Clemson University Research Foundation
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.
Clemson University Research Foundation at a glance
In short: Clemson University Research Foundation gave $519K across 3 grants in 2025 (avg $173K), mostly in South Carolina. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $519,467
- +30.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 3
- +200.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $173,156
- -56.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $186,000
- Total assets
- $9,387,702
- +2.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- South Carolina (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Clemson University Research Foundation
Open Grants
8 open opportunities from Clemson University Research Foundation
CURF Inventor's Club Award
Clemson University Research Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
CURF Maturation Fund
Clemson University Research Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
CURF Patent Award
Clemson University Research Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Clemson University Research Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Clemson University ($236K). Together the top 3 received $519K.
Grant Size Distribution
7 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 3 grants of 7 (43%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Clemson University Research Foundation gives
- Giving grew 197% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $67K (2021) to $519K (2025). In 2025 it made 3 grants totaling $519K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Clemson University Clemson, SC | Sponsored and Non-Sponsored Research Operations | $235,535 |
| Clemson Research Facilities Corporation Clemson, SC | Capital Asset Transfer | $186,000 |
| Clemson University Land Stewardship Foundation Inc Clemson, SC | Capital Asset Transfer | $97,932 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $9,387,702 | $2,467,253 | $2,228,373 | $519,467 | 3 | $239,488 |
| 2024 | $9,188,257 | $2,005,641 | $2,308,972 | $398,474 | 1 | $230,340 |
| 2023 | $9,556,754 | $1,940,204 | $2,473,262 | $83,333 | 1 | $18,173 |
| 2022 | $10,060,542 | $2,360,637 | $2,195,767 | $175,000 | 1 | $6,511 |
| 2021 | $9,369,735 | $1,882,601 | $2,068,719 | $66,667 | 1 | $76,948 |
| 2020 | $9,623,559 | $1,554,328 | $1,694,406 | $104,886 | 1 | $161,149 |
| 2019 | $9,775,410 | $1,919,918 | $3,179,362 | $250,022 | 1 | $112,315 |
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
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.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS January 24, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 26, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 31, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 23, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 13, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 16, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Live grants for the work Clemson University Research Foundation funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in Clemson University Research Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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