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
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:
Ready to take the next step with C Gary and Virginia Gerst Foundation?
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
No grants recorded for .
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 | — |
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Green and Blue Foundation
CHICAGO, IL
Assets
—
Grants
3
Total Given
$51K
Above and Beyond Daycare Center
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, IL
Assets
—
Grants
0
Total Given
—
Primo Center for Women & Children
CHICAGO, IL
Assets
$9.7M
Grants
1
Total Given
$35K
Rose Lafferty Educational Fund Xxxxx9006
CHICAGO, IL
Assets
$3.4M
Grants
1
Total Given
$228K
The John Crerar Foundation
CHICAGO, IL
Assets
$991K
Grants
1
Total Given
$35K
Fostering Success
WAYNE, IL
Assets
$38K
Grants
1
Total Given
$2K
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with C Gary and Virginia Gerst Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities