Endowment / Foundation

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Richard & Barbara Gaby Foundation

The Richard & Barbara Gaby Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private foundation founded in 2005 by Barbara Van Andel-Gaby, daughter of Amway co‑founder Jay Van...

Richard & Barbara Gaby Foundation

The Richard & Barbara Gaby Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private foundation founded in 2005 by Barbara Van Andel-Gaby, daughter of Amway co‑founder Jay Van Andel, and her husband Richard Gaby, CEO of RD Gaby Inc. The foundation distributes grants primarily to Christian organizations and churches, alongside support for educational, charitable, scientific, and literary purposes (per public record, 2005). As a grant-making entity, the foundation does not appear to operate a market-rate investment portfolio in the manner of an endowment or family office. Public filings suggest its assets include corporate bonds and US/state government obligations, consistent with a conservative, income-oriented posture. The foundation has not disclosed direct equity holdings in private companies, venture funds, or hedge funds, distinguishing it from family offices that seek alpha through direct investing or alternative allocations. The foundation is one of several entities linked to the Gaby and Van Andel families. Barbara Van Andel-Gaby chairs the board of The Heritage Foundation, a Washington D.C. think tank. Richard Gaby co‑founded the Georgia Center for Opportunity, a public-policy nonprofit. Both serve on the Reagan Ranch Board of Governors (per public record). The family also owns Peter Island Resort & Spa in the British Virgin Islands, a commercial real-estate asset held separately from the foundation. The foundation's structural differentiator is its explicit grant-making focus under US tax law — it does not function as a single-family office or asset manager. Its investment strategy is dictated by the need for steady income to fund annual grants, not capital appreciation. Succession and governance remain controlled by Barbara and Richard Gaby as co‑trustees, with no public indication of a broader investment committee or professional staff.

General information

Firm type

Private Independent Foundation

Year founded

2005

AUM

Undisclosed

Location

Region

North America

Country

United States

City

Duluth

Corporate office

Duluth, GA, United States

Principals

Barbara Van Andel-Gaby

Co-trustee

Richard Gaby

Co-trustee

Sector focus

Generalist

Frequently asked questions

Who controls investment decisions at the Richard & Barbara Gaby Foundation?

Barbara Van Andel-Gaby and Richard Gaby serve as co-trustees and control foundation decisions. There is no public record of a separate investment committee or external investment advisor (per public filings).

How is the Richard & Barbara Gaby Foundation structured relative to the Gaby family's other assets?

The foundation is a 501(c)(3) grant-making entity, separate from the family's personal holdings, which include Peter Island Resort & Spa and residential real estate. It does not appear to operate as a family office or investment vehicle (per public record).

What types of grants does the foundation make?

The foundation primarily supports Christian organizations and churches, along with religious, educational, charitable, scientific, and literary causes. Its grant-making is documented in annual IRS Form 990 filings (per public record).

Does the foundation make direct investments in private companies or venture funds?

Public filings do not indicate direct equity holdings in private companies, venture capital funds, or alternative assets. The foundation's portfolio appears limited to fixed-income instruments such as corporate bonds and government obligations (per public filings).

What is the foundation's geographic focus for grant-making?

Grant-making appears concentrated in the United States, with a particular emphasis on Georgia, where the foundation is headquartered. The foundation has not publicly disclosed international grant programs (per public record).

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