The James & Zita Gavin Foundation makes large, unrestricted gifts to Catholic institutions, splitting its recent giving between a Dominican religious congregation and a Catholic media network. Their support appears faith-driven rather than program-specific, favoring flexible operating funds that the recipient organizations can deploy as needed.
Highly concentrated and substantial grants to very few recipients (two equal-sized unrestricted gifts). Funding appears episodic but sizable, focused on faith-based beneficiaries rather than many small grants or diverse issue areas.
The James & Zita Gavin Foundation’s recent giving is marked by large unrestricted gifts to Catholic institutions, especially religious congregations, Catholic media, and parish-level organizations. In 2025, it awarded $151,824 each to Relevant Radio in Lincolnshire, Illinois, and to St Cecelia Dominican Congregation in Nashville, Tennessee, signaling a pattern of flexible support rather than narrow project funding. The foundation also extended sizable unrestricted gifts to EWTN in Irondale, Alabama; Mary’s Meals USA in Bloomfield, New Jersey; and Word on Fire Catholic Ministries in Washington, DC. These awards sit alongside grants to schools, diocesan entities, and Catholic charities, which suggests a broad institutional approach within a faith-based frame. Recipients include both national Catholic media platforms and local church bodies, as well as religious orders such as the Dominican Friars Foundation and Little Sisters of the Poor. The recurring “unrestricted charitable gift” language across the grant list points to support that recipient organizations can direct toward operating needs, institutional stability, or mission delivery as they see fit.
A clear thread in the foundation’s grantmaking is support for Catholic media and communications. It gave $151,824 to Relevant Radio in Lincolnshire, Illinois, and $101,449 to EWTN in Irondale, Alabama, both as unrestricted charitable gifts. It also supported Word on Fire Catholic Ministries with a $76,262 grant in 2025. Religious life and formation are another major area: St Cecelia Dominican Congregation in Nashville received $151,824, and the Dominican Friars Foundation in New York received $101,367. The foundation also funded Catholic educational and parish institutions, including Lumen Christi Institute in Chicago and St John Henry Newman Parish in Evanston. Catholic social service work appears as well through grants to Mary’s Meals USA and Catholic Charities-Archdioces Chicago.
The reported grant size profile is tight at the low end and broader at the upper end: p25 is $25,096, median is $25,610, and p75 is $66,312. That said, the recent grant list shows repeated awards well above the median, including multiple six-figure unrestricted gifts. The same recipients appear across multiple years, which indicates recurring relationships rather than one-off checks: Relevant Radio, Lumen Christi, Mary’s Meals, Vox Populi Mariae Meditrici, and the Archbishop of Los Angeles-related church grants all reappear. The foundation operates as a private foundation with no indication of individual giving or program-related investments in the provided data, and the recent grants are described as unrestricted charitable gifts.
$3.3M
$32.4M
$1.8M
$3.4M
Most grants fall between $25K and $66K, with a median of $26K.
25th Percentile
$25K
Median
$26K
75th Percentile
$66K
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Notable grantees: ST CECELIA DOMINICAN CONGREGATION - NASHVILLE, RELEVANT RADIO
Grant recipients are all in the United States, with Illinois the foundation’s most frequent recipient state at 33% of grants. Chicago, Lincolnshire, and Evanston appear repeatedly among recipient cities, along with Los Angeles, New Orleans, and Naples. Outside Illinois, Louisiana shows up through New Orleans and Baton Rouge, while California appears through Los Angeles. The pattern is national in scope, but concentrated in a handful of Catholic hubs and institutions.
Its recent grants go to Catholic institutions, especially religious congregations, Catholic media organizations, parishes, schools, and Catholic charities. Examples in the grant list include diocesan entities, the Dominican Friars Foundation, and Catholic media groups, all funded as unrestricted charitable gifts.
The recent grants are described as unrestricted charitable gifts. That pattern appears repeatedly in the grant list, including gifts to Catholic media, religious orders, and parish or diocesan organizations, suggesting flexible support for operating or general institutional needs.
