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Clemson University Research Foundation

Public charity · Grantmaker Clemson, SC EIN: 57-0750000 Website

To generate research funding opportunities for clemson university to support research initiatives that advance university discoveries to create new products and services for public use and benefit.

Key facts about Clemson University Research Foundation

In short: Clemson University Research Foundation gave $519K across 3 grants in 2025 (avg $173K), mostly in South Carolina. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

EIN
57-0750000
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$519,467
Grants made (2025)
3
Average grant
$173,156
Median grant
$186,000
Total assets
$9,387,702
Primary geography
South Carolina (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing

Total Assets

$9.4M

+2.2% YoY

Annual Giving

$519K

+30.4% YoY

Grant Count

3

+200.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$173K

-56.5% YoY

How Clemson University Research Foundation gives

  • Giving grew 197% from 2022 to 2025. Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.

About Clemson University Research Foundation

Based on IRS filings

Clemson University Research Foundation is a public charity focused on Education, based in Clemson, SC. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $9.4M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 3 grants totaling $519K. Net investment income was $239K.

Focus Areas

Open Grants

8 open opportunities from Clemson University Research Foundation

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

1state

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.

Cities

Clemson

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$200K$400K$600K1 grant2019 1 grant2020 1 grant2021 1 grant2022 1 grant2023 1 grant2024 3 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $67K (2021) to $519K (2025). In 2025 it made 3 grants totaling $519K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 3 recipients in 2025

Clemson University: $236KClemson University$236KClemson Research Facilities Corporation: $186KClemson Research FacilitiesCorporation$186KClemson University Land Stewardship Foundation Inc: $98KClemson University LandStewardship Foundation Inc$98K

The largest 2025 recipient was Clemson University ($236K). Together the top 3 received $519K.

Grant Size Distribution

7 grants across all recorded years

<$50K3$50–100K3$100–250K1$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 3 grants of 7 (43%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Clemson University Clemson, SCSponsored and Non-Sponsored Research Operations$235,535
Clemson Research Facilities Corporation Clemson, SCCapital Asset Transfer$186,000
Clemson University Land Stewardship Foundation Inc Clemson, SCCapital Asset Transfer$97,932

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Net Investment Income
$0$1M$2M$3M$4M2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$9,387,702$9,188,257$9,556,754
Revenue$2,467,253$2,005,641$1,940,204
Expenses$2,228,373$2,308,972$2,473,262
Net Investment Income$239,488$230,340$18,173

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS January 24, 2020)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 26, 2021)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 31, 2022)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 9, 2023)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 23, 2024)
  6. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 13, 2025)
  7. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 16, 2026)
  8. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Clemson University Research Foundation is led by August C. Chris Gesswein, Executive Director on every filing since 2022; none of the 14 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • August C. Chris Gesswein

    Executive Director

    On filings since 2022

    37.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Dennis Kekas

    Chair

    Director → Chair, 2024

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Angie Leidinger

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Cliff Holekamp

    Director

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Eric Weissmann

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jeff Broomfield

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jeremy Mercuri

    Director & Faculty Rep to

    Director & Faculty Representative → Director & Faculty Rep to, 2025

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Leslie Hossfeld

    Director & Dean Representative

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Tom Greer

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Anjali Joseph

    Director & Faculty Rep From

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Tanju Karanfil

    Vice Chair

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Tracy Walters

    Treasurer

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Chase C. Kasper

    Senior Deputy Director

    Director of Business Development → Senior Deputy Director, 2024

    On filings since 2021

    37.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Andrew Bluvas

    Research Associate

    New on the 2025 filing

    37.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (20)
  • Former: Christie Corbett (2019–2023) — Director
  • Former: Andy Cajka (2020–2023) — Chair
  • Former: Vincie C. Albritton (2021–2023) — Deputy Director
  • Former: Keith Belli (2022–2023) — Director
  • Former: Angela Leidinger (2023) — Director
  • Former: Srikanth Pilla (2023) — Director
  • Former: Frank Landgraff (2019–2022) — Director
  • Former: Martine Laberge (2019–2022) — Director
  • Former: Anand Gramopadhye (2019–2021) — Director
  • Former: Chris Gesswein (2019–2021) — Executive Director
  • Former: Joe Bailey (2019–2021) — Director
  • Former: George Acker (2019–2020) — Director
  • Former: Anthony Wagner (2020) — Director
  • Former: Brij Khorana (2020) — Director
  • Former: Joe Swann (2020) — Director
  • Former: Andrew Cajka Jr. (2019) — Director
  • Former: Charles Tegen (2019) — Treasurer
  • Former: Cindy Lee (2019) — Director
  • Former: Stan Ahalt (2019) — Director
  • Former: Steve Crump (2019) — Director

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Frequently asked questions about Clemson University Research Foundation

How much does Clemson University Research Foundation give each year?

Clemson University Research Foundation gave $519K across 3 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $398K across 1 grant.

What is Clemson University Research Foundation's typical grant size?

Clemson University Research Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $186,000, and its average grant was $173,156, across 3 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.

Where does Clemson University Research Foundation give grants?

Clemson University Research Foundation gives mostly in South Carolina: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Clemson, SC (3 grants).

Does Clemson University Research Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 3 grants with a stated purpose on Clemson University Research Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.

How large is Clemson University Research Foundation?

Clemson University Research Foundation reported $9.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.5M.

What is Clemson University Research Foundation?

Clemson University Research Foundation is a public charity focused on Education, based in Clemson, SC. It holds $9.4M in total assets as of 2025.

What is Clemson University Research Foundation's EIN?

Clemson University Research Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 57-0750000. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.

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