Thomas H & Barbara W Gale Fndtn
The Thomas H & Barbara W Gale Foundation is a private foundation based in Cleveland, Ohio. It made 24 grants totaling $581,000 in 2024 to organizations including schools, medical organizations, and arts and environmental groups.
Thomas H & Barbara W Gale Fndtn at a glance
In short: Thomas H & Barbara W Gale Fndtn gave $581K across 24 grants in 2024 (avg $24K), top state Maryland. 29% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $581,000
- +2.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 24
- +9.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $24,208
- -6.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $5,629,465
- +18.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 29% first-time grantees (7 of 24, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Maryland (49% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Thomas H & Barbara W Gale Fndtn
- 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.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1111 Superior Ave Rmste 700, Cleveland, OH 44114
Phone: (216) 363-6486
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Thomas H & Barbara W Gale Fndtn funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was The Church Hill Theater ($55K). Together the top 10 received $365K.
Grant Size Distribution
93 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 77 grants of 93 (83%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 49% of grant dollars went to recipients in Maryland, 20% to Pennsylvania, 7% to Texas, 6% to New York, and 6% to Missouri. The 2024 grant list also includes recipients in Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 24 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Thomas H & Barbara W Gale Fndtn open to new grantees?
29%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 7 of 24 grantees (29%) were first-time recipients. With only 24 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $19K; repeat grants $26K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 67% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 29% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 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 (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $450K (2021) to $581K (2024). In 2024 it made 24 grants totaling $581K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Church Hill Theater Church Hill, MD | Upgrade of Lighting System | $55,000 |
| Kent School Chestertown, MD | Music Room | $50,000 |
| Lankenau Medical Center Foundation Wynnewood, PA | Cancer Risk Assessment and Genetics Program | $50,000 |
| Wait Until 8TH Austin, TX | Mini-Videos, Salesforce Triggers, Digital Advertising | $40,000 |
| Cross World Usaufm International Kansas City, MO | Evangelical THEOLOGY+MEDICINE Shalom | $35,000 |
| Johns Hopkins University of Medicine Baltimore, MD | Research-Dr. Peter L. Gehlbac | $30,000 |
| University of Va Medical Center Charlottesville, VA | Support Research Done by Dr Albert Jun | $30,000 |
| Chesapeake Bay Foundation Annapolis, MD | Endowment Fund | $25,000 |
| Chester River Health Foundation Chestertown, MD | Fund the Purchase of a New MRI Machine | $25,000 |
| Fair Hill Foundation Elkton, MD | "Campaign for Fair Hill" | $25,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Thomas H & Barbara W Gale Fndtn?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The foundation states on its 2024 filing that it complied with the Ohio Attorney General’s request for Ohio foundations to file an annual report online in lieu of sending a copy of the federal Form 990-PF.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $5,629,465 | $1,525,320 | $655,796 | $581,000 | 24 | $594,054 | $1,467,828 | $636,125 |
| 2023 | $4,759,274 | $449,973 | $637,424 | $569,000 | 22 | $581,151 | $400,727 | $573,695 |
| 2022 | $4,946,594 | $548,323 | $567,137 | $495,000 | 15 | $506,778 | $496,908 | $575,552 |
| 2021 | $4,966,657 | $541,000 | $523,183 | $450,152 | 16 | $463,987 | $487,689 | $593,723 |
| 2020 | $4,943,591 | $376,204 | $570,577 | $512,500 | 16 | — | $330,979 | $503,756 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Thomas H & Barbara W Gale Fndtn reported a distributable amount of $636K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, Lankenau Medical Center Foundation says it raises funds for Lankenau Medical Center and Lankenau Institute for Medical Research; Kent School says it provides preschool-through-eighth-grade education on a nondiscriminatory basis; and Chesapeake Bay Foundation describes its mission as saving the Bay. Other 2024 recipients included healthcare, educational, and conservation organizations.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation awarded 24 grants totaling $581,000. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $55,000, with a median of $25,000. The largest awards included $55,000 to The Church Hill Theater for an upgrade of its lighting system, $50,000 to Kent School for a music room, and $50,000 to Lankenau Medical Center Foundation for its Cancer Risk Assessment and Genetics Program. Other awards included $40,000 to Wait Until 8th for mini-videos, Salesforce triggers, and digital advertising, and $35,000 to Cross World USAUFM International for “Evangelical Theology+Medicine Shalom.”
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Barbara W. Gale as president, Thomas H. Gale as vice president, Alicia W. Gale as vice president #2, Elizabeth G. Langley as treasurer, and Jennifer G. Mantzaris as secretary.
Thomas H & Barbara W Gale Fndtn is led by Barbara W. Gale, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Barbara W. Gale
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alicia W. Gale
Vice President #
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth G. Langley
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer G. Mantzaris
Secretary
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thomas H. Gale
Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Thomas H & Barbara W Gale Fndtn
How much does Thomas H & Barbara W Gale Fndtn give each year?
