Gagnon Foundation Inc.

## Approach Strategy

The Gagnon Foundation Inc. is a private non-operating foundation based in Belleair Beach, Florida, managed by Christine L. Gagnon. Established in 2006, the foundation has grown substantially from approximately $779K in net assets (2011) to nearly $8.0M (2022), driven largely by significant personal contributions from the Gagnon family.

Key Characteristics for Applicants:

• No public website or application portal. The previously listed website (gagnon.org) belongs to an unrelated business. This foundation does not appear to maintain a public-facing web presence, which is common among small family foundations.
• Non-operating foundation. The foundation's sole charitable activity is making grants to other organizations. It does not run its own programs.
• NTEE code Z999 (Unknown/Unclassified). The IRS classification provides no specificity about focus areas. Grant recipients listed on the 990-PF filings are the best guide to funding priorities.
• Zero officer compensation across all filing years, indicating this is a family-run operation with no paid staff.
• Contact approach: Given the absence of a website or published application process, prospective grantees should consider sending a letter of inquiry to the foundation's registered address at 618 Belle Isle Ave, Belleair Beach, FL 33786, directed to Christine L. Gagnon. Networking through Florida-based philanthropic circles or community contacts may also be productive.

## Funding Patterns

Grantmaking Trajectory (2011-2022):

Key Observations:

1. Dramatic asset growth in 2021: The foundation received $5.84M in contributions in 2021, catapulting assets from $1.25M to $7.12M. This suggests a major wealth event or planned endowment infusion by the Gagnon family. 2. Grantmaking has scaled with assets: Grants grew from $101K-$107K (2019-2020) to $278K-$339K (2021-2022), though the payout rate (~4.2% of assets in 2022) is close to the IRS minimum distribution requirement of 5%. 3. Required distribution for 2022: $378,105 (based on 5% of non-charitable-use assets). Actual grants of $338,515 fell slightly short, but with administrative expenses the total qualifying distributions ($384,910) met the requirement. 4. Investment portfolio: Primarily corporate equities ($3.82M in 2022), with additional alternative investments ($2.39M). Fair market value of total investments reached $8.24M in 2022. 5. Consistent grantmaker: The foundation has made grants every year in the available filing history, typically ranging from $100K-$340K annually, indicating reliable and ongoing charitable giving.

## Peer Comparison

Among private family foundations in the Belleair Beach / Tampa Bay area with $5M-$10M in assets, the Gagnon Foundation is a mid-sized grantmaker. Key comparisons:

• Asset size ($7.2M): Places the Gagnon Foundation in the upper quartile of U.S. private foundations by assets, though still modest compared to large institutional foundations. Approximately 90% of U.S. private foundations hold under $10M in assets.
• Payout rate (~4.2-4.8%): Slightly below the 5% minimum distribution requirement when measured on grants alone, but compliant when administrative expenses are included. This is typical of smaller family foundations.
• Zero staff costs: Unlike larger foundations that employ program officers and support staff, the Gagnon Foundation operates with no paid personnel. This means all decisions likely rest with Christine Gagnon (and possibly other family members), making relationship-building particularly important for prospective grantees.
• Growth trajectory: The 6x asset growth between 2020 and 2022 is exceptional and suggests the foundation may be in a transitional phase, potentially expanding its grantmaking scope and capacity in coming years.
• NTEE Z999 classification: The unclassified designation means the foundation has not self-identified specific focus areas with the IRS, which is common among smaller family foundations that fund across multiple categories based on personal interest rather than formal program areas.

## Recent Activity

Most Recent Filing (Tax Year 2022):

• Total revenue: $1,246,293 (contributions: $1,096,312 + dividends: $138,737 + capital gains: $11,244)
• Total expenses: $384,910 (grants: $338,515 + administrative: $46,395)
• Net assets end of year: $7,980,669
• Fair market value of all assets: $8,242,064
• Excise tax paid: $1,524

Notable Trends:

• The foundation continues to receive substantial annual contributions from the Gagnon family ($1.1M in 2022), suggesting ongoing donor commitment and potential for increased grantmaking.
• Administrative expenses remain low ($46,395 in 2022, roughly 12% of total expenses), indicating efficient operations.
• Investment portfolio is primarily in corporate stocks ($3.82M) with other investments ($2.39M), showing a diversified but equity-heavy allocation.
• The foundation files Form 990-PF (private foundation return) and is classified as a non-operating foundation, confirming it does not conduct direct charitable activities.

Website Discovery Note: During enrichment research, the website previously associated with this foundation (gagnon.org) was determined to belong to an unrelated Canadian laser engraving business. The foundation does not appear to maintain a public website. Grant recipients and focus areas would need to be determined from the detailed 990-PF filing schedules (Part XV - Grant Recipients), which are available in the PDF filings linked in the sources.

## Application Tips

1. Direct outreach required. With no website, online application portal, or published guidelines, the only viable approach is a direct letter of inquiry or personal introduction. Address correspondence to Christine L. Gagnon at the foundation's registered address: 618 Belle Isle Ave, Belleair Beach, FL 33786.

2. Review the 990-PF grant list. The most valuable intelligence about this foundation's funding interests comes from Part XV of the 990-PF filing, which lists all grant recipients, amounts, and purposes. Download the most recent filing PDF from ProPublica to identify the types of organizations that have received funding.

3. Keep requests in the typical range. Based on total annual grantmaking of $277K-$339K spread across multiple recipients, individual grants likely range from $5,000 to $50,000. Requests significantly above this range are unlikely to be funded.

4. Florida connections may matter. As a Belleair Beach-based family foundation, local and regional organizations in the Tampa Bay area and broader Florida may have an advantage, though this cannot be confirmed without reviewing the grant recipient list.

5. Timing is uncertain. Without published deadlines or funding cycles, plan for a longer timeline. Submit inquiries well in advance (6-12 months before funding is needed) and follow up respectfully after 4-6 weeks.

6. Demonstrate alignment with family values. Family foundations are deeply personal. Research Christine L. Gagnon's community involvement, board memberships, and public activities to understand what causes resonate with her. A personal connection or warm introduction through mutual contacts will significantly increase the chances of consideration.

7. The foundation is growing. With assets increasing 6x since 2020 and continued annual contributions exceeding $1M, the Gagnon Foundation appears to be in an expansion phase. This could mean new funding areas and larger grants in the near future, making it a good time to establish a relationship.