Yes. Several recipients appear more than once across the recent grants, including Relevant Radio, Mary’s Meals, Vox Populi Mariae Meditrici, and the Archbishop of Los Angeles-related Sts. Peter & Paul Church grants. That points to recurring relationships rather than single-time support.
The distribution centers around mid-five-figure awards: p25 is $25,096, median is $25,610, and p75 is $66,312. The recent list also includes larger gifts above $100,000, especially for Catholic media and religious institutions.
The recipients are entirely U.S.-based, and Illinois receives 33% of grants. Other repeated recipient locations include Lincolnshire, Chicago, Evanston, New Orleans, Los Angeles, and Naples, showing a national pattern with concentration in a few Catholic institutions and cities.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SISTER OF HOLY FAMILY - NEW ORLEANS | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $405,955 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| ST CECELIA DOMINICAN CONGREGATION -NASHVILLE | NASHVILLE, TN | $253,492 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| TURNING POINT USA | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $250,621 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| RELEVANT RADIO | LINCOLNSHIRE, IL | $247,938 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| ST JOHN HENRY NEUMAN | EVANSTON, IL | $198,912 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| EWTN | IRONDALE, AL | $197,808 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| WORD ON FIRE CATHOLIC MINISTRIES | WASHINGTON, DC | $152,463 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| DIOCESE OF JOLIET FOR ST ISAAC JOGUES PARISH | CREST HILL, IL | $151,852 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| FOCUS CATHOLIC | GENESSEE, CO | $150,995 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| MARY'S MEALS USA | BLOOMFIELD, NJ | $124,646 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| LUMEN CHRISTIE INSTITUTE | CHICAGO, IL | $101,651 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| DOMINICAN FRIARS FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $100,050 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR | PALATINE, IL | $100,050 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| MARIA JOSEPH MANOR | DANVILLE, PA | $100,050 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| BECKET FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,050 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| ST BERNARD CATHOLIC CHURCH | HOLMES BEACH, FL | $100,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| VOX POPULI MARIAE MEDITRICI | HOPEDALE, OH | $72,840 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| ST NORBERT ABBEY | DEPERE, WI | $61,209 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| DIOCESE OF JOLIET FOR BE FORMED | CREST HILL, IL | $51,694 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| COMMUNITY PREGNANCY CLINIC | NAPLES, FL | $51,650 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| UNIVERSITY OF ST MARY OF THE LAKE SEMINARY | MUNDELEIN, IL | $51,650 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| STJOHN & PAUL PARISH | ALTOONA, IA | $51,014 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| DIOCESE OF BATON ROUGE FOR SACRED HEART SCHOOL ( BATON ROUGE) | BATON ROUGE, LA | $50,825 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| ST GABRIEL COMMUNICATIONS LLC (IOWA CATHOLIC RADIO) | WEST DES MOINES, IA | $50,398 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| THE COALITION OF FAMILY FLOURISHING (MY FORGE) | WEST DES MOINES, IA | $50,398 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| CATHOLIC FOUNDATION MICHIGAN FOR ACTS XXIV | BLOOMFIELD TWP, MI | $50,025 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| THE VEIL REMOVED | CLIVE, IA | $25,518 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| SCHOOL OF MARY-MONTESSORI | DES MOINES, IA | $25,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| ST MICHAEL'S CATHOLIC SCHOOL OLYMPIA WA | OLYMPIA, WA | $10,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| LINK UNLIMITED | CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| ST CECELIA DOMINICAN CONGREGATION -NASHVILLE | NASHVILLE, TN | $151,824 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| RELEVANT RADIO | LINCOLNSHIRE, IL | $151,824 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| EWTN | IRONDALE, AL | $101,449 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| MARY'S MEALS USA | BLOOMFIELD, NJ | $101,449 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| LUMEN CHRISTIE INSTITUTE | CHICAGO, IL | $101,449 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| ST JOHN HENRY NEWMAN PARISH | EVANSTON, IL | $101,449 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| SISTER OF HOLY FAMILY - NEW ORLEANS | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $76,262 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| WORD ON FIRE