GAR Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 34-6577710 · since 1967garfoundation.org·Akron·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$7.5M

Annual giving, 2024 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

Open to applications

Fixed application deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

GAR Foundation directs its funding to Akron, Ohio, so it best suits nonprofits working in that area.
Its priorities are education, economic, workforce and community development, arts and culture, and basic needs, with a stated emphasis on high-functioning organisations, so applicants should be confident their work and track record match these themes.
It explicitly does not fund special events, nonprofit organisation anniversaries, individuals, national organisations, religious organisations, or medical research, so organisations or requests falling into these categories should not apply.
As no grant range is stated, it is hard to judge a typical request size beyond knowing total annual giving came to $7,544,893 paid.
The process starts with a Letter of Inquiry so staff can assess fit before a full application is prepared, applications are due by fixed deadlines ahead of corresponding meetings, and staff may follow up with a site visit, suggesting an engaged, relationship-oriented process rather than a purely form-filling one.

Overview

GAR Foundation is a US private foundation administered by its trustee, PNC Bank N A, in Pittsburgh, PA.

What they fund

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

GAR Foundation focuses its grantmaking on high-functioning organisations whose work matches its priorities: education, economic, workforce and community development, arts and culture, and basic needs. Its education support spans early childhood through higher education, including programmes for kindergarten readiness and high-quality, engaged learning for Akron Public Schools students. It supports inclusive economic development, workforce programmes leading to family-sustaining jobs, and neighbourhood-level community development. In arts and culture, it backs anchor arts institutions as well as emerging and innovative arts. Its basic-needs funding supports high-functioning organisations providing basic human needs to Akron residents in crisis. It emphasises connected community solutions, with people and organisations collaborating across sectors, and uses grantmaking alongside convening, listening, research, advocacy and information-sharing to connect Akron.

Themes

Education
Economic development
Workforce development
Community development
Arts & Culture
Basic Needs

Geographic Focus

Akron, Ohio.

What They Don't Fund

Special events
Nonprofit organization anniversaries
Individuals
National organizations
Religious organizations
Medical research

How to apply

First-time and non-recent applicants begin with a Letter of Inquiry outlining their organisation and project, allowing staff to assess whether it fits the priorities; staff review the inquiry and respond with a decision before the applicant proceeds to a full application.

Deadlines: Applications are due by 5 p.m. on the applicable deadline for review at the corresponding meeting.

Application success factors

What the foundation says:

The foundation focuses on high-functioning organisations whose work matches its priorities.
A Letter of Inquiry helps staff assess whether a project fits the priorities before an applicant invests time in a full application.
Staff review applications and may arrange a site visit to discuss them in more detail.

Officers and directors

Laura Culp — Co-Trustee

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2022 tax year	$11,170,373	$7,367,501	$176,593,045	Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year	$11,141,975	$7,223,231	$178,448,590	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$11,294,226	$7,544,893	$187,738,597	Filing for 2024 tax year

Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.