art Center says it provides opportunities to appreciate and grow in the visual fine arts.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation awarded 21 grants totaling $330,035. Grants ranged from $1,500 to $47,135, with a median of $10,000. The largest grant was $47,135 to Quincy University Corporation for educational purposes. Other large grants included $40,000 to Good Samaritan Home, $36,500 to the Salvation Army, $30,000 to Quincy Family YMCA, and $25,000 to Jackson Lincoln Pool, all for general operating purposes.
Additional 2025 grants included $20,000 each to Advocacy Network for Children, Down Country, Love Foundation, and Make-A-Wish Illinois; $11,400 to Horizons Social Services; and $10,000 each to Cornerstone Foundation for Families and Quincy Art Center.
The grantees’ stated missions illustrate the range of supported work. Quincy University Corporation describes its commitment to developing servant-leaders through a Franciscan, Catholic, liberal arts education. Horizons Social Services says it works to feed poor and hungry people in its community, while United Way of Adams County says it aims to inspire, unite, and empower Adams County residents.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists John G Stevenson Jr as president, Robert Black as treasurer, and Dale Stevenson as secretary.
The JW Gardner II Foundation is led by John G. Stevenson Jr., President on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
John G. Stevenson Jr.
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dale Stevenson
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert Black
Treasurer
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.
Frequently asked questions about The JW Gardner II Foundation
How much does The JW Gardner II Foundation give each year?
The JW Gardner II Foundation gave $330K across 21 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $298K across 26 grants.
What is The JW Gardner II Foundation's typical grant size?
The JW Gardner II Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $15,716, across 21 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The JW Gardner II Foundation that year got $12K on average.
Where does The JW Gardner II Foundation give grants?
The JW Gardner II Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 94% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Missouri (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Quincy, IL (19 grants).
Does The JW Gardner II Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 90% of The JW Gardner II Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (19 of 21) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The JW Gardner II Foundation's largest grantees?
The JW Gardner II Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Quincy University Corporation ($47,135), Good Samaritan Home ($40,000) and Salvation Army ($36,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 37% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The JW Gardner II Foundation?
The JW Gardner II Foundation reported $4.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $335K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $351K (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 JW Gardner II Foundation fund?
No foundation mission is stated. The 2025 grants show support for education and general operating expenses. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The JW Gardner II Foundation?
Submit a written request, including any supporting documentation, to John G Stevenson Jr. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The JW Gardner II Foundation's EIN?
The JW Gardner II Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 37-1404507. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
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 8, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Browse active grant opportunities in The JW Gardner II Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The JW Gardner II Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-jw-gardner-ii-foundation-morg_d8a44d6ba5ce4dda815ad840964d50ae
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_371404507_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The JW Gardner II Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-jw-gardner-ii-foundation-morg_d8a44d6ba5ce4dda815ad840964d50ae},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 JW Gardner II Foundation'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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