The William Gillespie Foundation
The William Gillespie Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Corona Del Mar, California. Established in 1994, it operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and has been tax-exempt since January 1998.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
-100.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$27K
-94.5% YoY
Grant Count
5
-76.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
-77.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving priorities include:
- Performing arts
- Education
- Children and youth services
- Human services
Grantmaking
Based on recent IRS filings, the foundation has distributed grants to organizations including:
Grant Range
s have been reported as $1,000–$250,000, though recent giving activity has been limited.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, with a concentration in Orange County and surrounding areas.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Filing (2023):
- Total Assets: $40,300
- Total Revenue: $311
- Total Expenses: $512,000
- Total Liabilities: $0
2024 Filing:
- Total Assets: $0
- Total Giving: $27,178
The foundation has filed a final return as of 2024, indicating a significant change in operational status.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | $40,255 | $552,260 |
| Revenue | — | $311 | $958,136 |
| Expenses | $42,967 | $512,316 | $1,322,043 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $42,967 | $496,797 | $1,294,810 |
| Net Investment Income | — | $161 | $930,978 |
| Distributable Amount | — | $14,589 | $1,904 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
176 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Donations under 5K ($9,500), Paris 2024 Olympic Society ($5,678), Orange County Museum of Art ($5,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Paris 2024 Olympic Society | Support Organization | $5,678 |
| Orange County Museum of Art Santa Ana, CA | Support Organization | $5,000 |
| Newport Library Foundation Newport Beach, CA | Support Organization | $5,000 |
| Donations under 5K Corona Del Mar, CA | Support Organization | $9,500 |
| Hoop Justice Nicolaus, CA | Program Support | $2,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Richard Gadbois III - President
- John M. Gunnin - Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richard Gadbois III | President | 4 | — |
| John M Gunnin | Director | 10 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The William Gillespie Foundation fund?
The foundation's giving priorities include: • Performing arts • Education • Children and youth services • Human services
How do I apply for a grant from The William Gillespie Foundation?
Based on recent IRS filings, the foundation has distributed grants to organizations including: • UCI Dance Scholars ($25,000) • Court Appointed Special Advocates ($100,000) • Canine Companions ($10,000) • Families Forward ($5,000) Historical grant ranges have been reported as $1,000–$250,000, though recent giving activity has been limited.
Where does The William Gillespie Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, with a concentration in Orange County and surrounding areas.
What size grants does The William Gillespie Foundation award?
In 2024, The William Gillespie Foundation awarded 5 grants totaling $27K — an average of about $5K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The William Gillespie Foundation's EIN?
The William Gillespie Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-4480408. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The William Gillespie Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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