The William R Gruver Foundation
The William R Gruver Foundation is a private foundation based in Sanibel, Florida. In 2025, it made 21 grants totaling $294,512 to charitable organizations, including organizations working in health, human services, education, and academic discourse.
Key facts about The William R Gruver Foundation
In short: The William R Gruver Foundation gave $295K across 21 grants in 2025 (avg $14K), mostly in Florida. 33% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 13-3531965
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $294,512
- Grants made (2025)
- 21
- Average grant
- $14,024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 33% first-time grantees (7 of 21, 2025)
- Total assets
- $4,999,734
- Primary geography
- Florida (60% 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
$5.0M
+9.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$295K
+12.5% YoY
Grant Count
21
-4.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$14K
+17.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The William R Gruver Foundation reported a distributable amount of $320K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is The William R Gruver Foundation open to new grantees?
33%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 7 of 21 grantees (33%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $9K; repeat grants $17K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 62% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 31% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 93% 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 (2021–2025). 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
A mission statement for the foundation is not provided. Its 2025 grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, Community Cooperative describes its work as providing meals, groceries, social services, and education to address hunger and homelessness in Southwest Florida. Berea College says it serves students of high promise and low means, while the Open Discourse Coalition describes its work as supporting a variety of intellectual viewpoints in academia. Other 2025 recipients included health organizations, a community foundation, an education nonprofit, and a disaster-response organization.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 21 grants totaling $294,512. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $100,704, with a median of $10,000. Its largest reported grants included $100,704 to Lee Health Foundation, $35,156 to Community Cooperative, $20,030 to Dartmouth College, and $20,000 each to Cornell University and Gulf Coast Community Foundation. The stated purpose for these grants was “to aid in program services.”
Ready to take the next step with The William R Gruver Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, Florida organizations received 60% of grant dollars, followed by recipients in New York (17%), Pennsylvania (8%), New Hampshire (7%), and New Jersey (4%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $201K (2021) to $295K (2025). In 2025 it made 21 grants totaling $295K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Lee Health Foundation ($101K). Together the top 10 received $246K.
Grant Size Distribution
97 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 91 grants of 97 (94%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Lee Health Foundation Fort Myers, FL | To Aid in Program Services | $100,704 |
| Community Cooperative Fort Myers, FL | To Aid in Program Services | $35,156 |
| Dartmouth College Hanover, NH | To Aid in Program Services | $20,030 |
| Cornell University Ithaca, NY | To Aid in Program Services | $20,000 |
| Gulf Coast Community Foundation Venive, FL | To Aid in Program Services | $20,000 |
| Lymphoma Research New York, NY | To Aid in Program Services | $10,084 |
| Rutgers University Football New Brunswick, NJ | To Aid in Program Services | $10,015 |
| Mount Sinai Health New York, NY | To Aid in Program Services | $10,015 |
| Berea College Berea, KY | To Aid in Program Services | $10,000 |
| MSK Cancer Center New York, NY | To Aid in Program Services | $10,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $4,999,734 | $731,307 | $332,214 | $294,512 |
| 2024 | $4,578,557 | $756,405 | $283,867 | $261,856 |
| 2023 | $4,215,538 | $320,158 | $313,643 | $282,804 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,999,734 | $4,578,557 | $4,215,538 |
| Revenue | $731,307 | $756,405 | $320,158 |
| Expenses | $332,214 | $283,867 | $313,643 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $297,727 | $266,026 | $285,304 |
| Net Investment Income | $458,528 | $476,412 | $163,244 |
| Distributable Amount | $319,879 | $298,434 | $264,121 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists William R Gruver, Joan L Gruver, Barbara Jill Gruver Puleo, John Gruver Jr, and Brooke Garafalo as trustees.
The William R Gruver Foundation's 2025 filing lists 5 officers; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Barbara Jill Gruver Puleo
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brooke Garafalo
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joan L. Gruver
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Gruver Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
William R. Gruver
Trustee
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Mailing address: 1605 Middle Gulf Drive Unit 306, Sanibel, FL 33957
Phone: (239) 240-6754
Frequently asked questions about The William R Gruver Foundation
How much does The William R Gruver Foundation give each year?
The William R Gruver Foundation gave $295K across 21 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $262K across 22 grants.
What is The William R Gruver Foundation's typical grant size?
The William R Gruver Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $14,024, across 21 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The William R Gruver Foundation that year got $9K on average.
Where does The William R Gruver Foundation give grants?
The William R Gruver Foundation gives mostly in Florida: 60% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (17%) and Pennsylvania (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (3 grants) and Fort Myers, FL (2 grants).
Does The William R Gruver Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 21 grants with a stated purpose on The William R Gruver Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Aid in Program Services" (21 grants).
Who are The William R Gruver Foundation's largest grantees?
The William R Gruver Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Lee Health Foundation ($100,704), Community Cooperative ($35,156) and Dartmouth College ($20,030), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 53% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The William R Gruver Foundation?
The William R Gruver Foundation reported $5.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $298K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $320K (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 William R Gruver Foundation fund?
A mission statement for the foundation is not provided. Its 2025 grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, Community Cooperative describes its work as providing meals, groceries, social services, and education to address hunger and homelessness in Southwest Florida. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The William R Gruver 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 William R Gruver Foundation's EIN?
