The Gessner Family Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests, so a cold application is unlikely to be considered and an approach should go through an introduction.
- Its recorded grants are mainly in Ohio and cover housing assistance and historic preservation, so a group working in those areas can judge the fit, though no geographic focus is stated.
- About 8 in 10 of its 98 grants to organisations fall between $10,000 and $100,000, and half were $30,000 or less, so a modest request is typical, although its largest grant was about $315,000.
- Repeat giving is strong, with 96% of grant dollars to organisations in the latest filing going to organisations it had funded before, so a group should be realistic that the route is relationship-led.
Overview
The Gessner Family Foundation is a US private foundation based in Columbus, OH.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation’s grant record is concentrated in Ohio, where most of its recorded grants went to organisations. The purposes include historic preservation, housing initiatives, community economic development, food distribution, education and scholarships, as well as support for local cultural, religious, youth, health and social services. Its recipients include museums, libraries, churches, schools and colleges, youth organisations, food and social-service providers, and community foundations. Many grants are recorded for general operations, alongside capital campaigns and named community projects. The filings also record a smaller number of grants to organisations outside Ohio.
Themes
From its grants, not stated by the foundation:
- Housing assistance
- Historic preservation
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Ohio.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 96% 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 98 grants to organisations were $30,000 or less.
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 15% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 96% of grant dollars went to organisations The Gessner Family Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 5% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 28 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $37,125 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Habitat for Humanity · Emergency mortgage subsidy program in western stark county & support for the massillon ohio tremont corridor habitat renewal project$291,0002024 tax year
- Massillon Museum · General operations$100,0002024 tax year
- Stark Economic Development Board · For the professional office of "strengthening stark"$100,0002024 tax year
- Massillon Heritage Foundation · Historic preservation$100,0002024 tax year
- Spring Hill Farm · Historic preservation$100,0002024 tax year
- Saint John's United Church of Christ · General operations$75,0002024 tax year
- Stark State College Foundation · Ruth hess-williams scholarship$60,0002024 tax year
- Boys and Girls Club of Massillon · Capital campaign and general operations$60,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Katherine Gessner — Director
- Larry Mcallister — Vice-President & Executive
- Richard W Gessner Jr — Director
- Elizabeth A Mcallister — Secretary
- Robert B Gessner — Treasurer
- Susan R Gessner — President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $1,733,088 | $1,437,000 | $26,197,694 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $1,674,631 | $1,345,900 | $30,123,398 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $1,696,204 | $1,420,250 | $31,502,425 | 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
🎯 You've done the research. Now write an application they can't refuse.
Hinchilla combines funder's specific priorities with your organisation's past successful grants and AI analysis of what reviewers want to see.
Data privacy and security by default
Your organisation's past successful grants and experience
AI analysis of what reviewers want to see
A compelling draft application in 10 minutes instead of 10 hours
Spotted something that needs correcting? Let us know
At a glance
Applying to The Gessner Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Columbus, OH
Applying to The Gessner Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Columbus, OH