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Don Waggoner and Zelma Waggoner Foundation Trust

Annual Giving
$4.7M
Grant Range
$50K - $4.0M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $3.9-6.1 million (varies by year)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: Varies significantly - from small grants to multi-million dollar awards
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Florida, Tennessee, and South Carolina; supports Nazarene-affiliated organizations nationally

Contact Details

Address: 1252 Gordon River Trail, Naples, FL 34105

Note: The foundation does not have publicly listed contact information for grant inquiries and does not accept unsolicited applications.

Overview

The Don Waggoner and Zelma Waggoner Foundation Trust was established in 1994 as a private independent foundation. With assets exceeding $67 million as of 2024, the foundation distributes approximately $4-6 million annually in charitable grants. The foundation is closely affiliated with the Church of the Nazarene denomination and has longstanding relationships with Nazarene institutions, particularly Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, Tennessee, where the Waggoner Library was built in 2000 and serves as a central campus hub. The foundation focuses its grantmaking primarily on education, Christian agencies and churches, human services, and literacy programs. Grants are awarded through trustee discretion to preselected organizations with which the family has established relationships.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with defined amounts. Instead, grants are awarded on a discretionary basis by the trustees to organizations they have selected. Grant amounts vary significantly based on the relationship and project, ranging from modest support to multi-million dollar investments.

Priority Areas

Education: Strong emphasis on Christian higher education, particularly Nazarene institutions

  • Trevecca Nazarene University has received substantial support, including a $4,000,000 grant

Religious Organizations: Active support for churches and Christian ministries

  • Church of the Nazarene congregations and ministries
  • Naples First Church of the Nazarene ($132,000 grant)
  • First Church of the Nazarene

Human Services: Support for charitable organizations serving community needs

  • Salvation Army (historical grant of $985,680 in 2006)
  • Habitat for Humanity (including Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County, $51,724 in 2006)

Literacy and Community Development

  • Greenville Literacy Association ($71,000 grant)

What They Don't Fund

  • Unsolicited applications from organizations
  • Individuals
  • Organizations without pre-existing relationships with the trustees

Governance and Leadership

Trustees/Officers:

  • Donald F. Waggoner - Trustee and Co-Founder
  • Zelma Waggoner - Trustee and Co-Founder (deceased 2022)
  • Reid A. Wesley - Trustee (grandson of Zelma Waggoner)

The foundation operates as a family trust with the trustees making all grant decisions based on their charitable interests and established relationships with recipient organizations.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation explicitly states that it does not respond to unsolicited applications for funding. All grants are made to preselected charitable organizations chosen by the trustees.

Grants are awarded based on:

  • Pre-existing relationships with the organization
  • Trustee discretion and family charitable interests
  • Alignment with the foundation's focus areas (education, Christian ministries, human services)

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are awarded on a discretionary basis throughout the year to preselected organizations.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications from the general public.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - organizations are selected by trustees rather than through an application process.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, the following insights are relevant for understanding their grantmaking patterns:

Strong Church of the Nazarene Affiliation: The foundation shows clear preference for Nazarene-affiliated institutions and churches. The naming of Waggoner Library at Trevecca Nazarene University and substantial grants to Nazarene churches demonstrate this priority.

Long-term Relationships: Evidence suggests the foundation supports organizations with which the family has longstanding connections. The major investment in Trevecca Nazarene University (library named after the Waggoners in 2000, followed by a $4 million grant) exemplifies their approach of deep, sustained support.

Geographic Connections: While based in Naples, Florida, the foundation maintains ties to communities in Tennessee (Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville) and South Carolina (Greenville-area organizations), suggesting personal or family connections to these regions.

Focus on Transformational Gifts: The foundation makes both smaller grants and very large investments, with their largest grants appearing to fund capital projects or endowments at institutions central to their mission (such as the $4 million to Trevecca Nazarene University).

Christian Mission Alignment: All identified grant recipients align with Christian values and missions, with particular emphasis on evangelical and holiness traditions represented by the Church of the Nazarene.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications - organizations cannot apply for funding
  • The foundation operates through trustee discretion, selecting organizations based on pre-existing relationships and family interests
  • Strong affiliation with Church of the Nazarene institutions and ministries is the most significant factor in grantmaking
  • The foundation makes 37-43 grants annually, distributing between $3.8-6.1 million
  • Grant sizes vary dramatically, from tens of thousands to multi-million dollar awards
  • Focus areas include Christian higher education, churches, human services, and literacy programs
  • Geographic focus includes Florida (particularly Naples), Tennessee, and South Carolina
  • The foundation appears to prefer sustained relationships with organizations rather than one-time grants

References

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