The George and Mary Jo Sanders Foundation concentrates its giving on supporting university-based agricultural and educational work in Florida, primarily through repeated grants to the University of Florida's IFAS. Its philanthropy appears targeted and institutionally focused rather than broadly distributed across many nonprofits. The foundation likely prioritizes applied agricultural research, extension, and related educational activities tied to the land‑grant mission.
Highly concentrated: a small number of modest-to-midsize repeat grants directed to a single institutional grantee (University of Florida IFAS), indicating focused, relationship-based support rather than broad grantmaking.
The George and Mary Jo Sanders Foundation Inc gives repeated support to University of Florida Foundation Inc - Ifas, including $30,500 in 2025 and $33,500 in 2024 for charitable activities. That pattern points to a foundation that favors university-based agricultural and educational work rather than a broad mix of one-off grants. In the recent grant list, the University of Florida Foundation Inc - Ifas appears alongside Gator Boosters Inc, showing that the foundation supports Florida institutions connected to higher education as well as applied university programs. Its giving also reaches local service organizations in Fort Myers, where the foundation is represented among grants to Lee Memorial Health Systems Foundation, Community Cooperative Ministries, and Hope Hospice. Those grants suggest a portfolio that combines land-grant university support with community-level charitable funding. Across the recent grants provided, the foundation awarded amounts from $5,000 to $33,500, with many awards clustered at round figures such as $10,000, $15,000, and $20,000. The grant record shows a regional pattern centered on Florida recipients, with some gifts extending to organizations in other states.
A clear part of the foundation’s giving is agricultural research and extension through the University of Florida system. University of Florida Foundation Inc - Ifas received $33,500 in 2024 and $30,500 in 2025 for charitable activities, reinforcing the foundation’s repeated support for university-based applied work. The foundation also funds health and human services in Fort Myers. Lee Memorial Health Systems Foundation received $22,500 in 2023 and $20,000 in both 2024 and 2025, while Community Cooperative Ministries received $15,000 in 2024 and $20,000 in 2025. Education and youth-serving organizations also appear in the record. Fort Myers Christian School received $10,000 in 2023 and $7,500 in 2024, and Southwest Florida Council Boy Scouts received $7,500 in 2023. Outside Florida, the foundation gave $17,500 in 2024 and $15,000 in 2025 to Samaritan's Purse.
Typical awards are modest and concentrated: the grant-size distribution sits at $2,500 at the 25th percentile, $5,000 at the median, and $5,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent grant list shows repeated support to the same organizations across multiple years, including University of Florida Foundation Inc - Ifas, Lee Memorial Health Systems Foundation, Community Cooperative Ministries, Hope Hospice, and Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation. The foundation’s filings indicate it does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. The record also suggests grants are made directly to charitable organizations rather than through an open application process, since no application channel is shown in the provided data.
$248K
$5.6M
$902K
$471K
Most grants fall between $3K and $5K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$5K
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Notable grantees: University of Florida Foundation Inc - IFAS
Florida receives most of the foundation’s grants, accounting for 78% of recipient locations in the data. Recipients are concentrated in Fort Myers and Gainesville, with additional Florida gifts in Immokalee. Outside the state, the recent grants list includes Boone, North Carolina; Worcester, Massachusetts; Atlanta, Georgia; and Staten Island, New York. The grant country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 146 grants in the United States.
The recent grants center on university-based agricultural and educational work, especially through University of Florida Foundation Inc - Ifas. The list also includes health systems, community ministries, schools, scouting, and other charitable organizations, showing a mix of institutional and community support.
The grant-size profile is compact: the 25th percentile is $2,500, the median is $5,000, and the 75th percentile is also $5,000. Many recent awards are made at round figures such as $10,000 and $20,000.
Yes. Florida is the top recipient state, and 78% of grants go to recipients in Florida. Recent Florida cities in the record include Fort Myers, Gainesville, and Immokalee.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including University of Florida Foundation Inc - Ifas in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Lee Memorial Health Systems Foundation in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and Community Cooperative Ministries in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF FL FDN INC - IFAS | GAINESVILLE, FL | $30,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| LEE MEMORIAL HEALTH SYSTEMS FOUNDATION | FORT MYERS, FL | $17,500 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| FORT MYERS COMMUNITY CHURCH INC | FORT MYERS, FL | $16,500 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| SAMARITAN'S PURSE | BOONE, NC | $15,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| HOPE HOSPICE | FORT MYERS, FL | $10,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| COMMUNITY COOPERATIVE MINISTRIES | FORT MYERS, FL | $10,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| STEPHEN SILLER TUNNEL TO TOWERS FOUNDATION | STATEN ISLAND, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| RELIANT | ORLANDO, FL | $8,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| SALVATION ARMY | FORT MYERS, FL | $7,500 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| PROJECT DENTISTS CARE | FORT MYERS, FL | $7,500 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| THE BREEZE CHURCH | N FORT MYERS, FL | $6,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| FORT MYERS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL | FORT MYERS, FL | $5,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| ARTFEST FORT MYERS INC | FORT MYERS, FL | $5,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| CTN10 | PUNTA GORDA, FL | $5,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| ECHO INC | NORTH FORT MYERS, FL | $5,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| DESIRE STREET MINISTRIES | BRANDON, FL | $5,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| TIM TEBOW FOUNDATION | JACKONSVILE, FL | $5,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| THOMAS EDISON & HENRY FORD WINTER ESTATES INC | FORT MYERS, FL | $5,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| SIDNEY & BERNE DAVIS ART CENTER | FORT MYERS, FL | $5,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| THE HEIGHTS FOUNDATION | FORT MYERS, FL | $5,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| VALERIE'S HOUSE | FORT MYERS, FL | $5,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| LARC | FORT MYERS, FL | $5,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| FORT MYERS RESCUE MISSION | FORT MYERS, FL | $3,500 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| GUADALUPE CENTER INC | IMMOKALEE, FL | $3,500 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| LEE COUNTY EMS | FORT MYERS, FL | $3,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| SOUTHWEST FL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY | FORT MYERS, FL | $3,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| LEE COUNTY SHERIFF DEPARTMENT | FORT MYERS, FL | $3,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| PATH2FREEDOM INC | NAPLES, FL | $3,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| FORT MYERS POLICE DEPARTMENT | FORT MYERS, FL | $3,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| HARRY CHAPIN FOOD BANK | FORT MYERS, FL | $3,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| FORT MYERS FIRE DEPARTMENT | FORT MYERS, FL | $3,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| CITY CHURCH TALLHASSEE | TALLAHASSEE, FL | $2,500 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| WAY FM | FORT MYERS, FL | $2,500 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| GIGI'S PLAYHOUSE | FORT MYERS, FL | $2,500 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| RCMA | IMMOKALEE, FL | $2,500 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| K-LOVE | OMAHA, NE | $2,500 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| AROUND THE CORNER MINISTRIES | HENDERSONVILLE, NC | $2,500 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| CROSSPOINT CHURCH | CLEMSON, SC | $2,500 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| LIFESONG OF ORPHANS | GRIDLEY, IL | $2,500 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| LIFELINE FAMILY CENTER INC | CAPE CORAL, FL | $2,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| LIGHT OF THE WORLD MINISTRIES | FORT MYERS, FL | $2,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| THE NEW BEGINNING OF SW FLORIDA | CAPE CORAL, FL | $2,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| BLACKVILLE CEMETERY CO INC | BLACKVILLE, SC | $1,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA FOUNDATION INC - IFAS | GAINESVILLE, FL | $33,500 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES |
| UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA FOUNDATION INC - IFAS | GAINESVILLE, FL | $30,500 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES |
| COMMUNITY COOPERATIVE MINISTRIES | FORT MYERS, FL | $30,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES |
| LEE MEMORIAL HEALTH SYSTEMS FOUNDATION | FORT MYERS, FL | $20,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES |
| LEE MEMORIAL HEALTH SYSTEMS FOUNDATION | FORT MYERS, FL | $20,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES |
| COMMUNITY COOPERATIVE MINISTRIES | FORT MYERS, FL | $20,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES |
| SAMARITAN'S PURSE | BOONE, NC | $17,500 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES |
UNIVERSITY OF FL FDN INC - IFAS
$30,000OPERATIONS
LEE MEMORIAL HEALTH SYSTEMS FOUNDATION
$17,500OPERATIONS
FORT MYERS COMMUNITY CHURCH INC
$16,500OPERATIONS
COMMUNITY COOPERATIVE MINISTRIES
$10,000OPERATIONS
RELIANT
$8,000OPERATIONS
SALVATION ARMY
$7,500OPERATIONS
PROJECT DENTISTS CARE
$7,500OPERATIONS
THE BREEZE CHURCH
$6,000OPERATIONS
FORT MYERS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
$5,000OPERATIONS
ARTFEST FORT MYERS INC
$5,000OPERATIONS
CTN10
$5,000OPERATIONS
DESIRE STREET MINISTRIES
$5,000OPERATIONS
THOMAS EDISON & HENRY FORD WINTER ESTATES INC
$5,000OPERATIONS
SIDNEY & BERNE DAVIS ART CENTER
$5,000OPERATIONS
THE HEIGHTS FOUNDATION
$5,000OPERATIONS
FORT MYERS RESCUE MISSION
$3,500OPERATIONS
LEE COUNTY EMS
$3,000OPERATIONS
SOUTHWEST FL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
$3,000OPERATIONS
LEE COUNTY SHERIFF DEPARTMENT
$3,000OPERATIONS
FORT MYERS POLICE DEPARTMENT
$3,000OPERATIONS
FORT MYERS FIRE DEPARTMENT
$3,000OPERATIONS
CITY CHURCH TALLHASSEE
$2,500OPERATIONS
WAY FM
$2,500OPERATIONS
GIGI'S PLAYHOUSE
$2,500OPERATIONS
RCMA
$2,500OPERATIONS
K-LOVE
$2,500OPERATIONS
AROUND THE CORNER MINISTRIES
$2,500OPERATIONS
CROSSPOINT CHURCH
$2,500OPERATIONS
LIFELINE FAMILY CENTER INC
$2,000OPERATIONS
LIGHT OF THE WORLD MINISTRIES
$2,000OPERATIONS
THE NEW BEGINNING OF SW FLORIDA
$2,000OPERATIONS
BLACKVILLE CEMETERY CO INC
$1,000OPERATIONS
SUPPORT FOR CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
SUPPORT FOR CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
LEE MEMORIAL HEALTH SYSTEMS FOUNDATION
$20,000SUPPORT FOR CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
LEE MEMORIAL HEALTH SYSTEMS FOUNDATION
$20,000SUPPORT FOR CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES