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Pamela And Wayne Garrison Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$1.9M

Pamela And Wayne Garrison Family Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $1,860,343 (2024)
  • Total Assets: $44.6 million (2024)
  • Grant Range: Information not publicly disclosed
  • Number of Grants: 10 awards (2024), 8 awards (2023), 8 awards (2022)
  • Geographic Focus: Preselected organizations
  • Application Type: No public application process (invitation only/preselected organizations)

Contact Details

Address: PO Box 744, Big Horn, WY 82833-0744
EIN: 46-5587018
Tax Status: 501(c)(3) private grantmaking foundation (tax-exempt since December 2014)

Note: The foundation does not maintain a public website, email, or phone contact information for grant inquiries.

Overview

The Pamela And Wayne Garrison Family Foundation was established in December 2014 as a private grantmaking foundation based in Big Horn, Wyoming. With total assets of $44.6 million as of 2024, the foundation distributed $2.2 million in charitable grants during that year, representing 87.2% of total expenses. The foundation's assets are primarily managed through investment activities, generating revenue through sales of assets ($4.8 million in 2024), dividends ($1.1 million), and interest income. The foundation operates with a focused approach to grantmaking, making approximately 8-10 grants annually to preselected charitable organizations. Wayne Garrison, the foundation's president, is a former chairman of JB Hunt Transport Services Inc., one of the largest logistics and transportation companies in North America. Known recipients include MD Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas, indicating support for major healthcare institutions.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not maintain formal grant programs with defined application periods or published funding categories. Grants are made at the discretion of the board of directors to preselected organizations.

Grant Activity:

  • 2024: 10 grants totaling $1,860,343
  • 2023: 8 grants
  • 2022: 8 grants

Priority Areas

Based on available information, the foundation has demonstrated support for:

  • Healthcare: MD Anderson Cancer Center (University of Texas)
  • Other charitable purposes: Specific areas not publicly disclosed

The foundation's complete giving priorities are not publicly documented, and their grantmaking patterns suggest support across multiple charitable sectors selected by the founding family.

What They Don't Fund

The foundation explicitly does not accept unsolicited grant requests from organizations not already known to the board.

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by a three-member board of directors consisting entirely of the Garrison family:

Board of Directors:

  • Wayne Garrison - President/Director (unpaid)

    • Former Chairman of JB Hunt Transport Services Inc.
    • Retired from JB Hunt's Board of Directors with honorary Founding Director status

  • Pamela Garrison - Vice President/Director (unpaid)

  • Alexandra Garrison - Secretary/Treasurer/Director

    • Compensated position: $295,008 (2024)
    • Manages day-to-day operations and financial administration

All board members serve without compensation except for the Secretary/Treasurer role, which handles administrative and fiduciary responsibilities for the foundation's $44.6 million in assets.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process.

The Pamela And Wayne Garrison Family Foundation makes contributions exclusively to preselected charitable organizations. According to publicly available tax filings, the foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Grant recipients are identified and selected by the board of directors through their own discretion and relationships.

Organizations seeking funding from this foundation cannot submit applications through any public portal or formal process. Grants are awarded on an invitation-only basis to organizations already known to the founding family and board members.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made at the discretion of the board without formal application cycles or published decision timelines.

Success Rates

Not applicable for unsolicited applications. The foundation consistently makes 8-10 grants annually to preselected organizations.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - there is no public application process.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, there is no formal application process to optimize. Organizations that receive funding from this foundation are preselected by the board based on:

  • Existing relationships with the Garrison family or board members
  • Alignment with personal philanthropic interests of the founders
  • Demonstrated impact in areas of interest to the family (healthcare appears to be one focus area based on support for MD Anderson Cancer Center)

The foundation operates as a private family foundation where grantmaking decisions are made internally without external input or competitive selection processes.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process exists - This foundation is not accessible through traditional grant application methods
  • Invitation-only grantmaking - All grants are made to preselected organizations chosen by the board
  • Small number of annual grants - The foundation makes only 8-10 grants per year, indicating highly selective giving
  • Significant grant capacity - With $44.6 million in assets and $1.8+ million in annual giving, individual grants may be substantial
  • Healthcare focus indicated - Support for MD Anderson Cancer Center suggests interest in major healthcare institutions
  • Family governance - All decision-making authority rests with the three Garrison family board members
  • Not a viable target for most organizations - Unless you have a personal connection to the Garrison family, this foundation should not be included in prospect lists

References

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