The William R Gruver Foundation
The William R Gruver Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1989 and located in Sanibel, Florida. As a 501(c)(3) organization, it operates as an independent foundation focused on philanthropic giving across multiple sectors.
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary giving focuses on:
- Education
- Canine health
- Medical research
- Human services
- Philanthropy and voluntarism
Grantmaking
The foundation made 13 grants in fiscal year 2024, with a total distribution of approximately $266,000 in that year. Recent grants include:
Grant Range
approximately $5,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Florida, New York, and Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending February 2025:
- Total Assets: $4,999,734
- Total Revenue: $731,307
- Total Expenses: $332,214
- Net Income: $399,093
- Total Liabilities: $0
Revenue Composition (FY 2024):
- Contributions Received: $250,560
- Investment Income and Dividends: $257,900
Historical Growth: The foundation has experienced exceptional revenue growth, with an average increase over the past nine years.
| 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 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
97 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Lee Health Foundation ($100,704), Community Cooperative ($35,156), Dartmouth College ($20,030).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BEREA COLLEGE BEREA, KY | TO AID IN PROGRAM SERVICES | $10,000 |
| BOILING SPRINGS LIONS CLUB BOILING SPRINGS, PA | TO AID IN PROGRAM SERVICES | $1,500 |
| CAPTIVA CHAPEL BY THE SEA CAPTIVA, FL | TO AID IN PROGRAM SERVICES | $7,500 |
| COMMUNITY COOPERATIVE FORT MYERS, FL | TO AID IN PROGRAM SERVICES | $35,156 |
| CORNELL UNIVERSITY ITHACA, NY | TO AID IN PROGRAM SERVICES | $20,000 |
| DARTMOUTH COLLEGE HANOVER, NH | TO AID IN PROGRAM SERVICES | $20,030 |
| DAYSPRING CHRISTIAN ACADEMY MOUNTVILLE, PA | TO AID IN PROGRAM SERVICES | $1,500 |
| GUADALUPE CENTER NAPLES, FL | TO AID IN PROGRAM SERVICES | $5,008 |
| GULF COAST COMMUNITY FOUNDATION VENIVE, FL | TO AID IN PROGRAM SERVICES | $20,000 |
| LEE HEALTH FOUNDATION FORT MYERS, FL | TO AID IN PROGRAM SERVICES | $100,704 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is governed by a board of trustees:
- William R Gruver (Trustee)
- Joan L Gruver (Trustee)
- Barbara Jill Gruver Puleo (Trustee)
- John Gruver Jr (Trustee)
- Brooke Garafalo (Trustee)
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| WILLIAM R GRUVER | TRUSTEE | 5 | — |
| JOAN L GRUVER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| BARBARA JILL GRUVER PULEO | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| JOHN GRUVER JR | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| BROOKE GARAFALO | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Contact Information
- Address: 1605 Middle Gulf Drive, Unit 306, Sanibel, FL 33957-7602
- Telephone: 239-240-6754
- EIN: 13-3531965
- Tax-exempt status date: August 1990
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The William R Gruver Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary giving focuses on: • Education • Canine health • Medical research • Human services • Philanthropy and voluntarism
How do I apply for a grant from The William R Gruver Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** The foundation made 13 grants in fiscal year 2024, with a total distribution of approximately $266,000 in that year. Recent grants include: • Lee Memorial Health System Foundation: $100,000 (2024) • Community Cooperative: $25,000 (2024) • Trustees of Dartmouth College: $20,207 (2024) **Grant Characteristics:** • Median grant size: approximately $5,000 • Maximum grant observed: $100,000 • Typical award range: $500–$104,885 • Grant descriptions typically indicate funding "to a…
Where does The William R Gruver Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Florida, New York, and Pennsylvania.
What size grants does The William R Gruver Foundation award?
In 2025, The William R Gruver Foundation awarded 21 grants totaling $295K — an average of about $14K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The William R Gruver Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, The William R Gruver Foundation reported a distributable amount of $320K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The William R Gruver 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.