The William R Gruver Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3531965. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Does The William R Gruver 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.
Here's the math on researching The William R Gruver Foundation by hand.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The William R Gruver Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
IBM International Foundation
Armonk, NY
The IBM International Foundation funds education and workforce programs that build 21st-century and technology job skills, including initiatives for underserved students and job seekers. Its 2024 grants ranged from $10,000 to $8.48 million, with a median of $100,000, and went to organizations across several U.S. states, especially Delaware and Massachusetts. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$357.7M
Grants
16
Total Given
$11.7M
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports nonprofits in health, education, arts, disaster relief, reforestation, hunger relief, and community equity, with an emphasis on organizations actively supported by Enterprise employees and their families. Its reported grants range widely: 2024 giving averaged about $7,700 across 9,499 grants, while the foundation also offers awards of up to $40,000; it supports communities where Enterprise operates worldwide. Unsolicited requests are accepted at any time, but eligible applications must be submitted by an Enterprise team member or their spouse or domestic partner on behalf of a nonprofit they actively support.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
Aetna Foundation Inc
Hartford, CT
Aetna Foundation supported health and wellness, access to health care, and related community needs; its 2021 grants ranged from $5,000 to $1 million, with a median of $40,000, and went to organizations across multiple states, especially in D.C. and Connecticut. Its 2021 filing was marked final, so it appears to have ended or be winding down grantmaking; that filing said there were no restrictions on who could apply and pointed applicants to its website for application materials.
Assets
—
Grants
65
Total Given
$7.2M
Collier Community Foundation Inc
Naples, FL
Collier Community Foundation supports nonprofit programs and capacity-building in areas including housing, hunger, mental health, education, the environment, disaster relief, seniors, and veterans, with a focus on Collier County, Florida. Program grants are typically $20,000–$30,000, while capacity grants are up to $2,500; the Foundation accepts applications through its grant portal for eligible opportunities, but donor advisors do not accept direct funding requests.
Assets
$349.2M
Grants
292
Total Given
$24.3M
LPL Financial Foundation Inc
Boston, MA
Assets
$7.8M
Grants
55
Total Given
$2.3M
KPMG US Foundation Inc
Montvale, NJ
KPMG US Foundation supports education, mental health, community vitality, and community relief and resilience, with grants distributed across the United States. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, though amounts ranged from about $5,000 to $2.2 million. The available information does not say whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$12.4M
Grants
387
Total Given
$33.5M
Triangle Community Foundation Inc
Durham, NC
The foundation supports nonprofits working in cultural arts, education and youth, nonprofit capacity building, and sustainable communities, with discretionary grants focused on Durham, Orange, Wake, and Chatham Counties in North Carolina. Its 2025 grants had a median of $20,000, though amounts varied widely. Eligible nonprofits or fiscally sponsored organizations can apply through its online system during open grant cycles, so requests are accepted when a relevant cycle is open.
Assets
$335.8M
Grants
599
Total Given
$26.7M
The Winston-Salem Foundation
Winston-Salem, NC
The Winston-Salem Foundation funds nonprofits and community groups serving Forsyth County, North Carolina, across areas including education, housing, health, arts, community development, and human services. Its 2024 grants had a median of $25,000; specific programs offer up to $2,000 for small grants, $30,000 for civic engagement and inclusion, and $15,000 through The Women’s Fund. It accepts applications through its grants portal for listed programs, subject to their requirements and deadlines.
Assets
$630.1M
Grants
823
Total Given
$90.4M
Columbus Foundation
Columbus, OH
The Columbus Foundation supports nonprofits and community initiatives in areas including arts and culture, education, youth, neighborhoods, basic needs, and capacity building, with a median 2024 grant of about $21,500. Its focus is Central Ohio, though it also funds organizations elsewhere; most grants are donor-directed and not application-based, but some programs accept applications.
Assets
$2.8B
Grants
1,747
Total Given
$242.7M
Maine Community Foundation Inc
Ellsworth, ME
Maine Community Foundation supports Maine communities through grants for community building, arts, education, the environment, economic development, human services, and other areas. Its 2024 grants ranged from $5,030 to $2,487,900, with a median of $17,500; the Community Building Grant Program offers awards up to $10,000. Applications are submitted online, and the information does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$807.6M
Grants
1,161
Total Given
$57.6M
Publix Super Markets Charities Inc
Lakeland, FL
Publix Super Markets Charities supports nonprofits addressing hunger, homelessness and housing, youth, education, and community needs in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Kentucky. Its 2024 median grant was $2,500, though awards ranged widely; it accepts online requests from eligible organizations, with application periods varying by program.
Assets
$233.8M
Grants
3,269
Total Given
$52.5M
The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida Inc
Jacksonville, FL
The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida supports nonprofits and civic work in Duval, St. Johns, Nassau, Baker, Clay, and Putnam counties, with interests including neighborhoods, education, aging adults, arts, women and girls, young children, and early literacy. Its 2024 grants had a median of $5,000, though amounts varied widely; most donor-advised grants are not open to applications, but eligible nonprofits can apply through competitive programs when application windows are open.
Assets
$708.7M
Grants
2,470
Total Given
$78.0M
More Funders in Florida
The William R Gruver Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?