The Bill Gatton Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The foundation funds education, medical care and community development, so a small nonprofit whose work sits in one of these areas should consider it, though Kentucky, Upper East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia are stated as priority regions rather than a limit on who may apply.
- About 8 in 10 of its grants typically fall between $14,000 and $11,000,000, and half of its grants are $1,800,000 or less, so a request should be sized to the project's own needs and intended uses rather than to a set figure.
- The filing gives no deadlines and there is no official application, so the route is a written request that outlines the need and the purposes for which the funds will be used.
- Repeat giving is significant, with 69% of its grant dollars going to organisations it had already funded, so a relationship-led approach may carry more weight than a cold request.
Overview
The Bill Gatton Foundation is a US private foundation based in Bristol, TN.
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
The Bill Gatton Foundation supports organisations that foster meaningful educational opportunities and effective healthcare and medical treatments. Its stated regional focus is Kentucky, Upper East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia, with expanded access to social and economic success. It gives to educational institutions to increase their capacity to fulfil their mission, serve their communities and provide meaningful educational opportunities for students. Its community giving includes community projects and local charitable organisations intended to create stronger communities. Medical gifts support programmes and treatments for causes close to Mr Gatton. Its approach connects education, health and community projects with stronger regional opportunity.
Themes
- Education
- Medical care
- Community development
Geographic Focus
United States. Priority: Kentucky; Upper East Tennessee; Southwest Virginia.
How to apply
There is no official application. Grant requests should outline the needs and the purposes for which the funds will be used.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 69% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 15 grants to organisations were $1,800,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- Educational institutions are supported to increase their capacity to fulfil their mission, serve their communities and provide meaningful educational opportunities for students.
- Medical gifts support programmes and treatments for causes close to Mr Gatton.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 62% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 69% of grant dollars went to organisations The Bill Gatton Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- <1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 9 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $1.8M (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- University of Kentucky · Education$13,200,0002024 tax year
- King University · Education$5,574,7962024 tax year
- Alice Lloyd College · Education$4,000,0002024 tax year
- Virginia Highlands Community College Educational Foundation · Education$2,000,0002024 tax year
- University of Virginia's College at Wise · Education$1,800,0002024 tax year
- Mcclean County Public Schools · Education$265,0002024 tax year
- Bristol Tennessee City Schools · Education$150,0002024 tax year
- United Way of Bristol · To support the mission of the organization$103,6082024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Danny L Dunn — Trustee
- Robert Peel — Trustee & Executive Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $11,000,844 | $11,000,000 | $191,886,977 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $10,978,234 | $9,045,000 | $901,829,786 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $30,868,363 | $27,136,856 | $1,058,846,106 | 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.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to The Bill Gatton Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (212) 464-2334
- info@billgattonfoundation.org
- Bristol, TN
- billgattonfoundation.org
Applying to The Bill Gatton Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (212) 464-2334
- info@billgattonfoundation.org
- Bristol, TN
- billgattonfoundation.org