CATHOLIC MINISTRIES | WASHINGTON, DC | $76,262 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| SISTER OF HOLY FAMILY - NEW ORLEANS | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $75,758 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| DIOCESE OF JOLIET FOR ST ISAAC JOGUES SCHOOL (HINSDALE) | CREST HILL, IL | $75,356 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| VOX POPULI MARIAE MEDITRICI | HOPEDALE, OH | $71,084 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| DIOCESE OF LOS ANGELES FOR STS PETER & PAUL CHURCH (WILMINGTON) | LOS ANGELES, CA | $60,870 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| CHESTERTON ACADEMY OF ST PADRE PIO | SARASOTA, FL | $51,400 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| ST GABRIEL COMMUNICATIONS LLC (IOWA CATHOLIC RADIO) | WEST DES MOINES, IA | $51,075 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| COMMUNITY PREGNANCY CLINIC | NAPLES, FL | $51,074 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| DIOCESE OF BATON ROUGE FOR SACRED HEART SCHOOL ( BATON ROUGE) | BATONROUGE, LA | $51,074 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| ST BERNARD CATHOLIC CHURCH | HOLMES BEACH, FL | $50,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| BECKET FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,156 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| MARIA JOSEPH MANOR | DANVILLE, PA | $25,155 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
| THOMAS MOORE LAW CENTER | ANN ARBOR, MI | $25,155 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT |
SISTER OF HOLY FAMILY - NEW ORLEANS
$405,955UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
ST CECELIA DOMINICAN CONGREGATION -NASHVILLE
$253,492UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
RELEVANT RADIO
$247,938UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
ST JOHN HENRY NEUMAN
$198,912UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
WORD ON FIRE CATHOLIC MINISTRIES
$152,463UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
DIOCESE OF JOLIET FOR ST ISAAC JOGUES PARISH
$151,852UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
FOCUS CATHOLIC
$150,995UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
DOMINICAN FRIARS FOUNDATION
$100,050UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR
$100,050UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
MARIA JOSEPH MANOR
$100,050UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
ST BERNARD CATHOLIC CHURCH
$100,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
VOX POPULI MARIAE MEDITRICI
$72,840UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
ST NORBERT ABBEY
$61,209UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
DIOCESE OF JOLIET FOR BE FORMED
$51,694UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
COMMUNITY PREGNANCY CLINIC
$51,650UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
UNIVERSITY OF ST MARY OF THE LAKE SEMINARY
$51,650UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
STJOHN & PAUL PARISH
$51,014UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
DIOCESE OF BATON ROUGE FOR SACRED HEART SCHOOL ( BATON ROUGE)
$50,825UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
ST GABRIEL COMMUNICATIONS LLC (IOWA CATHOLIC RADIO)
$50,398UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
THE COALITION OF FAMILY FLOURISHING (MY FORGE)
$50,398UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
THE VEIL REMOVED
$25,518UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
SCHOOL OF MARY-MONTESSORI
$25,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
ST MICHAEL'S CATHOLIC SCHOOL OLYMPIA WA
$10,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
ST CECELIA DOMINICAN CONGREGATION -NASHVILLE
$151,824UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
RELEVANT RADIO
$151,824UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
ST JOHN HENRY NEWMAN PARISH
$101,449UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
SISTER OF HOLY FAMILY - NEW ORLEANS
$76,262UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
SISTER OF HOLY FAMILY - NEW ORLEANS
$75,758UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
DIOCESE OF JOLIET FOR ST ISAAC JOGUES SCHOOL (HINSDALE)
$75,356UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
VOX POPULI MARIAE MEDITRICI
$71,084UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
DIOCESE OF LOS ANGELES FOR STS PETER & PAUL CHURCH (WILMINGTON)
$60,870UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
CHESTERTON ACADEMY OF ST PADRE PIO
$51,400UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
ST GABRIEL COMMUNICATIONS LLC (IOWA CATHOLIC RADIO)
$51,075UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
DIOCESE OF BATON ROUGE FOR SACRED HEART SCHOOL ( BATON ROUGE)
$51,074UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
ST BERNARD CATHOLIC CHURCH
$50,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT
MARIA JOSEPH MANOR
$25,155UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT