C Gary and Virginia Gerst Foundation
The C Gary and Virginia Gerst Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois, established in 1986. As a 501(c)(3) organization, it operates as a grantmaking foundation supporting charitable causes across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.6M
-6.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$336K
+22.2% YoY
Grant Count
33
+10.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$10K
+11.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, C Gary and Virginia Gerst Foundation reported a distributable amount of $163K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding focuses include:
- Support for the Arts
- Education
- Public Charity Support
- Conservation
- Public Media Support
- Medical Research
- Veteran Support
- Philanthropy and Voluntarism
- Human Services
Grantmaking
The foundation makes grants across a diverse range of organizations and causes. Recent grant activity includes:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Illinois, Colorado, and Virginia, with a particular concentration in the Chicago area.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $2,616,767
- Total Revenues: $259,203
- Total Expenses: $427,260
- Total Liabilities: $0
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $2,780,000
- Total Revenues: $84,400
- Total Expenses: $353,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,616,767 | $2,784,824 | $3,053,380 |
| Revenue | $259,203 | $84,417 | $205,408 |
| Expenses | $427,260 | $352,973 | $297,668 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $336,096 | $274,965 | $199,050 |
| Net Investment Income | $168,039 | $19,366 | $106,790 |
| Distributable Amount | $163,043 | $156,406 | $176,231 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
172 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Numbers USA Education and Research foundation ($75,000), Chicago Shakespeare Theatre ($53,000), Court Theater ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 626 Landmark Foundation Chicago, IL | Public Charity Support | $626 |
| Active Transportation Alliance Chicago, IL | Public Charity Support | $200 |
| Aspen Historical Society Aspen, CO | Public Charity Support | $300 |
| Aspen Music Festival and School Aspen, CO | Support for Arts Education | $5,000 |
| Aspen Public Radio Aspen, CO | Public Media Support | $10,000 |
| Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation Aspen, CO | Medical Research | $2,500 |
| Center For Immigration Studies Washington, DC | Public Charity Support | $10,000 |
| Chicago Architecture Foundation Chicago, IL | Public Charity Support | $5,000 |
| Chicago Botanic Garden Glencoe, IL | Public Charity Support | $300 |
| Chicago History Museum Chicago, IL | Support for the Arts | $120 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cornelius Gary Gerst | President, Director | 1 | — |
| Virginia C Gerst | Secretary, Treasurer | 1 | — |
| C Graham Gerst | Director | 1 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does C Gary and Virginia Gerst Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary funding focuses include: • Support for the Arts • Education • Public Charity Support • Conservation • Public Media Support • Medical Research • Veteran Support • Philanthropy and Voluntarism • Human Services
How do I apply for a grant from C Gary and Virginia Gerst Foundation?
The foundation makes grants across a diverse range of organizations and causes. Recent grant activity includes: • **Chicago Shakespeare Theater**: $53,000 (2024) • **Lyric Opera of Chicago**: $35,000 (2024) • **Metropolitan Family Services**: $26,500 (2024) In 2024, the foundation made 48 grants totaling $336,096. Typical grant awards range from $95 to $75,000.
Where does C Gary and Virginia Gerst Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Illinois, Colorado, and Virginia, with a particular concentration in the Chicago area.
What size grants does C Gary and Virginia Gerst Foundation award?
In 2024, C Gary and Virginia Gerst Foundation awarded 33 grants totaling $336K — an average of about $10K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is C Gary and Virginia Gerst Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, C Gary and Virginia Gerst Foundation reported a distributable amount of $163K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is C Gary and Virginia Gerst Foundation's EIN?
C Gary and Virginia Gerst Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3403692. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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