Thomas H & Barbara W Gale Fndtn gave $581K across 24 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $569K across 22 grants.
What is Thomas H & Barbara W Gale Fndtn's typical grant size?
Thomas H & Barbara W Gale Fndtn's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $24,208, across 24 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Thomas H & Barbara W Gale Fndtn that year got $19K on average.
Where does Thomas H & Barbara W Gale Fndtn give grants?
Thomas H & Barbara W Gale Fndtn's top state is Maryland, with 49% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Pennsylvania (20%) and Texas (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chestertown, MD (3 grants), Centreville, MD (2 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).
Does Thomas H & Barbara W Gale Fndtn give general operating support?
Occasionally: 8% of Thomas H & Barbara W Gale Fndtn's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 24) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Thomas H & Barbara W Gale Fndtn's largest grantees?
Thomas H & Barbara W Gale Fndtn's largest 2024 grantees include The Church Hill Theater ($55,000), Kent School ($50,000) and Lankenau Medical Center Foundation ($50,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 27% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Thomas H & Barbara W Gale Fndtn?
Thomas H & Barbara W Gale Fndtn reported $5.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $594K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $636K (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 Thomas H & Barbara W Gale Fndtn fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Thomas H & Barbara W Gale Fndtn?
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 Thomas H & Barbara W Gale Fndtn's EIN?
Thomas H & Barbara W Gale Fndtn's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 34-1813012. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Thomas H & Barbara W Gale Fndtn 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Thomas H & Barbara W Gale Fndtn's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Similar funders in Ohio
Columbus Foundation
Columbus, OH
The Columbus Foundation supports a broad range of nonprofit work, including arts, education, health, basic needs, neighborhoods, and capacity building, primarily in central Ohio. Its 2024 grants had a median of $21,471, though amounts varied widely. Most grants are directed by donors and aren’t made through an application process, but some specific programs accept applications.
Assets
$2.8B
Grants
1,747
Total Given
$242.7M
The Greater Cincinnati Foundation
Cincinnati, OH
The Greater Cincinnati Foundation funds nonprofits working on education, housing, community and cultural vibrancy, and related regional needs, with responsive grants focused on its eight-county Greater Cincinnati service area. Its 2024 median grant was $20,000, though amounts vary widely; specific opportunities include awards of up to $35,000 for Resilient Communities and up to $450,000 through the Neighborhood Development Fund. It lists RFP and letter-of-intent opportunities but does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.0B
Grants
1,408
Total Given
$184.4M
The Cleveland Foundation
Cleveland, OH
The Cleveland Foundation funds education, human services, neighborhoods and housing, health, arts and culture, the environment, economic development, and other community priorities, primarily through grants to nonprofits in Cuyahoga, Lake and Geauga counties. Its 2024 grants ranged from about $5,000 to $17.5 million, with a median of about $30,700. It accepts applications year-round through its standard grant process, with deadlines determining which cycle an application enters.
Assets
$3.3B
Grants
1,016
Total Given
$184.2M
The Scripps Howard Foundation
Cincinnati, OH
The foundation supports journalism education and related programs that foster informed, engaged communities, including journalism fellowships and environmental and technology-focused journalism initiatives. In 2024, grants ranged from $25 to $675,706, with a median of $1,250; funding was concentrated in Maryland and Washington, D.C., followed by Arizona, Ohio, and Colorado. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$69.4M
Grants
819
Total Given
$7.4M
Nisource Charitable Foundation
Columbus, OH
The NiSource Charitable Foundation supports nonprofits addressing safety, workforce and economic development, environmental stewardship, STEM and energy education, and basic needs in communities across Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Its 2024 grants ranged from $60 to $2.1 million, with a median of $3,000. The filing directs applicants to contact the Foundation for application materials and deadlines; it does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$43.0M
Grants
683
Total Given
$7.5M
Dayton Foundation Depository
Dayton, OH
The Dayton Foundation Depository funds charitable, educational, civic, religious, and community activities, including arts and culture, health, education, and human services, primarily in the Greater Dayton region. Its 2025 itemized grants had a median of $12,000; the Foundation’s discretionary program accepts requests of more than $7,500 and up to $75,000, and Greenlight Grants offer $500 to $7,500.
Assets
$42.3M
Grants
677
Total Given
$22.7M
More similar funders
More Funders in Ohio
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Thomas H & Barbara W Gale Fndtn funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/thomas-h-and-barbara-w-gale-fndtn-morg_5ea977159aa24c97b57dceb5b1619205
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_341813012_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Thomas H \& Barbara W Gale Fndtn funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/thomas-h-and-barbara-w-gale-fndtn-morg_5ea977159aa24c97b57dceb5b1619205},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-05. 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 Thomas H & Barbara W Gale Fndtn'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.
Thomas H & Barbara W Gale Fndtn down — hundreds of funders to go?