The Gerhard Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation gives by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited requests, and the filing gives no steps for making contact, so a cold application is unlikely to be considered.
- Its grants to organisations have fallen between $15,000 and $100,000, with a median of $60,000 and half at $60,000 or less, so a modest request near that level fits its pattern.
- Every grant dollar it gave to organisations went to groups it had already funded in earlier filings, and it repeatedly gives to the same six organisations, so a new approach is a long shot and an existing relationship matters most.
- Its giving is mainly to education, arts, community and health organisations in Ohio and Indiana, but the filing states no geographic focus, so a group elsewhere should not assume it is excluded, though it should expect the odds to be low.
Overview
The Gerhard Foundation is a US private foundation based in Cleveland, OH.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2025, TY2024, TY2023) 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 grants go to educational institutions, an arts organisation, a community mission and a community hospital in Ohio and Indiana. The education recipients include universities and a Lutheran high school. Support for the high school is partly designated for scholarships, while most grant purposes are recorded as discretionary. Across the filings, the foundation repeatedly gives to the same group of six organisations, spanning education, arts, community services and health care. The records describe a mix of educational, cultural, social-service and health institutions, with recurring support to these recipients.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Ohio and Indiana.
How to apply
The foundation contributes only to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests; the filing gives no further application steps.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2025 filing, 100% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2023 or TY2024 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2023, TY2024 and TY2025 filings, half of its 18 grants to organisations were $60,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2023–2025.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 25% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2025, 100% of grant dollars went to organisations The Gerhard Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 6 grants in tax year 2025 by size
Median $52,500 (tax year 2025)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Valparaiso University · Discretionary$75,0002025 tax year
- Cleveland Lutheran High School Association · 1/2 discretionary 1/2 scholarships$75,0002025 tax year
- Baldwin Wallace University · Discretionary$60,0002025 tax year
- Musical Arts Association · Discretionary$45,0002025 tax year
- City Mission · Discretionary$30,0002025 tax year
- Medina Community Hospital · Discretionary$15,0002025 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Peter A Hessler — Secretary
- Rebecca R Raymer — Treasurer
- David J Hessler — President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 tax year | $554,183 | $400,000 | $7,819,433 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $454,078 | $300,000 | $8,248,630 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
| 2025 tax year | $450,941 | $300,000 | $8,643,115 | Filing for 2025 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
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At a glance
Applying to The Gerhard Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
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Contact
- Cleveland, OH
Applying to The Gerhard Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Cleveland, OH