Gebbie Foundation Inc
Gebbie Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Jamestown, New York. Founded in 1964, it seeks to revitalize downtown Jamestown through collaborative economic development and investment in the community.
Gebbie Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Gebbie Foundation Inc gave $3.2M across 14 grants in 2024 (avg $232K), mostly in New York. 21% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,241,655
- +0.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 14
- +27.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $231,547
- -21.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $70,000
- Total assets
- $79,237,972
- +5.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 21% first-time grantees (3 of 14, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New York (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Gebbie Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests that align with its strategic focus; its website says an unsolicited request may be considered from an IRS 501(c)(3) organization. The website directs prospective applicants to create an account and submit a 1–2-page Letter of Inquiry (LOI); if approved, the applicant completes a full application. The 2024 filing lists a letter-form application, no award restrictions, and no deadlines.
- Review Cycle
- The foundation’s website lists two LOI deadlines and two full-application deadlines for 2027 grant requests: August 6 and October 9, 2026 for LOIs, and August 20 and October 22, 2026 for full applications.
- Deadline
- The foundation’s website lists two LOI deadlines and two full-application deadlines for 2027 grant requests: August 6…
- Contact
Application contact: Gregory J Edwards Ceo
Mailing address: 215 Cherry Street, Jamestown, NY 14701
Phone: (716) 487-1062
Email: gedwards@gebbie.org
Website: https://gebbie.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Gebbie Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Jamestown Center City Development Corp ($2.2M). Together the top 10 received $3.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
63 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 24 grants of 63 (38%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated strategic focus is downtown Jamestown. All 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in New York; the listed recipients were in Jamestown, except NY Funders Alliance in Syracuse and Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Gebbie Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
21%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 3 of 14 grantees (21%) were first-time recipients. With only 14 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $82K; repeat grants $272K. How we count
Medians: $85K first-time, $60K repeat.
- 64% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−7%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 99% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.8M (2020) to $3.5M (2021). In 2024 it made 14 grants totaling $3.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Jamestown Center City Development Corp Jamestown, NY | Ice arena operations/capital improvements/sinking fund-taxable refunding bonds/arena expansion project | $2,181,036 |
| National Comedy Center Inc Jamestown, NY | Debt Service and Marketing | $400,075 |
| Jamestown Renaissance Corp Jamestown, NY | Operating Support and Programs | $114,250 |
| Chautaugua County Community Cultural Educational and Philanthropic Fund Jamestown, NY | Operations | $112,000 |
| United Way of Southern Chautauqua County Jamestown, NY | Campaign Support and Leadership Circle | $101,000 |
| Directors and CEO Discretionary Grants Jamestown, NY | Various Organizations and Economic Development | $84,900 |
| Chautauqua Region Industrial Development Corp Jamestown, NY | Chadakoin River Strategic Business Plan | $80,000 |
| The Resource Center Jamestown, NY | CHQ Plus - Operational Support | $60,000 |
| Roger Tory Institute Jamestown, NY | Phase I Mural | $50,000 |
| Chautauqua Region Community Foundation Jamestown, NY | Community Service Grants and NEY/Stineman Scholarship Fund | $31,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $79,237,972 | $3,854,087 | $3,959,946 | $3,241,655 | 14 | $3,709,312 | $3,857,559 | $3,732,425 |
| 2023 | $75,226,464 | $2,885,877 | $4,491,878 | $3,229,193 | 11 | $3,612,429 | $2,756,784 | $3,473,176 |
| 2022 | $70,256,265 | $1,732,062 | $3,252,609 | $3,252,064 | 14 | $3,594,630 | $1,151,522 | $3,653,676 |
| 2021 | $86,235,311 | $9,215,358 | $4,257,821 | $3,472,112 | 14 | $3,873,072 | $9,037,687 | $3,906,048 |
| 2020 | $78,563,199 | $6,339,743 | $2,383,105 | $2,790,390 | 10 | — | $5,954,757 | $3,353,465 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Gebbie Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $3.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation states that its focus is downtown Jamestown revitalization through economic development. Its focus areas are Chadakoin Riverfront Revitalization, An Inviting Downtown, and Gathering Places that Engage the Community. It describes supporting projects that advance recreation, entertainment, and commercial activity along the river; restore downtown as a safe, walkable center for business and retail; and expand programs and events that bring people downtown.
