Vernon G & Sandra JC Buchanan
Vernon G & Sandra JC Buchanan is a private foundation based in Sarasota, Florida. It reported 16 grants totaling $304,433 in 2025, all to recipients in Florida, including support for a library, botanical gardens, youth services, meal services, and other organizations.
Vernon G & Sandra JC Buchanan at a glance
In short: Vernon G & Sandra JC Buchanan gave $304K across 16 grants in 2025 (avg $19K), mostly in Florida. 56% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $304,433
- +169.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 16
- -5.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $19,027
- +186.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $1,694,407
- -9.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 56% first-time grantees (9 of 16, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Florida (100% 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 Vernon G & Sandra JC Buchanan
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests; it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 2635 Fruitville Road, Sarasota, FL 34237
Phone: (941) 955-3000
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Vernon G & Sandra JC Buchanan funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Sarasota County Board of County Commissioners - Longboat Key Library Fund ($200K). Together the top 10 received $293K.
Grant Size Distribution
70 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 68 grants of 70 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All reported 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Florida.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Vernon G & Sandra JC Buchanan open to new grantees?
56%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 9 of 16 grantees (56%) were first-time recipients. With only 16 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $26K; repeat grants $10K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 31% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 92% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 337% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $34K (2021) to $304K (2025). In 2025 it made 16 grants totaling $304K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Sarasota County Board of County Commissioners - Longboat Key Library Fund Sarasota, FL | Longboat Key Library | $200,000 |
| Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Inc Sarasota, FL | General Support | $33,333 |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County Inc Bradenton, FL | General Support | $10,000 |
| Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee Inc Bradenton, FL | General Support | $10,000 |
| Midnight Pass Society II Inc Sarasota, FL | General Support | $10,000 |
| Sarasota Medical Pregnancy Center Sarasota, FL | General Support | $10,000 |
| Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium Sarasota, FL | General Support | $5,000 |
| Samaritan Counseling Services of the Gulf Coast Sarasota, FL | General Support | $5,000 |
| Tidewell Foundation Inc Sarasota, FL | General Support | $5,000 |
| Valdez Veterans Alliance Services Inc Bradenton, FL | General Support | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Vernon G & Sandra JC Buchanan?
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 | $1,694,407 | $90,321 | $341,609 | $304,433 | 16 | $308,090 | $57,979 | $91,480 |
| 2024 | $1,867,806 | $552,334 | $140,634 | $112,833 | 17 | $115,433 | $40,735 | $69,048 |
| 2023 | $1,396,689 | $533,109 | $110,484 | $87,500 | 15 | $89,830 | $14,610 | $45,601 |
| 2022 | $926,442 | $508,730 | $171,326 | $158,200 | 13 | $160,395 | — | $24,498 |
| 2021 | $666,058 | $515,250 | $38,865 | $34,000 | 9 | $36,106 | $12,491 | $9,388 |
| 2020 | $182,812 | $4,711 | $58,282 | $53,000 | 10 | — | $1,319 | $9,520 |
| 2019 | $221,264 | $13,495 | $52,552 | $47,250 | 14 | — | $9,993 | $10,676 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Vernon G & Sandra JC Buchanan reported a distributable amount of $91K 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 mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for the Longboat Key Library, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, and organizations providing youth, nutrition, and other services.
Among its grantees, Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County says its mission is to help young people reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee says it assists individuals to live independently by providing nutrition and caring supportive services. Easter Seals Southwest Florida describes its mission as supporting and advancing its programs and activities. Tidewell Foundation says it exists to provide perpetual support for its affiliate organizations.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation gave 16 grants totaling $304,433. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $200,000, with a median grant of $5,000. The largest award was $200,000 to the Sarasota County Board of County Commissioners for the Longboat Key Library. Other notable awards included $33,333 to Marie Selby Botanical Gardens for general support; $10,000 each to Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County, Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee, Midnight Pass Society II, and Sarasota Medical Pregnancy Center; and $5,000 each to Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, Samaritan Counseling Services of the Gulf Coast, Tidewell Foundation, and Valdez Veterans Alliance Services.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Vernon G Buchanan as president, Sandra J C Buchanan as CEO, James V Buchanan as treasurer, and Matthew D Buchanan as secretary.
Vernon G & Sandra JC Buchanan is led by Sandra J. C. Buchanan, CEO on every filing since 2019; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Sandra J. C. Buchanan
CEO
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Vernon G. Buchanan
President
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James V. Buchanan
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matthew D. Buchanan
Secretary
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Vernon G & Sandra JC Buchanan
How much does Vernon G & Sandra JC Buchanan give each year?
Vernon G & Sandra JC Buchanan gave $304K across 16 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $113K across 17 grants.
What is Vernon G & Sandra JC Buchanan's typical grant size?
Vernon G & Sandra JC Buchanan's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $19,027, across 16 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Vernon G & Sandra JC Buchanan that year got $26K on average.
Where does Vernon G & Sandra JC Buchanan give grants?
Vernon G & Sandra JC Buchanan gives mostly in Florida: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Sarasota, FL (11 grants) and Bradenton, FL (4 grants).
Does Vernon G & Sandra JC Buchanan give general operating support?
Yes: 75% of Vernon G & Sandra JC Buchanan's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (12 of 16) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Vernon G & Sandra JC Buchanan's largest grantees?
Vernon G & Sandra JC Buchanan's largest 2025 grantees include Sarasota County Board of County Commissioners - Longboat Key Library Fund ($200,000), Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Inc ($33,333) and Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County Inc ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 80% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Vernon G & Sandra JC Buchanan?
Vernon G & Sandra JC Buchanan reported $1.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $308K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $91K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Vernon G & Sandra JC Buchanan fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for the Longboat Key Library, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, and organizations providing youth, nutrition, and other services. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Vernon G & Sandra JC Buchanan?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests; it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Vernon G & Sandra JC Buchanan's EIN?
Vernon G & Sandra JC Buchanan's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-3963153. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Vernon G & Sandra JC Buchanan 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 12, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 28, 2026)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 26, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 27, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 30, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 26, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 2, 2024)
Live grants for the work Vernon G & Sandra JC Buchanan funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Vernon G & Sandra JC Buchanan's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Manatee Community Foundation Inc
Bradenton, FL
The foundation funds nonprofits and community projects in areas including animal welfare, health and human services, education, and arts and culture for youth, with broader support also reported for civic, environmental, and other community needs. Its 2025 grants had a median of $15,000, though awards ranged widely; competitive grants begin with an LOI through its Grants Portal, while full applications are by invitation. The profile does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted outside these processes.
Assets
$69.1M
Grants
131
Total Given
$4.5M
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
The Tillie Jennie & Harold Schwartz
Sarasota, FL
The Sarasota-based foundation supports a varied mix of organizations, including education, healthcare, arts, conservation, and disability services, with most 2024 grant dollars going to Florida and others to organizations in several states. Its 2024 grants ranged from $250 to $20,000, with a median of $5,000. The filing says giving is not restricted to preselected organizations and specifies no application form or required materials; it does not explicitly state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$2.2M
Grants
20
Total Given
$122K
The Community Foundation of Sarasota CO Inc
Sarasota, FL
The Community Foundation of Sarasota County funds nonprofit programs in areas including education, health care, basic needs, animal welfare, arts, and community capacity building. Its programmatic grants average $10,000–$25,000 and support organizations serving Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, and DeSoto counties; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$518.5M
Grants
540
Total Given
$41.2M
James M Doss Charitable Foundation Trust
Sarasota, FL
The foundation funds Catholic organizations, college athletics, and children’s health and human services, prioritizing projects with clear outcomes. Recent grants ranged from $1,920 to $50,000, with a median of $25,000; its application page limits applicants to Sarasota and Manatee Counties, while its stated geographic scope also includes Florida’s west coast and western North Carolina for some grants. It does not accept unsolicited funding requests.
Assets
$7.9M
Grants
21
Total Given
$469K
MSC Foundation Inc
Sarasota, FL
MSC Foundation Inc. funds charitable organizations, including groups addressing food assistance, children and families, domestic violence, housing, homelessness, and older adults, primarily in Florida. Its 2025 grants were typically $1,000, ranging from $1,000 to $2,000; it does not accept unsolicited requests and gives only to preselected organizations.
Assets
$71K
Grants
38
Total Given
$52K
More similar funders
More Funders in Florida
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Vernon G & Sandra JC Buchanan funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/vernon-g-and-sandra-jc-buchanan-morg_1dfab7544b094c0c9609ab19b0785411
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_203963153_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Vernon G \& Sandra JC Buchanan funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/vernon-g-and-sandra-jc-buchanan-morg_1dfab7544b094c0c9609ab19b0785411},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. 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 Vernon G & Sandra JC Buchanan'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.
Vernon G & Sandra JC Buchanan down — hundreds of funders to go?