The Ingram Family Foundation

The Ingram Family Foundation is a preselected-only grantmaker — unsolicited applications are not accepted. The only viable path for new organizations is through relationship-building with trustees Ronald and Brenda Ingram via Florida philanthropic networks, mutual connections with current grantees (especially Cancer Research Institute, American Red Cross affiliates, or Wounded Warriors Family Support), or visibility at events aligned with the Ingrams' interests in Alzheimer's and cancer research. Organizations should monitor the foundation's website (theingramfamily.org, currently pre-launch) for any future shift to open applications. Long-term stewardship of the trustees through newsletters, impact reports, and event invitations is the recommended strategy for gaining consideration. Median grant size is $10,000 with top awards reaching $50,000, suggesting even initial grants can be meaningful for mid-sized nonprofits.

The foundation distributed $296,000 across 21 awards in 2024, averaging $14,095 per grant. Giving spans a $1,000–$50,000 range with clear concentration in medical research (Alzheimer's, cancer, general biomedical) which absorbed approximately 46% of total 2024 giving ($135,000 of $296,000). Military/veterans support and disaster relief each account for roughly 14% of annual giving. Across five fiscal years (2020–2024), 76 total awards have been made, indicating a steady cadence of 15–21 grants per year. The endowment of $6.26M generates income primarily through investment returns (dividends and asset sales), with the foundation maintaining an annual payout rate of roughly 4.7% — consistent with IRS minimum distribution requirements. Revenue is not driven by new donations, making the endowment the sole long-term funding constraint.

The Ingram Family Foundation is comparable in scale to other small family foundations in the $5M–$10M asset range that focus on medical research and human services. Unlike community foundations or donor-advised funds, it operates with zero staff overhead (trustees are uncompensated), meaning all decisions rest with two individuals. Compared to foundations like the Masimo Foundation or similar Florida-based private foundations, the Ingrams have a notably national (rather than local) geographic orientation despite their Florida address. The foundation's giving in medical research aligns with peer funders such as the Cure Alzheimer's Fund ecosystem and cancer-focused family foundations, though at a smaller scale. Its military support giving (Wounded Warriors Family Support) parallels other patriotic-giving family foundations common in Florida retirement communities.

In fiscal year 2024, the foundation made 21 grants totaling $296,000 — its largest annual distribution on record. Top gifts went to Alzheimer's Disease Research Foundation/Cure Alzheimer's Fund ($50,000), Cancer Research Institute ($45,000), and Masonic Medical Research Laboratory ($40,000). The American Red Cross and Wounded Warriors Family Support each received $20,000. The foundation's website (theingramfamily.org) entered a "Launching Soon" phase in early 2026, suggesting possible plans for a more formal public presence. Total assets declined slightly from their 2020 peak due to charitable distributions, but at $6.26M the endowment remains robust. The foundation has maintained consistent annual giving since inception with no evidence of grantmaking pauses.

1. Do not submit unsolicited applications — the foundation explicitly states it funds only preselected organizations. 2. Build relationships through Florida philanthropic networks, particularly in Charlotte County and the greater Punta Gorda area where the Ingrams are based. 3. If your organization works in Alzheimer's research, cancer research, military family support, or children's health, pursue introductions through existing grantees (Cancer Research Institute, American Red Cross, Wounded Warriors Family Support) who may provide a warm referral. 4. Monitor theingramfamily.org for a public launch — a new website may signal an openness to broader inquiries or even an application process. 5. Prepare a concise, impact-focused one-pager (not a full proposal) in case a relationship opportunity arises; emphasize measurable research outcomes or lives served. 6. Typical first-time grants in this range are $5,000–$15,000; frame initial asks conservatively.