Its 2024 grants included support for organizations with a range of roles. For example, Jamestown Center City Development Corporation describes its work as operating a recreational and athletic community center; the National Comedy Center describes itself as an educational institution celebrating Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz; and Jamestown Renaissance Corporation says it works on urban design, neighborhood revitalization, downtown events, and business development. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 14 grants totaling $3,241,655. Individual grants ranged from $1,000 to $2,181,036, with a median of $70,000. The largest grants included $2,181,036 to Jamestown Center City Development Corporation for arena operations and improvements, $400,075 to National Comedy Center Inc for debt service and marketing, and $114,250 to Jamestown Renaissance Corporation for operating support and programs. Other grants included $112,000 to Chautauqua County Community Cultural Educational and Philanthropic Fund for operations and $101,000 to United Way of Southern Chautauqua County for campaign support and its Leadership Circle.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation’s website lists Gregory J. Edwards as Chief Executive Officer, Kathy Burch as Chief Financial Officer, and Stephanie Burdo as Grants and Community Engagement Director. Its 2026 Board of Directors includes Derek Watkins, President; Simone Sellstrom, Vice-President; Jerome Lee Yaw, Secretary; Jacqueline C. Phelps, Treasurer; Nancy Gleason; Thomas Holt; Elizabeth Bauman; and Robert White.
Gebbie Foundation Inc is led by Derek Watkins, President since 2024 (on filings since 2020); none of the 9 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Derek Watkins
President
Director → Vice President, 2021
Vice President → President, 2024
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lynn Dunham
Director
Treasurer → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nancy Gleason
Director
Vice President → President, 2021
President → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thomas Holt
Director
President → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Bauman
Director
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert White
Director
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jerome Lee Yaw
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Simone Sellstrom
Vice President
Secretary → Treasurer, 2023
Treasurer → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jacqeiline Phelps
Treasurer
Secretary → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Jacqueline Phelps (2020–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Rodney Drake (2020–2021) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Gebbie Foundation Inc
How much does Gebbie Foundation Inc give each year?
Gebbie Foundation Inc gave $3.2M across 14 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $3.2M across 11 grants.
What is Gebbie Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Gebbie Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $70,000, and its average grant was $231,547, across 14 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Gebbie Foundation Inc that year got $82K on average.
Where does Gebbie Foundation Inc give grants?
Gebbie Foundation Inc gives mostly in New York: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Jamestown, NY (11 grants).
Does Gebbie Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 14% of Gebbie Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 14) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Gebbie Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Gebbie Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Jamestown Center City Development Corp ($2,181,036), National Comedy Center Inc ($400,075) and Jamestown Renaissance Corp ($114,250), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 83% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Gebbie Foundation Inc?
Gebbie Foundation Inc reported $79.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3.7M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Gebbie Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation states that its focus is downtown Jamestown revitalization through economic development. Its focus areas are Chadakoin Riverfront Revitalization, An Inviting Downtown, and Gathering Places that Engage the Community. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Gebbie Foundation Inc?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests that align with its strategic focus; its website says an unsolicited request may be considered from an IRS 501(c)(3) organization. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Gebbie Foundation Inc's EIN?
Gebbie Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 16-6050287. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Gebbie Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Gebbie Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/gebbie-foundation-inc-morg_6052392c85aa4ba396cb9730c93801c9
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_166050287_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Gebbie Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/gebbie-foundation-inc-morg_6052392c85aa4ba396cb9730c93801c9},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Gebbie Foundation Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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