Joanne W. Guantt Charitable Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $3,445,249 (2024)
• Total Assets: $64.7 million (2024)
• Decision Time: Not applicable - invitation only
• Grant Range: Varies widely, from smaller local grants to $750,000
• Median Grant: $70,000
• Geographic Focus: Primarily Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, Minnesota, and North Carolina
• Number of Grants: 17 grants awarded in 2024

Contact Details

Mailing Address:
PO Box 803878
Chicago, IL 60680-3878

Trustee: Northern Trust Company
Charitable Manager: Michael Weintraub

Note: This foundation does not accept unsolicited funding requests.

Overview

The Joanne W. Guantt Charitable Foundation was established in 1999 by Joanne Gauntt as an expression of her love for horses, dogs, and all companion animals. After her death in 2017, her brother Michael Weintraub took over managing the foundation. The foundation has grown significantly from approximately $3.4 million in assets in 2011 to over $64 million in 2024. With annual charitable disbursements exceeding $3.4 million, the foundation focuses exclusively on animal welfare, supporting veterinary colleges, animal rescue organizations, and equine sanctuaries. The foundation primarily operates through trustee discretion, making contributions to preselected organizations aligned with Joanne's passion for providing care for companion animals "in many different ways."

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not have formal grant programs or public application processes. All grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees to preselected charitable organizations.

Priority Areas

Veterinary Education and Medical Care:

• University veterinary foundations and colleges
• Advanced cancer treatment equipment for companion animals
• Veterinary medical research and education

Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation:

• Animal rescue organizations
• Equine sanctuaries and rehabilitation facilities
• Organizations focused on companion animal welfare

Pet Retention Services:

• Programs that help families keep their pets
• Low-cost veterinary services for underserved communities

Geographic Preferences: The foundation shows particular interest in organizations in Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, Minnesota, and North Carolina, though they are based in Chicago, Illinois.

What They Don't Fund

• Organizations outside animal welfare
• General operating support to organizations not preselected by trustees
• Projects unrelated to companion animals (horses, dogs, cats, and other pets)

Governance and Leadership

Trustee: Northern Trust Company (compensation: $278,662)
Charitable Manager: Michael Weintraub (compensation: $94,987)

Michael Weintraub is Joanne Gauntt's brother and took over management of the foundation after her death in 2017. He continues her legacy of supporting animal welfare causes.

About the Founder:
Joanne Gauntt grew up in Miami and later moved to Lexington, Kentucky, to pursue her passion for breeding and training American Saddlebred horses. She established a national reputation for both her riding ability and her ability to identify and develop outstanding show horses. Her horse, Glory Kalarama, was Reserve World Grand Champion in 1968. The foundation reflects her lifelong dedication to the welfare of companion animals.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees, managed through Northern Trust Company and charitable manager Michael Weintraub. Organizations are selected based on alignment with the foundation's mission to provide care for companion animals.

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation has demonstrated a pattern of supporting:

Specific types of organizations they have funded:

• Major university veterinary colleges and foundations (University of Florida, University of Minnesota, North Carolina State University)
• Established animal rescue organizations with strong reputations (Kentucky Humane Society)
• Equine-focused sanctuaries and rehabilitation centers (Horse Haven of Tennessee)

Geographic connections: Organizations in states with personal connections to Joanne Gauntt's life story have received support, particularly:

• Kentucky (where she lived and bred American Saddlebred horses in Lexington)
• Florida (where she grew up in Miami)
• Tennessee, Minnesota, and North Carolina (expanded geographic reach)

Relationship building approach: Given the foundation's closed application process, potential grantees would need to:

• Establish themselves as leaders in animal welfare in the foundation's geographic areas of interest
• Build recognition through excellence in companion animal care, veterinary medicine, or equine welfare
• Consider that the foundation has shown willingness to make transformational gifts to capital campaigns for organizations doing exceptional work

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made on a rolling basis at trustee discretion.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept applications, the following factors appear to influence their grantmaking decisions based on observed patterns:

Mission Alignment:

• Exclusive focus on companion animals (horses, dogs, cats)
• Programs that provide direct animal care, medical treatment, or rescue/rehabilitation services
• Organizations honoring Joanne Gauntt's specific passions: horses (especially American Saddlebreds), dogs, and all companion animals

Types of Support Provided: Recent grants show the foundation provides:

• Large capital gifts for equipment and facilities ($750,000 to University of Minnesota, $700,000 to North Carolina Veterinary Medical Foundation, $500,000 to University of Florida Foundation)
• Multi-year support for established organizations
• "General support" grants to a mix of large institutions and smaller rescue organizations

Geographic Considerations: The foundation shows clear preference for organizations in states connected to Joanne's life and interests:

• Kentucky (her adopted home where she bred Saddlebreds)
• Florida (her childhood home)
• Tennessee, Minnesota, and North Carolina (states where they've established relationships)

Organizational Characteristics: Funded organizations range from:

• Major university veterinary foundations with national reputations
• Established regional animal welfare organizations
• Specialized equine sanctuaries

Notable Example: The foundation made a $3 million gift to the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine to purchase a linear accelerator for radiation oncology treatment of small animal cancer patients. This demonstrates the foundation's willingness to make transformational gifts for advanced veterinary care.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Public Application Process: This foundation cannot be approached through traditional grant applications - they select beneficiaries through trustee discretion
• Companion Animal Focus: The foundation exclusively supports animal welfare causes related to companion animals, with emphasis on horses, dogs, and cats
• Geographic Pattern: Strong preference for organizations in Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, Minnesota, and North Carolina
• Range of Grant Sizes: While median grant is $70,000, the foundation makes grants ranging from smaller amounts to transformational gifts of $750,000+
• Veterinary Medicine Priority: Major investments in university veterinary foundations and advanced medical equipment for animal cancer treatment
• Equine Programs: Special interest in horse rescue, rehabilitation, and sanctuary work, reflecting Joanne's Saddlebred heritage
• Multi-Year Relationships: The foundation appears to develop ongoing relationships with selected organizations rather than one-time grants

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Joanne W Guantt Charitable Foundation (EIN 52-7018780), accessed January 2026: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/527018780
• Grantmakers.io Profile - Joanne W Guantt Charitable Foundation, accessed January 2026: https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/527018780-joanne-w-guantt-charitable-foundation/
• University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, "Gauntt Foundation gifts UF veterinary college with $3 million for equipment to treat cancer patients," October 12, 2020: https://www.vetmed.ufl.edu/2020/10/12/gauntt-foundation-gifts-uf-veterinary-college-with-3-million-for-equipment-to-treat-cancer-patients/
• Horse Haven of Tennessee, "Transformative Partnership: The Joanne Gauntt Foundation": https://horsehaventn.org/capital-campaign/joannegaunttfoundation.html
• Kentucky Humane Society, "Give Hope this Holiday Season," accessed January 2026: https://www.kyhumane.org/blog/give-hope-this-holiday-season-2/
• Cause IQ Profile - The Joanne W Gauntt Foundation Dated, accessed January 2026: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/joanne-w-gauntt-charitable-foundation,527018780/