Grant Guidelines & Application

Grant Request Guidelines

The Foundation gives the highest priority to eligible organizations and projects that best align with our mission and areas of concentration, located in the communities in which the Trustees live. Organizations that fall outside this geographic scope are considered only under special circumstances. The Foundation considers proposals for grant amounts of $5,000 and higher. Multi-year funding requests may be considered.

Organizations requesting funds must be tax-exempt under the Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3).

We concentrate our resources in the following areas:

  • Enhancing education and health care

  • Supporting faith-based organizations

  • Fostering pro-life

  • Providing opportunities for the poor and under-served

  • Developing the arts

  • Promoting environmental responsibility

The Foundation will not consider funding requests for the following:

  • Mass funding appeals
  • Sponsorships, except for special circumstances
  • Tickets or advertising for fundraising events
  • Grants or loans to individuals
  • Political campaigns or activities
  • Any organization supporting or affiliated with abortion

If your organization has been denied during any grant cycle, you are not eligible to reapply for another grant award for at least one full year from the original grant application date during the grant submission cycle.

Application

The James J. and Joan A. Gardner Family Foundation is no longer accepting grant applications for 2025. The next grant cycle will open in January 2026.

register and apply

Click “Create New Account” and follow the instructions. You will be able to preview the application, as well as the ability to save a draft until you are ready to submit a final application. If you need further instructions, please see this video tutorial: GLM Applicant Tutorial – Foundant Technologies