Gar Foundation
GAR Foundation is a private foundation established in 1967 by Galen and Ruth Roush as a means of continuing their service to the Akron community. The foundation is headquartered in Akron, Ohio, with offices located at 277 E. Mill Street, Akron, OH 44308. As a 501(c)(3) organization, GAR Foundation operates with a staff of approximately 13 employees and maintains total assets of approximately $146–$153 million.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$152.8M
+4.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$7.5M
+4.5% YoY
Grant Count
1
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$7.5M
+4.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Gar Foundation reported a distributable amount of $9.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
GAR Foundation strives to impact communities, families, and individuals by serving and investing in others. The foundation focuses its grantmaking on high-functioning organizations whose work aligns with five strategic priority areas:
- Early Childhood Education
- K–16 Education
- Economic, Workforce, and Community Development
- Arts & Culture
- Basic Needs
The foundation does not fund special events, nonprofit organization anniversaries, individuals, national organizations, religious organizations, or medical research.
Grantmaking
GAR Foundation returns approximately $7.3–$7.5 million annually to the community through grants. In recent years, the foundation has made 128 grants in a single year. Typical grant awards range from approximately $7.2–$7.5 million in total annual giving.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
GAR Foundation primarily funds organizations in the Greater Akron area and Ohio region, with a particular emphasis on the Akron community.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2023:
- Total Assets: $145.8–$146 million
- Total Revenues: $5.6 million
- Total Expenses: $11.1 million
- Annual Giving: Approximately $7.3–$7.5 million
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $152,795,852 | $145,781,688 | $151,944,277 |
| Revenue | $19,696,169 | $5,630,788 | $9,969,792 |
| Expenses | $11,294,226 | $11,141,975 | $11,170,373 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $9,478,431 | $9,218,619 | $9,175,449 |
| Net Investment Income | $17,748,395 | $3,953,311 | $8,126,431 |
| Distributable Amount | $9,059,626 | $8,566,170 | $9,400,233 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 1 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
54 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Gar Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Recipient Statement Attached ($7,544,893).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| RECIPIENT STATEMENT ATTACHED PITTSBURGH, PA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $7,544,893 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Christine Amer Mayer: President
- Kirstin S. Toth: Senior Vice President
- Rob Lehr: Vice President of Programs
- Jennifer S. Kelsch: Chief Financial Officer
- Kat Wentz: Operations Manager
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PNC BANK N A | CO-TRUSTEE | 75 | $395,152 |
| LAURA CULP | CO-TRUSTEE | 1 | $1,875 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
GAR Foundation has announced multiple rounds of grant awards to local nonprofits in recent years:
GAR Awards Over $1.8 Million in Grants to 17 Akron-Area NonprofitsAwarded over $1.8 million in grants to 17 Akron-area nonprofits
GAR Awards Over $1.8 Million in Grants to 17 Akron-Area NonprofitsAwarded nearly $2.5 million to nonprofits in Greater Akron
GAR Awards Over $1.8 Million in Grants to 17 Akron-Area NonprofitsAwarded over $2 million to Akron-area nonprofits in August
GAR Awards Over $1.8 Million in Grants to 17 Akron-Area NonprofitsThe foundation maintains an active commitment to supporting nonprofit capacity building through its Resources for Nonprofits program, which connects grantees with consultants, webinars, workshops, and practical tools to support organizational growth and development.
GAR Awards Over $1.8 Million in Grants to 17 Akron-Area NonprofitsFrequently Asked Questions
What does Gar Foundation fund?
GAR Foundation strives to impact communities, families, and individuals by serving and investing in others. The foundation focuses its grantmaking on high-functioning organizations whose work aligns with five strategic priority areas: • Early Childhood Education • K–16 Education • Economic, Workforce, and Community Development • Arts & Culture • Basic Needs The foundation does not fund special events, nonprofit organization anniversaries, individuals, national organizations, religious organizat…
How do I apply for a grant from Gar Foundation?
GAR Foundation returns approximately $7.3–$7.5 million annually to the community through grants. In recent years, the foundation has made 128 grants in a single year. Typical grant awards range from approximately $7.2–$7.5 million in total annual giving. The foundation operates several strategic initiatives and grant programs, including: • **Essential Experiences℠**: Provides Akron Public Schools PreK–5th graders with meaningful, high-quality field studies that spark curiosity and joy in learni…
Where does Gar Foundation make grants?
GAR Foundation primarily funds organizations in the Greater Akron area and Ohio region, with a particular emphasis on the Akron community.
What size grants does Gar Foundation award?
In 2024, Gar Foundation awarded 1 grants totaling $7.5M — an average of about $7.5M per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Gar Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Gar Foundation reported a distributable amount of $9.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Gar Foundation's EIN?
Gar Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 34-6577710. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Gar Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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