The Gessner Family Foundation
Invitation OnlyColumbus, Ohio · EIN 27-0609120 · Private foundation
Grants paid (2024)$1.4M
Organizations funded28
Typical grant$35,500
Total assets$31.5M
Half of its grants to organizations were between $15,000 and $60,000.
From the return
How to apply
On its return for tax year 2024 the foundation checked the box saying it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
What it funds
Share of grant lines on the latest return, classified from the purpose each grant states.
Where it gives
14% of grants went outside Ohio.
Grants paid in tax year 2024
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Habitat for Humanity | Canton, OH | Emergency mortgage subsidy program in western stark county & support for the massillon ohio tremont corridor habitat renewal project | $291,000 |
| Massillon Heritage Foundation | Massillon, OH | Historic preservation | $100,000 |
| Spring Hill Farm | Massillon, OH | Historic preservation | $100,000 |
| Stark Economic Development Board | Canton, OH | For the professional office of "strengthening stark" | $100,000 |
| The Massillon Museum | Massillon, OH | General operations | $100,000 |
| St John's United Church of Christ | Massillon, OH | General operations | $75,000 |
| Boys' & Girls' Club of Massillon | Massillon, OH | Capital campaign and general operations | $60,000 |
| Stark State College Foundation | North Canton, OH | Ruth hess-williams scholarship | $60,000 |
| Akron Canton Regional Food Bank | Akron, OH | General operations | $50,000 |
| Massillon Public Library | Massillon, OH | General operations | $50,000 |
| United Way of Wayne & Holmes Counties | Wooster, OH | General operations | $50,000 |
| Friends of Massillon Public Library | Massillon, OH | General operations | $40,000 |
| Refuge of Hope Ministries | Canton, OH | General operations | $40,000 |
| Jump Start Inc | Cleveland, OH | Stark economic development plan | $38,750 |
| Massillon Cemetery Association | Akron, OH | General operations | $35,500 |
| Beacon Charitable Pharmacy | Canton, OH | General operations | $35,000 |
| Artful Living and Learning | North Canton, OH | For use in massillon city schools | $30,000 |
| Vantage Aging Meals on Wheels | Akron, OH | General operations to be used in western stark county and wayne county | $30,000 |
| The Medical University of South Carolina | Charleston, SC | Support of a research fellow in rheumetology and imunology department | $25,000 |
| Kent State University Foundation | Kent, OH | General operations in western stark county and wayne county | $20,000 |
| Kennedy Center | Washington, DC | General operations | $15,000 |
| Starkfresh | North Canton, OH | General operations | $15,000 |
| A Place to Be | Middleburg, VA | General operations | $10,000 |
| Boys' & Girls' Club of Wooster | Wooster, OH | General operations | $10,000 |
| Mountain Rescue Aspen Inc | Aspen, CO | General operations | $10,000 |
| Sam Center | Massillon, OH | General operations | $10,000 |
| Stark County Diaper Bank | Canton, OH | General operations | $10,000 |
| Stark County Humane Society | Louisville, OH | General operations | $10,000 |
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Grant lines |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,420,250 | 28 |
| 2023 | $1,345,900 | 37 |
Sources
- IRS Form 990-PF, tax year 2024, filed Oct 24, 2025 - IRS e-file batch, object ID 202542979349100214
- IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search for EIN 27-0609120
- Profile updated Nov 5, 2026
Facts on this page come from the foundation's own IRS Form 990-PF filings as published by the IRS. Grantvello does not know whether a foundation is accepting proposals right now: a past grant is not an open opportunity. Always confirm current guidelines with the funder before applying.