The Gootter-Jensen Foundation is dedicated to saving lives by defeating sudden cardiac death (SCD) through increased awareness, education, scientific research, and the distribution of AEDs.
The Gootter-jensen Foundation centers its giving on defeating sudden cardiac death through research funding, AED access, and CPR education. Its recent pattern shows large institutional support for cardiovascular science alongside smaller equipment grants for schools and public safety agencies. The largest recent award went to Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, which received $275,000 in 2024 for research on the prevention of sudden cardiac death; the same institution received another $150,000 in 2023 and $125,000 in 2025 for the same purpose. That repeated support points to a funder with a sustained research agenda rather than one-time project backing. Beyond laboratory and clinical research, the foundation also directs practical prevention resources into communities. Recent grants supplied AEDs to Tucson Unified School District and Amphi School District, and another grant supported AED placement for Marana Police Department. Those awards align with the foundation’s stated emphasis on awareness, education, scientific research, and distribution of AEDs. The result is a funder that combines institutional research partnerships with direct, life-saving equipment support in schools and emergency-response settings.
In research funding, the foundation backed Stanford Cardiovascular Institute with $275,000 in 2024, $150,000 in 2023, and $125,000 in 2025, all for support of research on the prevention of sudden cardiac death. The repeated support suggests a continuing commitment to cardiovascular science rather than isolated project grants. Its direct-service work is equally clear. Tucson Unified School District received $21,425 in 2025 to provide 14 AEDs to the district, while Amphi School District received $7,479 in 2025 to provide 5 AEDs. A separate 2025 grant of $5,198 went to Marana Police Department to provide 5 AEDs to the department. These awards show a focus on emergency preparedness in schools and first-responder settings. The foundation also operates an AED Donation Program that places AEDs with nonprofits and tennis facilities in Southern Arizona and has been doing so since 2009.
Typical grant size is substantial: the p25 is $181,250, the median is $212,500, and the p75 is $243,750. That distribution reflects a mix of major research grants and smaller equipment awards. The recent record also shows recurrence: Stanford Cardiovascular Institute appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025 with funding for the same research purpose. The foundation is a regional private foundation, not an individual-giving vehicle, and it does not make program-related investments. Some giving is unsolicited through the AED Donation Program, while research awards are made through partnerships rather than open solicitation.
$159K
$473K
$440K
$245K
Most grants fall between $181K and $244K, with a median of $213K.
25th Percentile
$181K
Median
$213K
75th Percentile
$244K
CLAUDINE MESSING
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Giving is concentrated in the United States, with 100% of the listed recent grants going to U.S. recipients. California is the top state by grant count, driven by Stanford in Stanford, CA. Arizona recipients also appear, including Tucson Unified School District, Amphi School District, and Marana Police Department. The foundation’s HQ is in Tucson, AZ, but the listed recent grants do not go to recipients in the HQ state as a whole; instead, they cluster around California research institutions and southern Arizona schools and public agencies.
The foundation supports sudden cardiac death prevention through research, AED distribution and access, CPR education, and public health awareness. Its active programs include AED placement for nonprofits and tennis facilities in Southern Arizona and research partnerships with the University of Arizona Sarver Heart Center and Stanford Cardiovascular Institute.
Typical awards are relatively large: the p25 is $181,250, the median is $212,500, and the p75 is $243,750. Recent grants include both major research support and smaller AED-related awards.
Yes. Stanford Cardiovascular Institute appears in the recent grants list in 2023, 2024, and 2025, with awards of $150,000, $275,000, and $125,000 for research on the prevention of sudden cardiac death.
Yes. The AED Donation Program accepts applications for AED placement and has been distributing AEDs since 2009. It provides AEDs to nonprofits and tennis facilities in Southern Arizona.
Recent recipients include a university cardiovascular institute, school districts, and a police department. That mix shows support for both research institutions and community emergency-response settings.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| STANFORD CARDIOVASCULAR INSTITUTE | STANFORD, CA | $125,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT RESEARCH FOR PREVENTION OF SUDDEN CARDIAC DEATH |
| TUCSON UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT | TUCSON, AZ | $21,425 | 2025 | PROVIDE 14 AEDS TO SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| AMPHI SCHOOL DISTRICT | TUCSON, AZ | $7,479 | 2025 | PROVIDE 5 AEDS TO SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| MARANA POLICE DEPARTMENT | MARANA, AZ | $5,198 | 2025 | PROVIDE 5 AEDS TO POLICE DEPARTMENT |
| STANFORD CARDIOVASCULAR INSTITUTE | STANFORD, CA | $275,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT RESEARCH FOR PREVENTION OF SUDDEN CARDIAC DEATH. |
| STANFORD CARDIOVASCULAR INSTITUTE | STANFORD, CA | $150,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT RESEARCH FOR PREVENTION OF SUDDEN CARDIAC DEATH. |
SUPPORT RESEARCH FOR PREVENTION OF SUDDEN CARDIAC DEATH
TUCSON UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
$21,425PROVIDE 14 AEDS TO SCHOOL DISTRICT
AMPHI SCHOOL DISTRICT
$7,479PROVIDE 5 AEDS TO SCHOOL DISTRICT
MARANA POLICE DEPARTMENT
$5,198PROVIDE 5 AEDS TO POLICE DEPARTMENT
SUPPORT RESEARCH FOR PREVENTION OF SUDDEN CARDIAC DEATH.
SUPPORT RESEARCH FOR PREVENTION OF SUDDEN CARDIAC DEATH.
Current and upcoming funding from Gootter-Jensen Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Open to nonprofits and tennis facilities seeking AEDs; the foundation states it has provided AEDs throughout Southern Arizona since 2009.
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